世界节假日博览 第34期:华盛顿诞辰日（在线收听）

 　　In the U.S.A. people celebrate the birthday of their first president, George Washington. They don’t always celebrate on his birth date, which is February 22, because if it falls on a weekend, people don’t get the day off. So, on the third Monday in February there is a national holiday. Not everyone agrees on the name or even the reason for the holiday. A 1968 law called it Washington’s Birthday. However, since the 1980s, lawmakers have tried to change the name to Presidents Day. Many people want the holiday to celebrate the birthday of another president, Abraham Lincoln, who was also born in February. Different U.S. states have renamed the day Presidents Day. And in Alabama, they call it "Washington and Jefferson Day".

　　在美国，民众会庆祝美国首位总统乔治·华盛顿的诞辰。他们不会在2月22日诞辰日来庆祝这一天，因为如果这一天是周末，那么他们就无法抽出一天来休息。所以，将每年的二月第三个周一定为国家假日。并不是所有人都同意该节日的名称，甚至是举办该节日的原因。1968年所签订的法律条文中，将这一天定为华盛顿诞辰日。自从20世纪80年代起，法律制定者不断试图将该节日的名称更名为总统日。许多人希望庆祝亚伯拉罕·林肯的诞辰，他也出生于二月。许多美国大州已经将其更名为总统日。在阿拉巴马州，他们将其称为“华盛顿和杰弗逊日”。
　　华盛顿诞辰.jpg
　　The holiday honors George Washington for founding the nation. He is perhaps the most famous face in U.S. history. Up and down America, towns become red, white and blue. People put flags in their windows and hang ribbons in their gardens or outside stores. Many children learn about the history of how the United States came into being. They learn about the Revolutionary War and Washington’s role in America’s independence. Various communities stage pageants and festivals that re-enact the important events in Washington's life. People also eat cherry pies, a food that has become associated with his birthday. It’s also a good day for shoppers, as many stores hold a sale hoping to attract customers with the day off.
　　该节日是为了纪念乔治·华盛顿建国。他或许是美国历史上最著名的人物。美国上上下下，城镇变成了红白蓝色的海洋。人们在窗户上插上国旗，在花园或是商店外挂上彩带。儿童会在这一天学习美国建国的历史。还会了解革命战争以及华盛顿在美国独立中所起到的作用。社区会举办盛会活动，重演华盛顿时期重要的历史事件。人们还会享用樱桃饼，这与华盛顿的生日也密切相关。这天也是购物狂的节日，商店会举办打折活动来吸引顾客。
　　1. Revolutionary War 革命战争
　　例句：The revolutionary war has deteriorated the country.
　　这场革命战争已使该国解体。
　　2.associated with 与…有关系
　　例句：Cigarette smoking has been associated with lung cancer.
　　肺癌被认为与吸烟有关。
　　3.come into being 形成
　　例句：We shall not allow a new bourgeoisie to come into being.
　　我们不能允许产生一个新的资产阶级。
　　4.try to 试着
　　例句：Mary is very quiet,try to fetch out at the party.
　　玛丽非常腼腆，设法鼓励她在聚会上开口说话。
  原文地址：http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/sjjrbl/329010.html