盘点快乐圣诞7大传统习俗

 　　Christmas is one of the most beautiful holidays of all time. It is the day when God's son was born on earth. Hence, this day is sacred for all Christians² around the world. The Christmas season gives rise to a number of Christmas traditions that come along. Here are a few of them that are celebrated³ with zest⁴ and enthusiasm worldwide for centuries.

　　圣诞节一直是个美好的节日。这是上帝之子诞生的日子，因此对世界各地的基督徒来说，这一天是非常神圣的。圣诞季节自然少不了各种圣诞传统。下面这些传统，可是几个世纪以来一直世界各地的人们一直热闹欢庆的习俗。

　　Preparation of the Christmas cake

　　烘烤圣诞蛋糕

　　This was an English tradition which started centuries ago. On Christmas eve, plum porridge was served to the people. As years passed, various other things like dry fruits, honey and spices were used. Soon this porridge got replaced with the Christmas cake. Christmas cakes are made using eggs, butter, confections, fruits, etc. Today a Christmas cake is an integral part of a Christmas menu.

　　这项英式传统早在几个世纪以前就流传开了，以前人们在平安夜喝梅花粥。随着时间慢慢推移，人们还会享用果脯、蜂蜜及香料食物等，随后圣诞蛋糕便代替梅花粥出现了。圣诞蛋糕由鸡蛋、黄油、甜点、水果等烘制而成。现如今，圣诞蛋糕已成为圣诞菜谱不可或缺的一部分。

　　Sending gifts to loved ones

　　给亲友送礼物

　　This tradition comes from the story of the three wise men who got gifts for baby Jesus on Christmas. Every Christmas, gifts are exchanged among loved ones, especially children. The story of Santa Claus also comes from this tradition.

　　这个传统源自一个传说：三位智者在圣诞节给婴儿耶稣送出了礼物。每年圣诞节，亲朋好友尤其是孩子们都会互赠礼物，圣诞老人的故事也源自这个传统。

　　Decorating the Christmas tree

　　装扮圣诞树

　　This refers to the tradition of decorating a pine tree using lights, tinsels, garlands, ornaments⁵, candy canes⁶, etc. Today, a Christmas tree is an indispensable part of Christmas celebration.

　　这个传统指的是用彩灯、金箔、花环、饰品、糖果条等装扮松树。现如今，圣诞树也是欢庆节日不可或缺的一部分。

　　Lighting⁷ up the Christmas candle

　　点燃圣诞蜡烛

　　This refers to the tradition of placing a lighted candle outside houses during the Christmas season. A candle signifies hope as it brings light even to the darkest room. In the earlier times, when Christians were persecuted⁸, they were not allowed to practice prayers. Hence, a single candle used to be placed outside the house as a sign that Christian¹ prayers were being conducted inside.

　　这个传统指的是人们会在圣诞期间在屋子外面放一支点燃的蜡烛。即便在最黑暗的屋子，蜡烛也能带来光明，寓意希望。早些年代，也就是基督徒深受迫害的时候，他们被禁止布道祷告。因此，基督徒们在屋外放一支蜡烛，暗示他们仍在心里默默祷告。

　　Singing Christmas carols

　　唱圣诞颂歌

　　It refers to the age-old custom of enchanting⁹ a number of traditional Christmas songs during the Christmas season. It adds to the joy and fun to the atmosphere. Different Christmas hymns¹⁰ or carols like The First Noel, Jingle¹¹ Bells, Joy to the world, etc are sung every Christmas as a part of the Christmas celebration.

　　这是一个古老的习俗：圣诞期间总是回荡着一首又一首圣诞传统歌曲。歌曲给人们带来欢乐，也增添了节日的气氛。每年欢度圣诞之际，《第一个圣诞节》、《铃儿响叮当》、《普世欢腾》等各种圣诞圣歌或颂歌都会奏响旋律。

　　Making of Cribs

　　制作圣诞马槽

　　This is yet another age-old tradition of Christmas. A crib refers to the Nativity Scene that is prepared using small statues. The first crib ever was made outside a church of St. Francis of Assisi for children to show them how the Nativity scene was like. Since then, this tradition became very popular.

　　这也是一个古老的圣诞习俗。人们用小雕像和马槽营造耶稣诞生的场景。第一个马槽建在圣法兰西斯一所教堂外面，意在向孩子们展示耶稣诞生的场景。从那以后这个习俗便一直流传了下来。

　　Distributing Christmas candies

　　分发圣诞糖果

　　This is one of the most wonderful traditions of all. Christmas candies are distributed to neighbors during the Yuletide season. On the day of Christmas, all misunderstandings and grudges¹² are forgotten and the community comes together to celebrate the birth of Christ.

　　这是所有传统中最有趣的一个。圣诞季人们向邻居们分发圣诞糖果；圣诞节那天，所有误会与仇恨统统化解，邻里之间团结一致共同庆祝耶稣的诞生。

　　These traditions have been carried out for decades, yet they are celebrated with more and more exuberance¹³ each year. The level of excitement has never gone down. It just keeps getting better and better with time.

　　这些传统沿袭已有几十年，一年比一年热闹，盛况可谓有增无减。相信随着时间的推移，人们对传统习俗的热情只会越来越高。

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 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。

3 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

4 zest   

n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣

参考例句：

• He dived into his new job with great zest.他充满热情地投入了新的工作。
• He wrote his novel about his trip to Asia with zest.他兴趣浓厚的写了一本关于他亚洲之行的小说。

5 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》

6 canes   

n.（某些植物，如竹或甘蔗的）茎( cane的名词复数 )；（用于制作家具等的）竹竿；竹杖

参考例句：

• Sugar canes eat sweet. 甘蔗吃起来很甜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I saw several sugar canes, but wild, and for cultivation, imperfect. 我还看到一些甘蔗，因为是野生的，未经人工栽培，所以不太好吃。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学

7 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

8 persecuted   

（尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人

参考例句：

• Throughout history, people have been persecuted for their religious beliefs. 人们因宗教信仰而受迫害的情况贯穿了整个历史。
• Members of these sects are ruthlessly persecuted and suppressed. 这些教派的成员遭到了残酷的迫害和镇压。

9 enchanting   

a.讨人喜欢的

参考例句：

• His smile, at once enchanting and melancholy, is just his father's. 他那种既迷人又有些忧郁的微笑，活脱儿象他父亲。
• Its interior was an enchanting place that both lured and frightened me. 它的里头是个吸引人的地方，我又向往又害怕。

10 hymns   

n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• At first, they played the hymns and marches familiar to them. 起初他们只吹奏自己熟悉的赞美诗和进行曲。 来自英汉非文学 - 百科语料821
• I like singing hymns. 我喜欢唱圣歌。 来自辞典例句

11 jingle   

n.叮当声，韵律简单的诗句；v.使叮当作响，叮当响，押韵

参考例句：

• The key fell on the ground with a jingle.钥匙叮当落地。
• The knives and forks set up their regular jingle.刀叉发出常有的叮当声。

12 grudges   

不满，怨恨，妒忌( grudge的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He never grudges money. 他从不吝惜金钱。
• They bear grudges against each other. 他俩有过节儿。

13 exuberance   

n.丰富；繁荣

参考例句：

• Her burst of exuberance and her brightness overwhelmed me.她勃发的热情和阳光的性格征服了我。
• The sheer exuberance of the sculpture was exhilarating.那尊雕塑表现出的勃勃生机让人振奋。