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Is music important in traditional festivals?

Yes, absolutely. In fact, traditional festivals are always accompanied by a certain type of music, for instance, whenever I think of the Chinese New Year, what springs to mind is the ubiquitous happy songs about new beginnings and making more money. Walking anywhere in China during the Spring Festival, one is bound to hear such music. Hence, music is a paramount factor in traditional festivals.

I think the same is true in Western culture with Christmas for example…they really get people into the spirit of things.

Are traditional festivals disappearing?

I don’t think so, no, in fact, I don’t think they will ever disappear, but they are changing, that’s for sure. People don’t celebrate them in the so-called ‘traditional’ ways as before is true, as these days, most festivals have adopted a commercial air and turned into vacations and shopping days.

Every year, one or two months before one of the festivals, big shopping sites and supermarkets are busy promoting all types of products. But come the actual day, or as may be the case, the week of the festival, I think there are still traditions that are kept up and fulfilled, even if people don’t like to do it.

Well, its traditional, haha, so there is some tolerance towards certain elements of the festival, for example, at Chinese New Year, it’s traditional to go and visit all the relatives and family friends, and I know that many people don’t like to do it, but they do out of a sense of obligation and duty.

• that's for sure 那是肯定的
• have adopted a commercial air 有种商业气息
• but come the actual day 那天真的到来的时候
• kept up 保持；坚持
• out of a sense of obligation and duty 义务感和责任感

Do children like to learn about traditional festivals?

From what I know, um, not so much. Kids are more concerned about where to travel to and what to eat during those festivals, instead of learning about them.

I think it has to do with the societal atmosphere. Why would kids care when they’ve witnessed loads and loads of promotions before and during the festival? The candy, money, gifts, sweet foods, and the like are what kids ruminate about, I think.

• societal atmosphere 社会气氛
• loads and loads of 大量的
• ruminate about 认真思考

Is it important for children to learn about traditional festivals at school?

Yeah, I think so. I mean, youngsters spend half of their time at school and it’s vital that they learn something about the origins of their culture by knowing more about traditional festivals.

Schools can hold themed events to teach kids all the little things about all types of traditional festivals, and it kind of helps drag them away from the materialistic element of cultural festivals that is so prevalent in today’s society.

• themed events 主题活动
• drag...away from 让……远离……
• materialistic element 物质元素
• prevalent 盛行的；普遍存在的