新编大学英语 1 Unit 4 教案

Unit 4 Holidays and Special Days
I. Teaching aims: 1. to do some preparation activities such as discussion, group work (ask the
students to talk about one of the western holidays that they think the most
interesting), etc. to practice the students‟ spoken skill and communicative
skills;
2. to grasp some new words and try to use these words which help them enrich
their vocabulary;
3. to discuss important holidays in western countries and the way people
celebrate;
4. to do some post-reading exercises and some after-class reading to practice
what they have got to know in class to improve their English
comprehensive skills.
II. key points: 1. to learn the ways people celebrate Christmas;
2. talk about the customs of western holidays.
III. difficult points: 1. to paraphrase some difficult sentences and catch their meaning.
2. to grasp some useful words and phrases to discuss western holidays.
IV. teaching process:
i. preparation:
1. Ask the students to talk about one of the western holidays that they think the most interesting.
All the countries have their own festivals. The most important festival in china is Spring Festival, the first day of a year in lunar calendar. However, in western countries and North America, people mostly regard Christmas as a high point of the year.
Besides Christmas, there are also many other festivals in the United States, such as Labor Day, Valentine's Day, Good Friday and so on. Each of them is unusual.
January 1 is New Year's Day, almost all the American will have a celebration in order to welcome the coming of a new year. New Year greetings can be heard everywhere. Some people may make plans and resolve to change their bad habits so that they can have a good beginning in the New Year.
Because ancient American people came from many countries, especially the western countries, they usually have the same festivals. But Thanksgiving Day is different, it is the most truly American of the national holidays in the United States. In 1620,some people called the settlers sailed to America. They arrived after a long time and lots of difficulties. In the first winter, more than half of the people died because of hungry and diseases. Those who survived began sowing in the first spring. They were waiting for the harvest. Their lives depended on the coming harvest. After some time their dream became true. The fields produced enough crops. Therefore they decided to thank the god and celebrate the harvest. Then President of the United States proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day.
Now, American people have a get-together and prepare a nice and big dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Turkeys are often offered, it almost becomes the symbol of Thanksgiving. All kinds of sweets and nuts can be seen on the table, too It's still a day to express people's thanks for the year's bounty and the god today.
April Fool's Day is another interesting festival. It began in France and was very popular at that time. It was celebrated in nearly all the western countries later. In the early 18th century, the tradition was taken to the United States by the Englishmen who moved to America early. On April 1,people will play jokes on others and they may decorate their houses as if it was Christmas or Near Year's Day. It's very interesting to join the parties on April Fool's Day. People may make some pretty but fake dishes, for example, the ice-cream may be covered with tomatoes. "Have a lovely day!" "You are an April fool!" "These words can be often heard on April Fool's Day. People won't be unhappy if others play jokes on them at that day.
2. Holiday words
Holidays and Special Days in U.S.A
The American calendar is filled with numerous holidays. The following table shows some of the more popular holidays. Important national holidays have been indicated in bold face.
Most non-essential government offices will be closed on these days. (Fire, Ambulance and Police are always open.) Banks and post offices also tend to be closed on these days, and many businesses will give their employees the day off.
It is also important to be aware of the holidays of people of other religious faiths. For example, important Jewish holidays include Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Sukkoth, Chanukah, and Passover. Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, and Sukkoth occur in the fall. Chanukah occurs in December, near Christmas. Passover occurs in March or April, near Easter.
3. Reading a Rhyme
1) Who do you think wrote the rhyme?
It might be a child who is between 7 and 12 years old. He or she lost his/ her milk teeth. His/her two front teeth have not grown out and his/her classmates might make fun of him/ her. So he/ she asked Santa Claus to give him/ her two front teeth.
Student A: This rhyme is written by a child (6-7 years old) who has no front teeth.
Student B: This rhyme is written by an old man/woman who has lost his/her front teeth. (He/She ca n‟t pronounce the sound “s” without his/her front teeth.)
Student C: This rhyme is written by a young man who has lost his front teeth in a fight and is often teased by others.
Student D: This rhyme is written by an advertiser trying to promote the sales of a certain product containing calcium which is good for children‟s teeth.
Student E: This rhyme is written by the parent of a baby whose front teeth haven‟t grown yet and who wants to wish its parents Merry Christmas.(The baby is too young to write such a rhyme.)
