英语流行话题听力:Unit58 狂欢节的起源

[00:00.01] Unit 58 The Origin of Carnival Carnival is a Christian creation derived from the Latin" Carne vale", meaning" farewell meat". [00:11.30] And this referred to stop eating the meat. [00:14.42] Despite its religious origin, Carnival has developed a secular meaning. [00:20.19] Today, Carnival is time for a revelry for all. [00:24.00] It is a celebration for life and revival. [00:27.02] Thus parades, parties, with music and dances are part of it. [00:32.11] Wild, noisy, colorful parades of revelers in bright costumes go to main streets to participate and share the joy. [00:40.48] Carnival took on aspects of some spring rites and still keeps them. [00:46.45] In the ancient festival of Saturnalia the Romans used to burn the statue of the king of ancient Saturnalia. [00:53.13] He was an ugly looking man and the master of revels. [00:58.23] He suffered a real death when the revels were over. [01:02.35] In the countries like Italy, Spain, and France where the influence of Rome has been deepest and most lasting, [01:10.43] the statue of Carnival is burnt, drowned, or beheaded to the pretended sorrow or true delight of the revelers. [01:19.53] This burnt out statue, as pointed out by the famous anthropologist Sir James Frazer, is no other than the direct ruler after the old king of Saturnalia. [01:32.30] In fact, this tradition of statue burning had come as a part of an ancient rites of celebrating the end of the battle between summer and winter. [01:43.00] The wild revelry, which is an important part of Carnival, is also what is left of the same ancient tradition of spring festival. [01:52.54] They are believed to imitate the wars between summer and winter so commonly fought at the coming of spring. [02:01.00] The colorful costumes of the revelers are also said to represent the spring when the white face of nature is cast aside for a colorful look. [02:10.47] The popular tradition of wearing masks during the Carnival also comes from the feature of the New Year festivals. [02:18.38] The masks are said to represent the dead or spirits from the nether world who come closest to the human at his time of changeover. [02:28.09] Carnival is still a wonderful festival of joy in Brazil, Peru, and other parts of South America. [02:35.11] It is also celebrated with much excitement in the European countries ruled by the Catholics. [02:41.30] Thus it is widely celebrated in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal.

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