圣诞市场提振巴塞罗那经济

 　　BARCELONA, Spain, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Christmas markets in Barcelona resist the economic crisis despite the negative impact of the economic downturn, their organizers told Xinhua.

　　In Barcelona there are two main Christmas markets, one in the Cathedral Square, Santa Lucia, and the other one next to the famous Temple of the Sagrada Familia, designed by the well-known architect Antoni Gaudi.

　　"The crisis has affected¹ us, as well as the weather", Lluis Mestre, vice² president of the Association of Santa Lucia Market, the oldest one in the world, told Xinhua.

　　At the Santa Lucia market, which dates back from 1786, there are 288 stands where cribs and figures are sold, also all kinds of vegetation (including Christmas trees), crafts and musical instruments. This year it was opened on Nov. 28 and since then, it has rained several days in Barcelona, a fact that decreases the number of visitors.

　　Christmas markets help boost economy in Barcelona amid crisis

　　"This year it is expected a drop of 10 or 15 percent in sales", Mestre said, adding that despite the losses caused by the crisis the historical tradition of Santa Lucia market will not vanish.

　　The origin of this market dates back to Carlos III, Spanish monarch³ between 1759 and 1788. He introduced the crib in Spain and noble people from Barcelona wanted one, needing artisans who modeled figures and people who brought mountain moss⁴ and other shrubs⁵ for the cribs, Mestre told.

　　"Nowadays the fair is not as traditional as it was before", Mestre said, adding that currently many materials and elements are imported from China.

　　The same happens at the Sagrada Familia market, where much of the elements come from China. "Much of what we have here is from China," Carlos Fernandez, president of the decorations and cribs sector⁶ at the Sagrada Familia market confirmed.

　　From Fernandez's point of view "the economic crisis raged", but he is optimistic. He believes that they will sell this year the same as last year, "which is a plus because we have spent years selling less".

　　He recognized that the situation would not be probably like before, but "historically, there have been more crisis (...) but this did not mean that there were no shops, culture ... etc."

　　This year visitors could enjoy around 100 stands at the Sagrada Familia market, almost 50 percent less than about seven years ago, when some 220 stands gathered there. The market is organized in four sectors⁷: ornaments⁸ and cribs, natural items, gift items and food.

　　The latter two sectors make the difference between the market of Sagrada Familia and Santa Lucia, since in the latter no food stalls or gift items are sold. Another difference that its organizers pointed⁹ out is that the market is more spacious¹⁰ and people can walk circularly around it.

　　The Sagrada Familia market began in the 60s, Maite Serra told Xinhua. There were so many stands at the Santa Lucia market that some of them had to move to Sagrada Familia. Afterwards the market was born.

　　Serra took part in the fair since she was 14, she was treasurer¹¹ and later the main organizer for over 14 years. As an experienced woman who worked at the market for almost her whole life, she told Xinhua that "the market started having problems about 10 years ago, but three years ago we noticed it even more." However, she ensured that "tradition will not be lost."

　　The market is not a simple market where you shop, it entails¹² a family tradition. Visitors enjoy a family walk choosing Christmas decorations for their houses.

　　The two markets finish on Tuesday, facing the crisis one year more and expecting a strong economic recovery for next Christmas. Many families take advantage of the sales of the last day for shopping as they may find interesting discounts on some items.

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

4 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

5 shrubs   

灌木( shrub的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gardener spent a complete morning in trimming those two shrubs. 园丁花了整个上午的时间修剪那两处灌木林。
• These shrubs will need more light to produce flowering shoots. 这些灌木需要更多的光照才能抽出开花的新枝。

6 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

7 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 ornaments   

n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

10 spacious   

adj.广阔的，宽敞的

参考例句：

• Our yard is spacious enough for a swimming pool.我们的院子很宽敞，足够建一座游泳池。
• The room is bright and spacious.这房间很豁亮。

11 treasurer   

n.司库，财务主管

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith was succeeded by Mrs.Jones as treasurer.琼斯夫人继史密斯先生任会计。
• The treasurer was arrested for trying to manipulate the company's financial records.财务主管由于试图窜改公司财政帐目而被拘留。

12 entails   

使…成为必要( entail的第三人称单数 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需

参考例句：

• The job entails a lot of hard work. 这工作需要十分艰苦的努力。
• This job entails a lot of hard work. 这项工作需要十分努力。