IELTS READING LEVEL 4.5 – Festivals in Thailand

Festivals in Thailand

by ReadWorks

Photograph of a Sak Yant tattoo

Sak Yant Festival: There is a temple in Thailand called Wat Bang Phra. It is located in a town west of Bangkok. Every year, Wat Bang Phra hosts a festival. At this festival, the temple’s monks give tattoos to people. A tattoo is an ink drawing on a person’s skin. The tattoos drawn by the monks at Wat Bang Phra are not regular tattoos, however. People believe that these tattoos have special powers. They believe that the tattoos will protect them­ from harm.

Photo Credit: John Shedrick, CC BY 2.0

Photograph of people releasing candles down river at Loy Krathong Festival

Loy Krathong Festival: Everyone makes mistakes. Would you like to let go of your mistakes? If you said yes, then you should go to Thailand! Every November in Thailand, there is a festival dedicated to letting go of past mistakes. People across the country go to local lakes and rivers. People then put flowers, banana leaves, and candles in the water. These objects symbolize mistakes. They also symbolize negative emotions like worry and sadness. When the flowers, leaves, and candles float away, people believe they are freed from their mistakes.

Photograph of monkey with a banana

Monkey Buffet: Lopburi is a town a few hours north of Bangkok. It is home to thousands of monkeys called long-tailed macaques. They are known for their long tails and their fearless personalities. Every year, there is a festival thrown for the monkeys. It’s a monkey buffet! People load food onto tables for the monkeys to eat. The food ranges from healthy to unhealthy. Fruits, vegetables, juice, and soda are among the foods at this buffet. For the macaques, this event is a real treat!

Vocabulary

dedicate    ded · i · cate

Advanced Definition

transitive verb

1. to set apart or declare to be for a special use or purpose, as a worthy cause, public benefit, or sacred activities.

These funds are dedicated to improving the transportation system. We all must dedicate some time and effort to solving this problem. All the profits are dedicated to medical research.

2. to devote (oneself or one’s life) to a particular person, cause, or course of action.

He will have to dedicate himself to his studies if he wants to go to medical school.

She dedicated her life to helping others.

3. to address or inscribe (a book or the like) to a particular person as a token of affection or

This library is dedicated to the founder of the university.

I would like to dedicate this song to my lovely wife.

Spanish cognate

dedicar: The Spanish word dedicar means dedicate.

These are some examples of how the word or forms of the word are used:

1. He decided to dedicate one of his symphonies to Napoleon.
2. “But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not hallow – this ground.”
3. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

festival    fes · ti · val

Definition

noun

1. a group of shows, events, or special activities usually planned around a type of food, a season, or a kind of art or music.

We tried maple syrup at the maple festival.

Advanced Definition

noun

1. a day or more of celebration to commemorate a notable occasion, such as a religious holiday.

December 13 is the festival of St. Lucia in Scandinavia.

2. a regularly occurring ceremony or celebration involving special activities or amusements.

We drank apple cider and carved pumpkins at the harvest festival.

3. a series of presentations, or a gathering of exhibitors in one or more of the fine arts, theater arts, or crafts, or such a gathering based on any of various central themes.

Are you going to the folk music festival this weekend?

We saw how they make Swiss cheese at the cheese festival.

adjective

1. of or suited to a festival.

a festival atmosphere

Spanish cognate

festival: The Spanish word festival means festival.

These are some examples of how the word or forms of the word are used:

1. Music and dancing are often part of Hispanic festivals.
2. Osei Tutu started the holiday of Odwira. This festival celebrated the unity of the empire.
3. In the Jewish Religion, Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights. It is a holiday of celebration.
4. The festival is celebrated around May 16th every year and invites visitors from all over the world.
5. During the festival, people light their candles and float their krathongs down rivers. Loy Krathong also includes feasts and fireworks.
6. Ballroom dancing has been around since at least the Middle Ages (from about 500 to 1500). It was especially popular at fairs and festivals in the 1400s.
7. During Mayan religious festivals, the Mayas ate and danced. They also played a sport that involved trying to hit a rubber ball through a stone ring using one’s hips.
8. The ice festival is a popular tourist attraction. It has been drawing crowds for 33 Organizers expect millions of visitors to pour into the city’s parks this year.
9. Native Americans from Alaska to South America united, or came together, for the museum’s A six-day festival followed the opening ceremony. The festival featured Native American dancing, music, foods, and storytelling.
10. “No, it isn’t,” Mona added. “And look here, São Paulo is in Brazil too! They have a pancake festival there every year in the summer.” Mona was excited now. “I love pancakes!”