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 Cultural Rituals
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
• discuss seasonal rituals.
• discuss good luck rituals.
• discuss love rituals.

HB

High Beginner Lesson

Warm Up
Answer the questions with your teacher and classmates.

• What is happening in this picture?

• Which cultures practice this ritual?

• What is a cultural ritual? Explain.

Making a henna tattoo

What Do You Think?
Read about seasonal rituals and discuss.

What do you think?

• Seasonal rituals mark the seasons of

the year, including spring, summer, fall
and winter.

• At the beginning of fall people might

celebrate having a good harvest*.

• For example, Holi is a holiday in India

celebrating the beginning of spring.
*harvest = picking plants grown for food On this day, a ritual is to throw colors
in the air.

What are some seasonal rituals in your country?

How do you celebrate the changing seasons?
Expression
Talk about this expression with your teacher and classmates.

A rite of passage = an important event that changes a person's social status

Example: Getting a driver's license is a rite of passage in The United States.

Give an example of a rite of passage in your country.
Culture Corner
Read about a good luck ritual and answer these questions with your classmates.

People around the world have good luck rituals. In China, painting your door red
brings good energy and good luck. In the U.S., hanging a horseshoe above your
door will bring good luck. In Poland, carrying fish scales in your wallet will bring good
luck.

• What brings good luck in your country?

• What brings bad luck in your country?
• What do you do to bring good luck before an important event?
Phrasal Verb
Talk about this phrasal verb and answer the question with your classmates.

To grow up = to become an adult

Example: When I grow up, I want to be a veterinarian.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a ______________________________________ when I grew up.
Read and Answer
Read about love rituals and answer the questions with your classmates.

People in a relationship can symbolize their love with a

padlock. First, they buy a strong lock and write their
names on it. Then, they put the lock on a bridge or
other special place in the city. Since bridges are a
popular place for these locks, people will throw the key
into the water after they lock the padlock. There are
many popular locations for "love locks" around the
world.

• Where in your city do people put "love locks"?

• Have you put a "love lock" in this place? Tell the class about it.
• Why do you think people throw away the key to a "love lock"?
Sign Post
Read the quote and discuss.

"Rituals are necessary for us to know anything."

-Ken Kesey
(U.S. Author, born 1935)

What does this mean to you?

Why are rituals important to you and your

culture?
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Act It Out
Choose a role and act it out with a partner.

Role A

1. You are preparing for a big event and

need some good luck.
2. Explain to your friend what you need for
good luck in this situation.
3. Convince your friend to help you with this
ritual.
Role B

1. Your friend is preparing for a big event.

2. You do not believe in good luck rituals.
3. Convince your friend that they don't need
a good luck ritual.
Work Together
Work with your class to complete this project.

Your class is having an international fall festival. Work together to create a plan. Try
to agree.

What food will each student bring?

What games or activities can people do

during this festival?

When will you celebrate this festival?

Thanksgiving is a popular fall holiday in the U.S.

Talk About It
Answer the question with your classmates.

Name some cultural rituals in your country.

Who participates in these rituals?

Are rituals and celebrations important in your culture? Explain.

A Japanese tea ritual