Culture：The ladies' secret
【明報專訊】The Smarties are close to each other like siblings. Pat and MoMo are making something for their "brothers" with which they will celebrate the Indian Rakhi festival (印度兄妹節).
“ Pat: How difficult it is to hide anything from Dr Panda or Bill! ”
“ MoMo: We have to keep it secret until August. ”
“ Eason: Your two pretty buddies are leaving you so that they can form "New Smarties" with me! ”
“ Bill: That's impossible! ”
“ Dr Panda: Are you hiding anything from us? ”
“ Bill: Don't go... Please... ”
“ MoMo: It's too early to let you know... but we are learning to make bracelets so that we can celebrate Rakhi together with you. ”
“ Pat: You are like our brothers! We should never be apart! ”
■Culture tips
Raksha Bandhan, or simply Rakhi, is one of the most important festivals in India. It celebrates brotherhood and love. It falls on August every year. In the festival, a girl traditionally ties a rakhi (a bracelet made of interwoven red and golden threads) around her brother's wrist to mark their relationship. It is believed that, when a woman ties a rakhi around a man's wrist, it becomes obligatory for him to do his religious duties and protect her. Today rakhis are given also to close friends.
■English highway﹕-hood
"-hood" is a suffix used to form a noun that indicates a condition or a state or a collection or group.
e.g. It was his childhood dream to become a doctor.
■Glossary
sibling (n) 兄/弟/姊/妹
interweave (v) 交錯編織
wrist (n) 手腕
obligatory (adj) 有義務的
[Smarties' Power English Vol 187]
