The summer solstice (夏至) has been widely recognized 【小题1】 a festival throughout the world.

The word solstice originates from the Latin sol and sistere,【小题2】 (mean) “sun-standing”. As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems 【小题3】 (stand) still in the sky. It is one of the great turning 【小题4】 (point) of the year, when the sun is at its 【小题5】 (high) point in the sky during a year.

Today, the day is celebrated around the world. In England thousands gather to welcome the sunrise on the summer solstice. Throughout Europe groups light a fire and stay up all night to welcome the dawn. In Paris, the day 【小题6】 (mark) with free concerts during the every year’s Fete de la Musique. When it comes 【小题7】 the U.S., the city of Santa Barbara in California holds the country’s biggest celebration 【小题8】 lasts a full three-day time. On the East Coast, New York City 【小题9】 (traditional) welcomes the summer solstice with a music concert at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine.

In the southern part of China, Eating lychees (荔枝) druing the summer solstice is a long tradition because eating lychees will cause less “heat” to the body. There is a saying in Shangdong Province that 【小题10】 (go), “Eating dumplings on the winter solstice day and eating noodles on the summer solstice day.”

Spring usually 【小题1】(begin) on February 3-5 every year. From this day on, the days get longer and the weather gets 【小题2】(warm). In addition, from this day to summer, we usually call this period the spring. Besides, it's also a traditional festival in China --- on behalf of the beginning of the new year. So it 【小题3】(value) greatly by Chinese people. There exists the popular custom of eating spring rolls and cakes on that day, so it has another saying of biting spring.

The monsoon (季雨) is a joyful and very important time for Indian agricultural workers. It has been less happy for the tourist trade, the number of visitors in this season tends (drop) by half. , there has been a movement to increase tourism during this(normal) slow time of the year.

According to a report issued by an Indian industry group, appropriate destinations for the monsoon season must remain(access) by road during the wettest months and have a countryside that looks its best during the rains.

For the last few years, tourist agencies in various states(respond) to the challenge. Goa, the former Portuguese colony near Mumbai, and Kerala in the extreme south have begun offering “monsoon packages”. They say there are many reasons in addition to the off-season prices to visit their states during this time of the year. One is to see the lush, green landscapes．attractions are the many colorful festivals. For example, Sri Jagannath Yatra, a festival (hold) around the country at the beginning of the monsoon, features a colorful procession. A third is simply the joy of the season. one Kerala promoter says, “You can feel the magic. The washed streets and fresh leaves seem to smile with you.”