Speaking Test – Part 1 – Festivals
Topic – Festivals :
Q. Tell me about the most important festival in your country.
Answer: Malaysia is a multicultural country where people of all religions and faiths live in peace and harmony, and one of the most important religious festivals in my country is called “Vesak day” (or Wesak) to commemorate the Lord Buddha’s Birthday which is usually observed during the first full moon in the month of May. To all Buddhist people in Malaysia, this is a very, very important festival because they believe that the Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death had occurred on the same calendar day.
Q. What special food and activities are connected with this festival?
Answer: A typical Wesak Day usually begins at dawn at Buddhist temples throughout Malaysia by getting devotees to gather in order to meditate on the Eight Precepts as well as having Monks in saffron-coloured robes to chant the sutras in unison. A candle procession is also the highlight of the celebration, and at the same time, offerings of prayers and burning of joss sticks/incense also run in full swing.
As far as the question of special foods, connected to this particular festival, is concerned, well-wishers and devotees do come together, at the end of their prayers, to dine on simple offerings of vegetarian food and drinks while providing the same to the poor and needy. Donations are also made available to the deserving ones.
Q. What do you most enjoy about it?
Answer: What I enjoy the most about the “Visak” is that it manages to bring people from all walks of life in the spirit of “giving” and “charity” in order to the help the “less privileged” section of our society.
Q. Do you think festivals are important for a country? [Why?]
Answer: I don’t just think, but I actually believe the festivals are absolutely important for any country as it helps bring all kinds of different people together so that they could learn about each other and appreciate them, in a world which has seen too much hatred and animosities already towards each other. They spread brotherhood, faith, love, sense of respect and duty among the people without destroying others emotions and beliefs.
Q. What is your favorite festival?
Answer: Hmm, that’s a tough question because I’m definitely a holiday person (a person who likes holidays), but I would have to say New Years Eve. I’m always keen (want) for change and new beginnings, so I love setting new goals at the start of each new year, not to mention I really enjoy the parties. Second to this would be Valentine’s Day, since I’m a hopeless romantic (a very romantic person).
Q. How do you celebrate the festival?
Answer: In my culture, it’s more very family-oriented holiday. We usually have a special family dinner at home followed by the countdown to midnight. However, in my culture we add something special to it. At the clock ticks down to midnight, we eat 12 grapes which signify a different wish for each month. After this, we go out to the city or town streets to drink with our friends and wish them a happy new year.
Q. What is the most popular festival in your country?
Answer: Definitely Christmas, since I’m from a Catholic country. Nearly every town and city goes out of the way to deck (decorate) the streets out with Christmas lights and decorations. However, unlike other countries, we celebrate the epiphany, or day of the three wise men, on January 6 just as much at the 25th. This is the day in which we exchange gifts and watch parades.
Q. Do you like western festivals?
Answer: Of course! They are part of my culture. I especially love Christmas, Easter, and New Years since they have always been part of my upbringing (childhood). However, I also find eastern festivals interesting. I lived in Vietnam for 2 years, and I was in awe (amazed) of the Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn festival.
Q. Where do people usually go during festivals?
Answer: Between homes and the streets. We hold meals in our homes for the holidays, as we value home-cooked meals. However, we are people who enjoy going out, so we often go out to celebrate at bars or even in the streets. For example, the Christmas Eve celebration entails going to a bar with friends until the wee hours (early hours) of the morning, followed by a family lunch the next day.