2) Which Christmas custom is reflected in it?
Making a wish
Student A: People exchange gifts with each other.
Student B:People wish each other “Merry C hristmas".
Student C: People make wishes on Christmas and their wishes will come true.
Student D: Children get a lot of presents on Christmas
3) If you‟re to make a wish, what will it be?
Wishes might be: pass TEM 4, find a part time job, buy a computer, buy a car, learn how to drive, own a large house, publish a book
Student A: Wish everyone has the most advanced computer.
Student B:Wish I can receive many presents and can do whatever I want to do.
Student C: Wish our country develops more quickly in the next fifty years and that our
country will be the most powerful in the world on thecentennial anniversary of our country.
Student D: Wish my best friend good luck.
Student E: Wish my family members and all my friends and relatives happy, healthy, and prosperous.
Student F: Wish I could stay in a cabin in the countryside with a peasant family, sit around the fire and tell stories to each other.
Student G: Wish all my dreams will come true.
4. What is this special day?
April Fool‟s Day
People play tricks on each other; Neighbor kids will play friendly tricks on you; your best friend will tease you; and even the media will makes jokes to fool the public. When someone is tricked, people say: “April Fool.”
ii. listening-centered activities
1. Listen to a passage and complete the following clues about “The Origin of Santa Claus”
1. The custom of giving presents during Christmas goes back to the ancient Romans.
2. In the Bible, the wise men brought gifts to Jesus on the 12th day after his birth.
3. In some countries of Europe, the gifts are supposed to be brought in by Saint Nicholas, a bishop who was regarded as a special friend of the children.
4. When the Dutch came to New York, they brought the traditions of Saint Nicholas with them.
5. In America the date of Santa Claus‟s arrival was moved to Christmas eve.
The reason for this is that the gifts are supposed to be brought in by Saint Nicholas on the eve of his feast day, December the 6th. Saint Nicholas was a bishop of the 4th century who came to be regarded as a special friend of the children. So in various countries around the world Saint Nicholas returns every year with gifts for good children. When the Dutch came to New York, they brought the traditions of Saint Nicholas with them. They called him “San Nicholas.” And this soon was changed to “Sankt Klaus”, and then Santa Claus. But in America the date of Santa Claus‟s arrival was moved to Christmas eve. And gradually his red costume, the reindeer, and his home at the north pole became part of the tradition.
2. Spot Dictation:
and because it meant they would have a period of rest from work afterwards. They would make merry and have a great holiday. Even though it was November, they considered it the beginning of the new year! When the Romans conquered Europe, they changed this time of celebration to the first of January. From then the coming of the new year was a symbol of a new life with new hope for the future. This custom and this meaning has lasted to this day. We celebrate the new year hoping it will bring us a good life!
3. Background knowledge about Valentine’s Day:
Several different stories are told about the origin of Saint Valentine's Day. One legend dates as far back as the days of the Roman Empire. According to the story, Claudius, the Emperor of Rome, wanted to increase the size of his army. He knew that it would be easier to get young men who were not married to join. Therefore he made a rule that no young man could marry until he had served a certain number of years in the army.
A priest named Valentine broke the rule and secretly married a great many young people. Finally, Claudius found out about Valentine and put the priest in prison, where he remained until his death on February 14.
After his death, Valentine was made a saint, and the day of his death was named Saint Valentine's Day. It became the custom for lovers to send each other messages on this day. Now Saint Valentine's Day is a time for people to give roses or chocolates and to send greetings.
4. role play
Work with your partners to make a conversation in the following situations:
1) You ring your friend Lisa on Christmas Eve.
Tom: Hi! Lisa. Is that you? It‟s Tom.
Lisa: Merry Christmas! Tom.
Tom: You too. What are you going to do during the holidays?
Lisa: I‟m going to visit my parents and my brothers back home.
Tom: Have a safe trip! Then. You know what? I‟m going to China for my holidays. I hope that will be exciting.
Lisa: I‟m sure it will.
2) You and your girlfriend/boyfriend celebrate Valentine‟s Day.
Jack: Happy Valentine‟s Day, dear!
May: Oh! I can‟t believe you remembered!
Jack: How can I forget? There are reminders all over town. Everywhere I go I see signs that tell me to buy flowers and chocolates for the woman I love. So, here, please accept these flowers and chocolates.
May: Thank you so much. I cooked a special dinner for you tonight. Happy Valentine‟s Day to you!
3) You are discussing with your friend about the New Year‟s resolution.
Peter: Have you made a New Year‟s resolution yet, Mark?
Mark: No, I never make New Year‟s resolu tions. I did for a few years, but I never kept them. Now I don‟t even bother to make them. What about you?
Peter: I‟ve made a resolution to lose weight.
Mark: I don‟t think you need to lose weight. You look just fine.
Peter: Thank you! I appreciate that comment.
5. video clip
