VOA慢速英语--伯利恒领导人称圣诞节不会“取消”

Bethlehem could have an unhappy Christmas. Just 12 months ago, the Palestinian town was celebrating its busiest Christmas season in 20 years. This year, there are few visitors. Hotels that were adding new areas in 2019 are now closed because of the coronavirus crisis.

But town leaders say the traditional birthplace of Jesus will go ahead with its celebrations.

"Bethlehem is going to celebrate Christmas. And Christmas will not be cancelled," said Mayor Anton Salman. Workers behind him were putting up a large Christmas tree in Manger Square.

"This Christmas from Bethlehem there will be a message of hope to the whole world, that the world will recover from this pandemic."

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, recently tried to improve spirits, saying that Christmas preparations had already started.

Father Francesco Patton is the Custodian¹ of the Holy Land. He launched the seasonal² celebrations last weekend. He led a service in a near-empty Church of the Nativity.

"This Christmas will be less festive³ than usual as there will be restrictions⁴, I suppose like any other part of the world," Pizzaballa said in an interview with a Catholic news service.

"Maybe the civil law will forbid us to celebrate as we want; the pandemic will impose restrictions, but none will stop us from expressing the true meaning of Christmas which is to make an act of love."

Rula Maayah is the Palestinian Authority's tourism minister. Maayah said this year was especially difficult because it followed record tourism in 2018 and 2019. This year, there has been very little foreign tourism. Fewer Christian⁵ Palestinians are coming as pilgrims too.

Tourist guides and local shop owners say the pandemic's effect on the worldwide economy has also hurt Internet sales. They usually increase during the holiday season.

Manger Square normally has an active, exciting build-up to Christmas. But the plaza⁶ was almost empty in November. Many shops were closed, and small stores were selling just a few objects.

On Nativity Street, Michael Canawati's store is usually popular with visitors. They buy key chains that have images of Jesus or Nativity scenes made from Palestinian olive wood.

But Canawati has not opened his shop in weeks. He finds it difficult to pay his employees.

He was also forced to permanently⁷ close his second store in Jerusalem.

"We are at a dead end. The shop is full of merchandise," Canawati told the Reuters news agency. "The whole world is in the same problem that we are in. We put some promotions⁹ (online) for Christmas...and still nothing," Canawati said.

Elias al-Arja is head of the Arab Hotel Association. Al-Arja noted¹⁰ that Bethlehem and the world faced the same problem.

"I have worked in tourism for 30 years. We have had ups and downs because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but never anything like this."

Words in This Story

pandemic – n. medical: an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world

preparation – n. the activity or process of making something ready or of becoming ready for something

festive – adj. cheerful and exciting : suited to a celebration or holiday

forbid – v. to order (someone) not to do something

impose -- v. to cause (something, such as a tax, fine, rule, or punishment) to affect someone or something by using your authority

tourism -- n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure; the business of providing hotels, restaurants, entertainment, etc., for people who are traveling

pilgrim – n. someone who travels to a holy place

merchandise – n. goods that are bought and sold

promotion⁸ – n. something (such as advertising) that is done to make people aware of something and increase its sales or popularity

1 custodian   

n.保管人，监护人；公共建筑看守

参考例句：

• Benitez believes his custodian is among the top five in world football.贝尼特斯坚信他的门将是当今足坛最出色的五人之一。
• When his father died his uncle became his legal custodian.他父亲死后，他叔叔成了他的法定监护人。

2 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

3 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 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。

6 plaza   

n.广场，市场

参考例句：

• They designated the new shopping centre York Plaza.他们给这个新购物中心定名为约克购物中心。
• The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen.这个广场上布满了便衣警察。

7 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

8 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

9 promotions   

促进( promotion的名词复数 )； 提升； 推广； 宣传

参考例句：

• All services or promotions must have an appeal and wide application. 所有服务或促销工作都必须具有吸引力和广泛的适用性。
• He promptly directed the highest promotions and decorations for General MacArthur. 他授予麦克阿瑟将军以最高的官阶和勋奖。

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。