武漢市沌口開發(fā)區(qū)第二中學 張榕芳 供稿

圣誕節(jié)是西方最重要的節(jié)日。它已經(jīng)由最初的一個宗教節(jié)日變成如今世界性的一個大眾節(jié)日。人們在節(jié)日期間互相贈送祝福和禮物，期盼新年的到來。以下關于圣誕節(jié)的常識，有多少是你知道的呢？

1.Christmas Day and Christmas Eve 圣誕節(jié)與平安夜

In Christianity (基督教)，Christmas is the festival celebrating the Nativity (基督誕生) of Jesus.Christmas Day is the 25th of December，when Christmas is celebrated.Everybody goes for various parties to celebrate the festival on Christmas Day.The day before Christmas is known as the Christmas Eve.The Christmas Eve marks the beginning of the Christmas season.

在基督教的傳統(tǒng)中，圣誕節(jié)是為慶祝基督耶穌降生的節(jié)日。人們在每年的12月25日慶祝圣誕節(jié)。在圣誕節(jié)那天，大家都去參加各種各樣的派對來慶祝節(jié)日。圣誕節(jié)的前一天被稱為平安夜。平安夜標志著圣誕節(jié)期的開始。

2.Christmas Celebrations 圣誕習俗

Christmas celebrations can be different from country to country.For many Christians，a religious (宗教的) service plays an important part in the Christmas season.Secular processions (世俗的傳統(tǒng))，includes Santa Claus (圣誕老人)，the most famous figure all over the world and other seasonal figures.Usually，family members will reunite (團聚)and exchange the gifts on Christmas Day，too.

國與國之間圣誕的習俗不盡相同。對基督教徒來說，在圣誕節(jié)舉行相應的宗教儀式必不可少。而世俗的傳統(tǒng)，包括全世界都非常有名的圣誕老人等。通常，家庭也會在圣誕節(jié)團聚并互換禮物。

3.Christmas Dinner 圣誕大餐

Christmas dinner is the primary meal traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.It is an important part of the celebration.But what is actually served can vary greatly from country to country.In England，a standard Christmas meal would include turkey，potatoes，vegetables，sausages and gravy (肉汁)，followed by Christmas pudding or mince (碎肉；肉末) pies.In Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe，fish is often the traditional main course (主菜).Ham is the main meal in the Philippines，while in Germany，F(xiàn)rance and Australia，goose and pork are favored (倍受青睞).

圣誕大餐是在平安夜或圣誕節(jié)吃的傳統(tǒng)大餐。圣誕大餐是圣誕節(jié)習俗的重要部分，但各國的圣誕大餐也有差別。在英國，標準的圣誕大餐通常包括火雞、土豆、蔬菜、香腸和肉汁，之后是圣誕布丁或碎肉派。在波蘭等東歐國家，魚是圣誕餐的主菜在菲律賓，火腿是主菜；而在德國、法國和澳大利亞，鵝和豬肉倍受青睞。

4.Traditional Decorations 傳統(tǒng)裝飾物

Many plants have been associated with Christmas，such as holly (冬青樹)，mistletoe(槲寄生)，Christmas cactus (蟹爪蘭) and so on.The room may be decorated with (被……裝 飾) these plants，along with a Christmas tree，garlands (花 環(huán)) and ever green foliage(樹葉).It is also traditional to decorate the outside of houses with lights and sometimes with snowmen，and other things.The traditional colors of Christmas are pine green (松綠色)，snow white and heart red.

許多植物都和圣誕節(jié)相聯(lián)系，比如冬青樹、懈寄生和蟹爪蘭等。它們和圣誕樹、花環(huán)、綠葉一起被用以裝飾房間。另外也有用燈泡、有時也用雪人和其他東西裝飾屋子外部的傳統(tǒng)。圣誕節(jié)最傳統(tǒng)的裝飾顏色是松綠色、雪白色和大紅色。

5.Christmas Cards and Stamps 圣誕卡片和圣誕郵票

In western society and in Asia，Christmas cards are usually exchanged during the weeks preceding (先于……) Christmas Day on December 25.The traditional greeting reads“Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”.The first commercial Christmas card was produced in London in 1843.A number of nations have issued commemorative(紀念性的) stamps at Christmas time.These stamps are usually printed in considerable quantities.People often use these stamps to mail Christmas cards or collect them.

在西方和亞洲，人們會在圣誕節(jié)的前一周會互寄圣誕卡片。通常祝福語會是“祝你圣誕快樂，新年快樂”。第一張商業(yè)圣誕卡片起源于1843年的倫敦。很多國家在圣誕的時候都會發(fā)行紀念郵票。這些郵票通常質(zhì)量都很好。人們也經(jīng)常用這些圣誕郵票來寄他們的圣誕卡片，或者進行收藏。

6.Little Christmas and Women’s Christmas 小圣誕和女人的圣誕節(jié)

Little Christmas is one of the traditional names in Ireland for January 6.It is so called because it was the day on which Christmas Day was celebrated under the Roman calendar(羅馬歷).It is the traditional end of the Christmas season and the last day of the Christmas holidays for both primary and secondary schools in Ireland.Little Christmas is also called Women’s Christmas，and sometimes Women’s Little Christmas.Traditionally，Irish men will take on all the house work and giving their wives a day off that day.

愛爾蘭人把每年的1月6日稱為“小圣誕”。這一天是以過去羅馬歷計算的圣誕節(jié)。在愛爾蘭，小圣誕被視做圣誕節(jié)期的最后一天，同時也是中小學圣誕假期的最后一天。小圣誕節(jié)在愛爾蘭同時也叫“女人的圣誕節(jié)”，或“女人的小圣誕”。傳統(tǒng)上這一天愛爾蘭的男人通常會接過家里的所有家務，讓他們的妻子休一天假。