LESSONS: English Language Arts/ a short story

Around the world, people use textiles to mark special occasions. Some of these times are national or religious holidays. Others have to do with peoples' lives, such as births, weddings, harvests, and so on. These major transitions in life, when people leave one stage behind and enter a new one, are called rites of passage. Holidays and rites of passage are usually marked by feasting, wearing festive dress, exchanging gifts, and decorating with special hangings. What are some of the times of the year you observe? What are some special phases in life that you celebrate? What special foods are eaten? Do you have decorations on display? Do you wear something different from your everyday clothing at these times? What about the images, symbols, and colors of Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, New Years' Eve, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas?

Take a look at some examples of festive and ceremonial textiles by visiting the Shining Cloth Web site at: http://shiningcloth.ucdavis.edu Click on the Gallery section and select from these images, which are listed below. You don't have to look at them all. (To help you sort the images, they are coded. H= hanging or cloth: C=clothing or dress: A=animal decoration set)

Silk/Surfaces:
H 1/2 Straits Chinese, wedding hangings, Malaysia
C 1/9 Miao, festive dress from Rongshoi, China
C 1/10 Miao, festive dress from Huanping County, China

Gold:
C 2/5 Fukusa gift cover cloth, Japan
H 2/6 Dragon hanging, China
C 2/8 Ceremonial disks, Timor, Indonesia

Silver/Sequins:
H 3/1 Vodou banner, Haiti
C 3/4 Biga people, wedding jacket, Turkey
C 3/5 China Poblana skirt, Mexico
C 3/10 Iban people, festive dress set

Mirrors:
H 4/1 Rajput community, toran or doorway hanging, India
H 4/2 Vaniya community, chakla or square hanging, India
H 4/3 Rabari community, dowry bag, India
C 4/5 Lohana people, chola, Pakistan
C 4/6 Kauer people, jacket, Sumatra
C 4/7 Kauer people, tapis or lower body wrap, Sumatra
A 4/8 Horse decoration, Pakistan

Beads:
C 5/1 Pwo Karen people, dress, Thailand
C 5/6 Zo or Chin people, blouse, Burma
C 5/7 Zo or Chin people, skirt, Burma
A 5/9 Oxen ornaments, India

Shells:
C 6/1 Bagobo people, dress set, Philippine Islands
C 6/2 Bagobo people, blouse, Philippine Islands
C 6/3 Kalinga people, lower body wrap, Philippine Islands
A 6/7 Camel neckband, Pakistan
C 6/8 Yusufzai people, jumlo, Swat Valley, Pakistan

Feathers/Seeds/Minerals:
C 7/2 Feather wedding ornament, China
H 7/8 Rumal or ceremonial square, India.

Beetles:
C 8/1 Pwo Karen people, festive dress, Thailand
C 8/2 Pwo Karen people, shawl, Thailand

After you look at the images, write a short story consisting of about five paragraphs. Describe an imaginary celebration with festive dress, special hangings, and other details. Make a brief outline and be sure to answers the questions below in your story.

What is the event- a big birthday? a royal wedding? an important meeting between two powerful chiefs? New Years' Eve in 2500? thanksgiving for peace after a great war?

Who are the main characters?

When does this celebration take place and where does it happen?

How do the people/creatures celebrate? What is the dress like? Are there special banners and decorations that indicate the occasion? Are there animals, and if so, are they adorned? Is there food? Are there gifts? Are there other details to include that add meaning to your story?

What is the ending? Do you return to earth and the year 2000? Do you wake up to realize you were dreaming? Do you find your way out of some supernatural place?

If you have time, you can draw the festive dress and hangings of your main characters, too. Based on the stories, your class could combine elements from other stories to make a play with banners and costumes.