1) What do you know about Thanksgiving Day?
2) If you have an opportunity to give thanks to somebody, whom will you give thanks to first? And how?
iii. reading-centered activities
1. What is Christmas?
The word Christmas comes from the words Cristes maesse, or "Christ's Mass." Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus for members of the Christian religion. Most historians peg the first celebration of Christmas to Rome in 336 A.D.
Christmas is both a holiday and a holy day. In America it is one of the biggest event of the year (especially for kids), and for members of the Christian religions it is an important day on the religious calendar.
Christmas Day, the 25th of December, is the biggest festival(节日)celebrated in the Christian countries of the world. Although everyone enjoys Christmas Day,it is particularly enjoyed by children, who get very excited because of the presents they know they are going to receive. Small children believe that their presents are brought by Father Christmas(圣诞老人).Father Christmas is a kind of old man who, the children are told, lives at the North Pole. He travels through the sky on a sleigh(雪撬) which is pulled by reindeers(驯鹿) and loaded with(装满) presents. Stopping on the roof of houses, he enters by climbing the chimney(烟囱).When small children go to bed on Christmas Eve, they hang a stocking at the end of their beds. Their parents warn them not to try to look at Father Christmas, or he will not leave them anything. When they wake, they find their
stockings filled with presents. Children are very excited on Christmas morning and always wake up early.
Christmas is also a family celebration. As any members of the family as possible
gather to eat, play party games and watch the special Christmas programmes on TV.
The federal government, all state governments, all schools/colleges/universities and the vast majority of businesses in America give employees one or two days off at Christmas, making it an important holiday (other federal holidays are: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving). In the Roman Catholic calendar, Christmas is one of six holy feast days celebrated in America, the others being: Circumcision (New Year's Day), Ascension, Assumption (Mary's assumption into heaven, August 15), All Saints (November 1), and the Immaculate Conception (December 8).
Historians are unsure exactly when Christians first began celebrating the Nativity of Christ. However, most scholars believe that Christmas originated in the 4th century as a Christian substitute for pagan celebrations of the winter solstice. Before the introduction of Christmas, each year beginning on December 17 Romans honored Saturn, the ancient god of agriculture, in a festival called Saturnalia. This festival lasted for seven days and included the winter solstice, which usually occurred around December 25 on the ancient Julian calendar. During Saturnalia the Romans feasted, postponed all business and warfare, exchanged gifts, and temporarily freed their slaves. Many Romans also celebrated the lengthening of daylight following the winter solstice by participating in rituals to glorify Mithra, the ancient Persian god of light (see Mithraism). These and other winter festivities continued through January 1, the festival of Kalends, when Romans marked the day of the new moon and the first day of the month and year.
Most scholars believe that Christmas originated in the 4th century as a Christian substitute for pagan celebrations of the winter solstice.
Although the Gospels describe Jesus‟ birth in detail, they never mention the date, so historians do not know on what date he was born. The Roman Catholic Church chose December 25 as the day for the Feast of the Nativity in order to give Christian meaning to existing pagan rituals.
2. introduction
To many people Christmas is no longer than a most important religious celebration. It means drinking and eating with abandon, and people are apt to participate in the conspicuous consumption. They hardly think of the less fortunate, one should remember all the good things and express his love to others.
Work in pairs to explain the meanings of the following two sentences.
Christmas isn‟t Christmas without a turkey.
Turkey makes a really traditional Christmas.
As we all know, turkey is the main food for Christmas in North America. Without turkey, Christmas won‟t be Christmas. Turkey always goes together with cranberry sauce. The turkey is stuffed with sausage and a mixture of bread, milk, eggs, onions and various herbs including summer savory.
Turkey is like a very large chicken that usually weighs around 15 lbs. It takes around 7 hours to roast it in the oven. Some people use an electric knife to carve it into pieces.
3. words and phrases
absolutely: definitely and completely; unquestionably 完全地，确实地
adj.: absolute relative
absolutely relatively
alcoholic: containing or preserved in alcohol 含酒精的
an alcoholic drink
n. alcohol
approach: to come near or nearer, as in space or time: 接近：靠近或靠得更近，如在空间或时间上; to come close to, as in appearance, quality, or condition; approximate: 近乎
Spring approaches.
The performance approaches perfection.
n. a way or means of reaching something; an access:途径; the method used in dealing
with or accomplishing:步骤：
an approach to the bridge
a logical approach to the problem
The approach of winter brings cold weather.
In some cases, different approaches ____the same scientific problem lead to conflicting theories.
A)to B)in C)of D)for
答案：A) the approach to...，为固定搭配，意为“…方法(途径)”。

