Comprehension

English first additional language

Grade 8

Celebrations

Module 15

Comprehension

Activity 1:

To read a text (fiction)

Read for information

[lo 3.1, 3.4.3]

• You are now going to look at three articles about some special days. It is important to be tolerant about the religions of others and to understand their religions.
• Read the following passages, telling you about some celebrations, which are important to millions of people. Read them carefully and then answer the questions that follow:

Section 1: a look at an islamic holy day: ramadan

The Koran, the holy month of the fast – one of the five pillars of Islam, ordains Ramadan in the ninth month of the Islamic year, for all adult Muslims. According to the Koran, the fast of Ramadan has been instituted so that believers “may cultivate piety”.

The fast during Ramadan begins each day at dawn and ends immediately at sunset. During the fast, Muslims are forbidden to eat, drink or smoke. Before retirement each night, special congregational prayers are offered in which long passages of the Koran are recited. The night between the 26th and 27th days of Ramadan, on which the first revelation occurred, is called the Night of Determination, during which, according to the Koran, God determines the course of the world for the following year. The day after the end of Ramadan is called the Fast-Breaking and is celebrated with special prayers and festivities.

The first day of the tenth month, Shawwal, marks the end of the fast and is a day of great rejoicing. It is the major festival of the year and is variously known as “the great festival”, “the festival of the breaking of the fast” or simply “the festival” (al-eed).

1. What is the purpose of Ramadan?

2. During which hours do Muslims observe the fast?

3. What may Muslims not do during this time?

4. Why is it called the ‘Night of Dedication’?

5. How is the end of the fast celebrated?

Section 2: the history of a christian carol: silent night, holy night

Christmas is one of the most celebrated occasions for Christians. Many different traditions are followed in the world to celebrate this Christian festival. One tradition, attributed to almost all Christian cultures across the world – the singing of the carol, ‘Silent Night. Holy Night’, on Christmas Eve. Do you know where this carol originated? To find out, read the following extract from an article.

The Humble Beginnings of Silent Night

by Per Ola and Emily D’Aulaire

Snow fell softly onto the wooden and stone houses of Oberndorf, an Austrian village. The villagers had all decorated freshly hewn spruce trees with candles, fruit and nuts as they prepared for the holiest of nights. Soon bells would peal from Oberndorf’s modest church to announce Midnight Mass, and the faithful would celebrate the birth of Christ with prayer and song.

Within the Church of St Nicholas, however, the mood was hardly one of joy that Christmas Eve afternoon in 1818. Curate Joseph Mohr, 26, had just discovered that the organ was badly damaged. No matter how hard the pedals were pumped, he could coax only a scratchy wheeze from the ancient instrument. Mohr was desperate. By the time a repairman could reach the parish, Christmas would be long over. To the young curate, a Christmas without music was unthinkable.