In some parts of the world, traditional festivals and celebrations have disappeared or are disappearing.
What problems is this causing?
What measures could be taken to counter this situation?
Around the world, many traditional festivals these days are at risk of becoming outdated and irrelevant. In my opinion, this contributes to issues concerning cultural disintegration and should be countered by citizens in concert with governments.
The main issues resulting from abandoning traditional festivals concern culture. More commercial holidays such as Black Friday and Christmas are gaining in popularity which naturally threatens smaller cultural groups and their festivals. For example, in China, there are numerous ethnic groups living in remote areas that struggle to preserve their traditions over time as locals learn more about the outside world and leave their hometowns. As these groups disperse further both physically and virtually it will be a challenge for old traditions to persist and the results may impact the stories they hand down through generations, their language, traditional dishes, and other aspects of culture.
The optimal remedies for the weakening of traditional cultures are for governments and individuals to actively encourage traditional festivals. Governments can make the greatest difference. For instance, states could fund organizations that aim to promote traditional festivals by staging local events and reaching out to older members of the community. Younger people could likewise attempt to engage more with their roots and connect with the sources of their culture. This occurs to some extent already when traditional festivals are advertised on social media to bring in a wider audience and greater attention.
In conclusion, the loss of traditional festivals is a boon to globalization and injures the cultural identity of various groups. This development must be confronted by locals on their own individual initiative and encouraged by governments.
Analysis
1. Around the world, many traditional festivals these days are at risk of becoming outdated and irrelevant. 2. In my opinion, this contributes to issues concerning cultural disintegration and should be countered by citizens in concert with governments.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. The main issues resulting from abandoning traditional festivals concern culture. 2. More commercial holidays such as Black Friday and Christmas are gaining in popularity which naturally threatens smaller cultural groups and their festivals. 3. For example, in China there are numerous ethnic groups living in remote areas that struggle to preserve their traditions over time as locals learn more about the outside world and leave their hometowns. 4. As these groups disperse further both physically and virtually it will be a challenge for old traditions to persist and the results may impact the stories they hand down through generations, their language, traditional dishes, and other aspects of culture.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
1. The optimal remedies for the weakening of traditional cultures are for governments and individuals to actively encourage traditional festivals. 2. Governments can make the greatest difference. 3. For instance, states could fund organizations that aim to promote traditional festivals by staging local events and reaching out to older members of the community. 4. Younger people could likewise attempt to engage more with their roots and connect with the sources of their culture. 5. This occurs to some extent already when traditional festivals are advertised on social media to bring in a wider audience and greater attention.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- Continue your development.
1. In conclusion, the loss of traditional festivals is a boon to globalization and injures the cultural identity of various groups. 2. This development must be confronted by locals on their own individual initiative and encouraged by governments.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
Around the world, many traditional festivals these days are at risk of becoming outdated and irrelevant. In my opinion, this contributes to issues concerning cultural disintegration and should be countered by citizens in concert with governments.
The main issues resulting from abandoning traditional festivals concern culture. More commercial holidays such as Black Friday and Christmas are gaining in popularity which naturally threatens smaller cultural groups and their festivals. For example, in China, there are numerous ethnic groups living in remote areas that struggle to preserve their traditions over time as locals learn more about the outside world and leave their hometowns. As these groups disperse further both physically and virtually it will be a challenge for old traditions to persist and the results may impact the stories they hand down through generations, their language, traditional dishes, and other aspects of culture.
The optimal remedies for the weakening of traditional cultures are for governments and individuals to actively encourage traditional festivals. Governments can make the greatest difference. For instance, states could fund organizations that aim to promote traditional festivals by staging local events and reaching out to older members of the community. Younger people could likewise attempt to engage more with their roots and connect with the sources of their culture. This occurs to some extent already when traditional festivals are advertised on social media to bring in a wider audience and greater attention.
In conclusion, the loss of traditional festivals is a boon to globalization and injures the cultural identity of various groups. This development must be confronted by locals on their own individual initiative and encouraged by governments.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
Around the world globally
traditional festivals cultural celebrations
at risk of becoming outdated and irrelevant might start to be forgotten
contributes adds to
issues concerning cultural disintegration problems relating to cultures being lost
countered remedied
citizens in concert with governments people working together with the state
resulting from abandoning traditional festivals concern culture caused by not celebrating older festivals relate to tradition
commercial holidays and festivals are mainly concerned with making money
Black Friday the day after Thanksgiving when there are many sales
Christmas is the holiday about the birth of Jesus
naturally threatens smaller cultural groups of course cause problems for minorities
numerous ethnic groups living in remote areas smaller cultural groups in less populated areas
struggle have difficulty
preserve keep alive
outside world the rest of the world
leave their hometowns move away
As these groups disperse further both physically and virtually when these peoples move to new places or learn more about the world
persist continue
impact effect
hand down through generations teach their children, grandchildren
traditional dishes older cuisines
aspects of culture related to culture
optimal remedies best fixes
weakening not getting stronger
actively encourage traditional festivals to go out of their way to help older celebrations
make the greatest difference and have the biggest impact
fund organizations give money to groups
aim try to
promote encourage
staging local events putting on celebrations
reaching out to older members of the community talking to one’s elders
likewise, attempt to engage more with their roots similarly try to learn more about tradition
connect with the sources of getting back into contact with the origins of
to some extent already to a degree
advertised marketed
social media Facebook, Instagram, etc.
bring in a wider audience and greater attention make more people notice it
loss disappearance
boon good for
globalization everyone around the world connecting
injures the cultural identity of various groups and harms how groups of people see themselves
confronted by fights by
initiative efforts