题意为：在有些
情况下，对同一科学问题的不同研究方式会得出完全相悖的结论。

attitude: A state of mind or a feeling; disposition 心态，看法：
an attitude of open hostility 公开敌对的态度
People's attitude towards the skyscrapers varies widely.
take a (n) attitude towards/ to 对。

采取。

态度
altitude：the height of a thing above a reference level, especially above sea level or above the earth's surface 高度；海拔
latitude: the angular distance north or south of the earth's equator, measured in degrees along a meridian, as on a map or globe 纬度：
aptitude: an inherent ability, as for learning; a talent 天资：
cassette: -ette: little cigarette, essayette
cassette: little case
CD: compact disc VCD: video compact disc
ceremony: A formal act or set of acts performed as prescribed by ritual or custom:
典礼; a conventional social gesture or act of courtesy: 礼节
a wedding ceremony; the Japanese tea ceremony
the ceremony of shaking hands when introduced
childhood: hood: 身份，资格，状态
adulthood, boyhood, girlhood, manhood, womanhood
colleague: col-: 共同collect
commercial: of or relating to commerce商业的;having profit as a chief aim:以获利为目的的;
involved in work that is intended for the mass market:迎合大众的
commercial television/ advertisement/ artist
n. : commercial advertisement
commerce, commercialize, commercialism
We should take into consideration the commercial future of the commercial television.
我们应该考虑到（依靠广告收入的）商业性电视（节目）的商品化前景。

越来越多商业音乐的出现意味着在将来网民们将无法继续在网上享受到免费的音乐作品。

The appearance of more and more online commercial music means that netizens could
not enjoy the free musical products on the Internet in the future.
concentrate: to direct or draw toward a common center集中; to direct one's thoughts or attention:全神贯注：~ on
Concentrate on your work.
A driver should concentrate on the road when driving.
n.: A product that has been concentrated, especially a food that has been reduced in
volume or bulk by the removal of liquid: 浓缩品：
pineapple juice concentrate
指“集中”是两词同时可以互换，但当表示“聚焦”是只能用focus
All eyes were focused on the speaker. (喻)
This photograph looks funny; I think you forgot to focus the camera. conspicuous: easy to notice; obvious: 易见的；明显的con-(一起，共同) + spic （看，睹suspicion，suspicious）+ ous (=of)
conspicuous consumption 摆阔行的挥霍浪费
be conspicuous for…以。

而引人注目
She's always conspicuous for her bright clothes and queer hair style. consumption: the act or process of consuming消耗; an amount consumed.消耗量：
consume, consumer
网上购物是当今消费的一种新途径。

Internet shopping is a new way of consumption.
The consumption of luxury brand by Chinese consumers is increasing rapidly not only domestically, but also abroad.
中国奢侈品的消费正在快速增长，不仅在国内，而且在海外大量购买。

为了帮助那个偏远的村庄摆脱贫困，他耗尽自己所有的精力。

In order to help that remote village to get rid of poverty, he consumed all his energies.
China Consumers‟ Association is mainly responsible for protecting the legal rights of
Chinese consumers.
中国消费者协会主要负责维护中国消费者的合法权利。

debt: something owed, such as money, goods, or services 债务;
in debt (to): 欠债
a young family always in debt
in sb.‟s debt: 欠某人的人情
Thank you for your helping. I‟m in your debt.
debtor 债务人indebted负债的，受惠的
I'm indebted to all the staff who have been working so hard.
我十分感激一直如此努力工作的全体员工。

distress: adj. painful
他正为怎样给那个女孩留下一个好印象而苦恼。

He was distressed about how to leave the girl a good impression.
父母为我因上大学不得不离开家而很难过。

