Speaking calendar/Honen Matsuri
March 15th · Fertility & Harvest

Honen Matsuri

A 280kg wooden phallus. A giant parade. And a lot of sake. Today we're heading to Japan for the most honest festival on earth. This lesson explores why ancient traditions still matter in a high-tech world, and how celebrating fertility keeps a community alive.

ADULT 18+ · SPEAKING LESSONB1 / B2Discussion · Vocabulary · Activities
01 / LET’S TALK

Speaking Discussion

  1. Why do ancient cultures use bold symbols to represent harvest and life?
  2. Is it important for modern, high-tech cities to keep old, weird traditions alive?
  3. How does your culture celebrate New life or good luck?
  4. Does talking about fertility in public make people more comfortable or less?
  5. If you could start a new tradition for your hometown, what would it be?
02 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

Activity 1: The Tradition Pitch

You are a Cultural Tourism Officer. You want to bring more visitors to your town. Pitch a "New Ancient Festival" using the word "Abundance".

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Debate

Justify your answer in 30 seconds:

  • "Modern people have lost their connection to the earth."
  • "Old traditions are just an excuse for a party."
  • "Festivals are the only time people are truly happy."