Day of the Dead In Mexico, El Día de los Muertos ("Day of the Dead") isn't about ghosts. It is about remembering relatives and celebrating life. On the Day of the Dead, family members gather in cemeteries. They decorate family members' graves with colorful flowers. They tell stories about past relatives. They also have a picnic with lots of great food. On this holiday, death is not seen as something to fear. Instead, it is seen as just another part of life. "Our relatives wouldn't want us to cry," said Miguel, a Mexican boy. "So we are happy instead." The Day of the Dead is held on the first or second of November. Loy Krathong ReadWorks.org Copyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Let's Celebrate! In Thailand, Loy Krathong is held during the full moon in November. Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia. Before the festival, people make krathongs. A krathong is a small boat made of a banana leaf. Each krathong contains a flower, a candle, and three incense sticks. Incense sticks produce a pleasant smell when burned. During the festival, people light their candles and float their krathongs down rivers. Loy Krathong also includes feasts and fireworks. Boxing Day In several countries, the day after Christmas is a holiday. In those countries, that day is called Boxing Day. The holiday began in Britain. According to old stories, wealthy people gave boxes of gifts to servants on Boxing Day. Other stories say that servants take boxes to work on the day after Christmas. Their bosses placed coins in the boxes as special year-end gifts. ReadWorks.org Copyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Let's Celebrate! - Comprehension Questions Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________ 1. What holiday is held on December 26 and January 1 in the Bahamas? A. Junkanoo B. the Day of the Dead C. Loy Krathong D. Boxing Day 2. What does the text list and describe? A. The text lists and describes events that took place in Britain during the 16th century. B. The text lists and describes famous people in the history of Mexico. C. The text lists and describes holidays around the world. D. The text lists and describes bodies of water in Thailand. 3. Reread the section of the text under the subheading "Junkanoo." Based on the information in this section, what can you conclude about the people who celebrated Junkanoo in the 16th and 17th centuries? A. The people who celebrated Junkanoo in the 16th and 17th centuries probably enjoyed having picnics. B. The people who celebrated Junkanoo in the 16th and 17th centuries probably liked burning incense. C. The people who celebrated Junkanoo in the 16th and 17th centuries were probably slaves. D. The people who celebrated Junkanoo in the 16th and 17th centuries probably owned slaves. 4. Reread the section of the text under the subheading "Loy Krathong." Based on the information in this section, what can you infer about when Loy Krathong takes place? A. Loy Krathong probably takes place at dawn. B. Loy Krathong probably takes place at noon. C. Loy Krathong probably takes place in the middle of the afternoon. D. Loy Krathong probably takes place at night. ReadWorks.org · © 2020 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved. Let's Celebrate! - Comprehension Questions 5. What is the main idea of the text? A. The Bahamas are islands that make up a nation in the Atlantic Ocean. B. Many people around the world celebrate different holidays. C. The Day of the Dead and Loy Krathong are holidays celebrated in November. D. Boxing Day is a holiday that began in Britain.