My parents were distressed about my having to leave home to go to college.
She is suffering excessive distress due to the death of her friend.
因为朋友的去世，她正承受着巨大的悲痛。

electronic: electronics: 电子学；电子设备
electricity, electron, e-mail (electronic mail)
electronics n.
注意区别：electric, electrical, electronic
electric adj.电的，用电的，发电的
an electric spark 电火花an electric cooker 电炊具
an electric iron 电熨斗
electrical adj.与电有关的，电学的，电气的，用电的
electrical engineer 电气工程师
electrical appliance 家用电器
electronic adj.电子的
electronic mail (e-mail) 电子邮件
electronic organ 电子琴
electronic media 电子舆论工具(指广播，电视)
incredible: so implausible as to elicit disbelief 不能采纳的；难以相信的：
The rumour is hardly credible.
The film star has an incredible car in addition to a large house.
这个电影明星除了一幢很大的住宅外还有一辆极好的汽车。

incredulous: expressive of disbelief: 表示怀疑的
He is credulous enough to believe every rumour.
He is incredulous of stories about flying saucers.
an incredulous stare
credible, credulous
It is totally incredible that American cyclist Lance Armstrong, once a cancer sufferer, won the title of the Tour de France six times in a row.
曾经是癌症患者的美国自行车运动员阿姆斯特朗连续六次赢得了环法自行车赛的冠军，这太让人难以置信了。

People nowadays are incredulous about ghosts and witches.
现在的人们对鬼和巫婆都不相信了。

他们不轻信道听途说。

They are incredulous of hearsay.
两年里掌握英语几乎是不可能的。

It's almost incredible to master English within 2 years.
luxury: luxurious: fond of or given to luxury 奢侈的：
It is an unfair phenomenon that some people live in luxury, while others have nothing at all.
一些人过着奢侈的生活，而其他人却是一无所有。

这是一种不公平的现象。

在中国，相当多的孩子已经习惯于生活在奢侈的环境中。

Quite a few children in China have already been accustomed to living in luxurious surroundings.
luxuriant: characterized by rich or profuse growth 茂盛的; producing or yielding in abundance 丰饶的：
Luxuriant forests covered the hillside.
represent: re-（再）+ present （出席）
to stand for; symbolize代表：
秃鹰象征了美国。

The bald eagle represents the United States.
五环代表什么?
What do the five rings represent?
to serve as an example of 作为示范：作为…的例子：
The museum had several paintings representing the artist's early style.
博物馆藏有几幅代表这个艺术家早期风格的油画。

to describe or put forward (a person or thing) as an embodiment of a specified quality
叙述：
This painting represents a storm.
represent … as: 把。

描绘成
He represented himself as a philosopher.
representation, representative
rid: to free from 使摆脱，解除
中国征服努力使国家摆脱经济危机。

Chinese government tries its best to rid the country of economic crisis.
to rid the room of rats
消灭城里的老鼠
You are supposed to get rid of carelessness, for it often leads to irretrievable errors.
你们一定要克服粗枝大叶,因为粗枝大叶常常引起无可挽回的错误。

routine: n. a fixed and regular way of doing something
He was quite familiar with the business routine of import and export trade.
他对进出口贸易的例行业务手续非常熟悉。

墨守陈规follow the (old) routine
打破常规break the routine
adj. regular; according to what is always habitually done; not special
Even the routine patrol was quite dangerous for these soldiers.
即使是例行巡逻对于这些士兵来说也是危险的。

The establishment of the routine report about various infectious diseases is necessary.
建立针对各种传染病的例行报告是非常有必要的。

sip: to drink in small quantities 呷：小口的喝
She sipped the hot tea.
sup: to eat or drink (something) or engage in eating or drinking by taking small swallows or mouthfuls 啜饮：
He supped the hot soup.
to sup out
在外边吃晚饭
soup ,supper
sophisticated: adj. having or showing much worldly experience and knowledge of fashionable life 尽管有着一张娃娃脸，但事实上他却是一个老于世故的人。

Although he has a baby face, he is actually a sophisticated man.
他们的演唱和对音乐的选择变得更为成熟。

Their singing and choice of music have become more sophisticated.
stretch: to lengthen, widen, or distend 加长; to reach or put forth; extend:伸出或搽出；to extend (oneself) when lying down:伸躺：
Taiwanese veteran singer Emil Chou‟s mainland tour concert will stretch from early July to the middle ten days of August.
台湾资深歌手周华健的大陆巡回演唱会将会从7月初延续到8月中旬。

Frodo tried his best to stretch out his arm to take the ring. (from “The Lord of the Rings”)
佛罗多竭尽全力伸直手臂去够魔戒。

（选自《指环王》）
必须把绳子拉紧。

The rope must be stretched tight.
derive… from: get... from 从······得到
我们从阅读中得到乐趣。

