美国少数民族社区庆祝圣诞节

 　　美国少数民族社区庆祝圣诞节

　　LOS ANGELES — Christmas is a highlight for many immigrant communities in the United States, who bring colorful traditions from their countries of origin.

　　For Hispanics, the nine-day celebration of Las Posadas reenacts the search by Mary and Joseph for a place to lodge¹ as Mary prepared to give birth to baby Jesus.

　　People in costume join the nightly procession along Olvera Street, the city's Hispanic center. Arturo Najera came to the historic neighborhood with his wife, Rosario, and their family.

　　"We're happy to join in this community celebration. This is important to all of us Latinos, especially Catholics," said Najera.

　　Maria Berumen came to the United States from Cuba as a child, but this is her first time seeing Las Posadas.

　　“I've been wanting to come for years. And this time I found out about it because I saw a post on Facebook," said Berumen.

　　At the Filipino Christian² Church, holiday preparations are also under way. Philippine immigrant Helen Culp says it's a time to celebrate with family.

　　“I think the Philippines is the most 'Christmasy' country in all the world," said Culp.

　　Ely Obillo says the star, which announced the birth of Jesus, is the holiday symbol loved in the Philippines, and Los Angeles.

　　“Made out of bamboo or a wooden frame. And they would cover it every year. Most of the time they would cover it with colored cellophane," said Obillo.

　　As churches in L.A.'s historic Philippine and Korean neighborhoods display Christmas decorations, Father John Bakas of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral also prepares for the holiday celebration, which extends in his church from Christmas to the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6. He reminds parishioners that this is a spiritual celebration.

　　“Because as we celebrate the birth of Christ in this faraway place 2,000 years ago, the key for us Orthodox Christians³ is to have Christ being born in the manger of our hearts," said Father Bakas.

　　In the Greek, Philippine, and Hispanic neighborhoods, Christians of every ethnic⁴ background say Christmas is a time of fellowship and community.

1 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

4 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。