Thanksgiving Day

How do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day? Americans think this festival as the most important event in America because this festival has a long history as Yasuna has already told you. So all of the family members gather and spend time together. Even students who live alone for college go back to their home town and have a good time with their family and relatives. It is like Bon festival in Japan, isn’t it? They appreciate for gods who have given food for them. They enjoy talking, playing games, watching a football game on TV and going to parades.

The most famous parade in America is Macy’s parade

presented by Macy’s Department Store in Manhattan.

This parade is one of the necessaries of Thanksgiving Day. In this parade, you can see a lot of big balloons of characters that are famous in America. People in America also enjoy delicious food and dessert.

Halloween

When autumn comes, I often see the Halloween goods or snacks sold at the shop or the department store. When I see them, I remember my memory of the Halloween day. When I was a high school student, My English teacher from America made Jack O’ Lantern that is a ghost of pumpkin, put a candle in it and lighted it. She surprised us! My friends and I were very happy. After that, I ate snacks with my friends and had a really good time. Therefore, when I hear the word “Halloween”, I feel exciting! However, what is the origin of Halloween? How people celebrate the day? Today, I would like to tell you about “Halloween”.

You know that Halloween is October 31st. Halloween was originally All Saints’ Eve. All Saints’ Day is the Catholic event that people enshrine saints who have been dead. Also, October 31st was the New Year’s Eve for Celtic in the 5th century. In those days, November 1st was the New Year’s Day for them. These two things fall on the same day. Therefore, they started to celebrate the day, October 1st as Halloween festival. It is said that the souls of the dead return to the earth on Halloween. I think that Halloween is like the Bon Festival in Japan though the ways in which people spend are different.

Now, what do people do on Halloween? Children in America make the rounds of their neighborhoods in Halloween costume and say “Trick or treat!!” on October 31st. This word means that if you do not give snacks or candies, we will trick you! The neighbors prepare snacks or candies in advance not to be tricked and when children came to their house, they give these confectioneries to children. The neighbors will be happy when they see children smile. Do you know “Candy corn”? It is a candy that is famous and standard goods of Halloween in America. Also, it is in the shape of corn. I have never tasted this candy. I want to try to taste it someday wearing Halloween costume!

I think that Halloween has a long history and it is celebrated by many people in various ways. The ways in which people celebrate are different from country to country or people to people. However, I think that it is good to keep a traditional festival and have a good time with their family or friends. What are you going to do on Halloween day? I wish you could have a good time!!

Pobby and Dingan

Have you ever used the place called MLC in NUFS? You know that NUFS has a place where you can watch movies (DVD and VIDEO).The place is MLC. In this summer, I saw a lot of movies at MLC. Today, I am going to talk about the movie which I like. “Pobby and Dingan” This is one of my favorite movies. I read it in the original when I was an elementary school student.

This is the story about a boy named Ashmol who has a younger sister. Her name is Kellyan. She has two friends, ”Pobby and Dingan”. She loves them very much. However, they are not real friends but imaginary friends. Only she can see them. Ashmol know the fact that her friends do not exist and he does not like his sister’s friends, ”Pobby and Dingan”. So he makes a fool of Kellyan and never tries to believe her. Their parents also do not believe her and they even try to vanish her imaginary friends. One day, Kellyan are confused because she loses her friends and she does not know why. She starts to look for them. After all, she cannot find them. After this incident, she becomes ill. She cannot eat anything and she throws up. The doctor does not know the cause of her illness. Ashmol thinks that Kellyan really needs “Pobby and Dingan” and he starts to look for them in order to see her smile again. He is sure that Kellyan will recover from her illness by believing the existence of “Pobhby and Dingan” and finding them.

I also introduce about the scene of this movie. The story is set in Australia. You know that Australia has a rich natural environment. So, I think that you fell relax when you watch this movie. Ashmol and Kellyan’s father is a mineworker who works to find opals. You can rarely see the spot where mining is done in Japan. I think that you will be surprised if you see it. Also, it is really interesting for me that opal is used for the part of the body of Kellyan’s friend. You will not be able to see the figures of her friends. However, you should pay attention to Kellyan’s expressions. If you do so, you will really enjoy this movie.

Can you guess why I like this movie? This movie teaches me the importance of believing. If I am in Ashmol’s place, I do not know whether I can believe Kellyan or not. However, the end of the story, Ashmol can help his sister by believing not only her, but also himself. If he does not believe his sister and himself, I do not think she is able to recover from her illness. I think that believing is a really important thing because people can realize their hopes by believing first. I could realize by watching this movie that people can do their best by believing their hopes, the things which are important for them, and themselves. I will be happy if you enjoy this movie and think about many things which you cannot think in daily life. What is your favorite movie? Tell me about it!