We derive pleasure from reading.
我们应该从实践中得到知识。

We should derive knowledge from practice.
这种习惯起源于佛教。

This custom derives its origin from Buddhism.
这部小说来自一个真实的故事。

The novel was derived from a real story.
in advance: before sth. happens or is expected to happen 提前
上课前我们必须全准备好。

We must get all prepared in advance of the class.
伽利略的思想超越了他生活的时代。

Galileo…s ideas were in advance of the age in which he lived.
put up:
1) to provide lodgings for:为…提供食宿
He put a friend up for the night.
2) to build 搭起，建造
Dozens of high rises have been put up these years around here.
3) to raise 举起
Put up your hands if you have any questions.
4) to preserve; can:保存
He puts up six jars of jam.
5) to provide (funds) in advance:提供：提前提供（资金）
They put up money for the new musical.
6) express something 提出
No one has yet put up any objections to the proposal.
7) to nominate 提名
Each party is allowed to put one candidate up.
3. text structure
The text consists of two short passages, one of which is entitled More Stuffing and the other Not Only for Children. The two passages give us quite different opinions to Christmas.
More Stuffing
Merry has two meanings: happy and drunk. You will be sipping away on a drink at Christmas. (Para.
1)
An incredible amount of money is spent on many luxury items. (Para. 2)
We forget to think of the sick and the homeless. (Para. 3)
Christmas is a holiday that has lost its meaning. So, I am against Christmas. (Para. 4)
Not Only for Children
Many people today have a very different attitude to Christmas. (Para. 6)
They think it‟s just a time when shopkeepers make a lot of money and everyone rushes round
buying presents they don‟t want to give and food they don‟t want to eat.
I have different ideas. (Para. 5, 7-9)
Opening Christmas gifts is an exciting experience.
Christmas takes people out of the ordinary routine of life.
Everyone seems much friendlier to each other than usual at Christmas time.
It is still a “holy day”, and it gives people time to pause and concentrate for a moment on non-commercial values.
4. difficult sentences:
1) Whether you are surrounded by the noisy friendliness of a pub or whether you are seated in the peaceful comfort of someone‟s home, you will be sipping away on a drink. (Line 5) 无论身处酒店嘈杂而友好的气氛中，还是坐在别人的安静、舒适的家中，你都会照样喝个不停。

whether…or (whether) 无论······还是······
该句型用于句首时whether不能换成if。

Believe it or not, my method can also be applied to determine whether a car‟s engine is about to break down, or whether a lottery ticket is going to win.
信不信由你，我这种方法还适用于判断汽车的发动机是否会坏，或者一张彩票是否会中奖。

2) Christmas is supposed to be a time to express our love and goodwill towards others. (Line 17) 圣诞节应该是对他人表示爱心和良好祝愿的时候。

… is a time to do sth.… is a time when (Line 32)
It seemed a good time to express your thanks on Thanks‟ Giving Day.
感恩节看来是你们表达谢意的好时候。

暑假对孩子们而言的确是难得放松的时期。

Summer holiday is really a precious time for pupils to relax.
3)Indeed, whatever shopkeepers gain out of Christmas, it is still a “holy day‟, the words which “holiday” is derived… (Line 50)
whatever, whoever, wherever, whichever 等可引导让步状语从句。

在这里相当于"no matter what"。

"whatever" 为书面语"no matter what" 多用于口语。

Whatever you may think, I‟m going ahead with my plans.
不管你怎么想，我都要实行我的计划。

Whoever you are, you can‟t pass this way.
不管你是谁，你都不能通过这条路。

Whichever you choose, the others will be offended.
不管你选哪个，其余的人都会生气。

Whatever nonsense the newspapers print, some people always believe it.
无论报纸登载的东西多么荒唐，有些人总是会相信的。

3) If you walk down the main street of several towns in the East end of London just before Christmas, you won‟t see a large amount of money being spent on presents. 如果你在圣诞节前夕，到伦敦东区几个市镇的大街上走一走，你就看不到人们如此奢侈的花钱买礼物。

The east end of London伦敦东区
伦敦分为东区和西区。

东区居住的是比较贫穷的人，中上层社会的人居住在东区和西区之间。

西城区主要是商业区。

4）If you have the money or if you are prepared to go into debt, you will participate in the conspicuous consumption that Christmas has come to represent.
假如你有钱，或者如果你不怕欠债，你就参与象征圣诞节的炫耀性消费。

come to：到。

时候，最终。