世界节假日博览 第53期:圣帕特里克节

 　　Saint Patrick's Day, March 17, is an annual celebration of the patron saint of Ireland. It is a national holiday in Ireland, and millions of Irish people all over the world where there are Irish communities celebrate. Celebrations are based on all things Irish and the colour green. City authorities in Chicago even dye the city’s river green for this day. Many people wear green clothes, eat Irish food and drink the Irish drink Guinness, which many bars also try and dye green. There are also traditional St Patrick’s Day parades. The one in Dublin is spread over five days and attracts half a million people. The New York parade is the largest, with two million spectators. Many people with no Irish connections celebrate and declare themselves Irish for a day.

　　每年的3月17日是圣帕特里克节，该节日庆祝的是爱尔兰圣人。这是爱尔兰的国家节日，来自全球的数百万爱尔兰人会来到爱尔兰社区进行庆祝活动。庆祝活动全部是爱尔兰风格，以及绿色。在芝加哥，市政甚至还会在这一天将河流染成绿色。人们穿着绿色服装，食用爱尔兰食物，品尝爱尔兰的吉尼斯，许多酒吧还尝试着将酒染绿。这一天人们还会举办许多圣帕特里克的传统游行活动。其中之一是能够吸引50万人的都柏林游行活动，此活动会持续五天。规模最大的是纽约的游行活动，观众达到200万人。与爱尔兰没有关系的民众也会在这一天庆祝，并在这天称自己的爱尔兰人。

　　Saint Patrick was a Christian¹ missionary². Some scholars say he was born in England, while others believe he was Italian. Most agree he lived in the fifth century. When he was sixteen, he was captured and taken as a slave to Ireland. He lived as a slave for six years before escaping. He joined the church to train as a priest and became a missionary in the north and west of Ireland. Legend has it that Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. There are many other legends about Patrick that have cemented him as a key part of Irish culture. March 17 is believed to be the date of his death. Unlike other saints, Patrick was never canonized by a Pope, although most Christian churches list him as a “Saint in Heaven”.

　　圣帕特里克是一名基督教传教士。许多学者认为他出生于英格兰，还有人认为他是意大利人。绝大多数人都认为他生活在5世纪。16岁那年，他遭到抓捕，并以奴隶的身份来到了爱尔兰。在他逃跑之前，他当了6年奴隶。他皈依了基督教，成为了牧师，之后成为了爱尔兰北部和西部的传教士。还有传说称帕特里克将所有蛇赶出了爱尔兰。还有许多关于帕特里克的传说，这些也帮助他成为了爱尔兰文化的重要组成部分。人们认为3月17日是他的忌日。不像其他圣徒，教皇从来没有将他封为过圣徒，尽管绝大多数基督教堂都将他归为是“天堂的圣徒”。

　　1.national holiday 国定假日

　　例句：We should vote on weekends or make Election Day a national holiday.

　　我们应当在周末投票，或让选举日成为一个国家假日。

　　2.Christian missionary 基督教传教士

　　例句：The CIA often uses planes owned by Christian missionary organizations and flown by Christian missionary pilots to smuggle³ drugs, arms, and prisoners.

　　美国中央情报局经常使用组织基督教传教士所拥有的飞机和飞行员驾驶由基督教传教士以走私毒品，武器，和囚犯。

　　3.all over the world 全世界

　　例句：You can find everything all over the world.

　　你能买到全世界所有的东西。

　　4.based on 以…为基础

　　例句：The plan of our country is based on a rising economy.

　　我国的计划建立在不断发展的经济的基础上。

1 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。

2 missionary   

adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士

参考例句：

• She taught in a missionary school for a couple of years.她在一所教会学校教了两年书。
• I hope every member understands the value of missionary work. 我希望教友都了解传教工作的价值。

3 smuggle   

vt.私运；vi.走私

参考例句：

• Friends managed to smuggle him secretly out of the country.朋友们想方设法将他秘密送出国了。
• She has managed to smuggle out the antiques without getting caught.她成功将古董走私出境，没有被逮捕。