VOA常速英语2013--美国民族各个社区庆祝圣诞节（在线收听）

US Ethnic Communities Celebrate Christmas 美国民族各个社区庆祝圣诞节

LOS ANGELES — Christmas is a highlight for many immigrant communities in the United States, who bring colorful traditions from their countries of origin.  

For Hispanics, the nine-day celebration of Las Posadas reenacts the search by Mary and Joseph for a place to lodge as Mary prepared to give birth to baby Jesus.

对于拉美裔人来说, 为期9天的拉斯波萨达斯节期间将重新上演玛丽和约瑟夫寻找能够为玛丽生下婴儿耶稣落脚之地的这段旅程。

People in costume join the nightly procession along Olvera Street, the city's Hispanic center.

身着盛装的人们加入到位于这座城市拉美裔中心墨西哥街的夜间队伍当中。

Arturo Najera came to the historic neighborhood with his wife, Rosario, and their family.

阿图·纳胡拉和他的妻子罗萨里奥，还有他的大家庭也来到这一历史性的街区。

"We're happy to join in this community celebration.

“我们很高兴加入到这个社区庆祝活动当中。

This is important to all of us Latinos, especially Catholics," said Najera.

这对我们所有的拉丁美洲人,特别是天主教徒而言意义非凡。”纳胡拉说道。

Maria Berumen came to the United States from Cuba as a child, but this is her first time seeing Las Posadas.

玛丽亚·贝鲁曼在孩提时代就从古巴来到美国,但这却是她第一次享受拉斯波萨达斯节。

“I've been wanting to come for years.

“我多年来一直想参加。

And this time I found out about it because I saw a post on Facebook," said Berumen.

这次我终于如愿以偿,因为我在Facebook上看到了相关帖子,” 贝鲁曼说道。

At the Filipino Christian Church, holiday preparations are also under way.

在菲律宾基督教教堂,节日的准备工作也在如火如荼进行当中。

Philippine immigrant Helen Culp says it's a time to celebrate with family.

菲律宾移民海伦·克鲁普表示这是与家人一起庆祝的时刻。

“I think the Philippines is the most 'Christmasy' country in all the world," said Culp.

“我认为菲律宾是世界上最具“圣诞节气氛”的国家,”克鲁普说道。

Ely Obillo says the star, which announced the birth of Jesus, is the holiday symbol loved in the Philippines, and Los Angeles.

伊利·奥比里奥称宣布耶稣诞生的星星是菲律宾和洛杉矶这个节日中最受喜爱的节日象征。

“Made out of bamboo or a wooden frame. And they would cover it every year.

“它是由竹子制成的或是一个木制框架。他们每年会装饰。

Most of the time they would cover it with colored cellophane," said Obillo.

绝大多数时间他们会用彩色玻璃纸,”奥比里奥说道。

As churches in L.A.'s historic Philippine and Korean neighborhoods display Christmas decorations, Father John Bakas of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral also  prepares for the holiday celebration, which extends in his church from Christmas to the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6.

而随着洛杉矶的菲律宾和韩国历史街区的各处教堂布置圣诞装饰品,圣索菲娅希腊东正教大教堂的约翰·巴卡斯神父也准备着节日的庆祝活动,他的教会将从圣诞节延伸至1月6日的主显节宴会 。

He reminds parishioners that this is a spiritual celebration.

他提醒教区居民,这是一次精神上的庆祝活动。

“Because as we celebrate the birth of Christ in this faraway place 2,000 years ago, the key for us Orthodox Christians is to have Christ being born in the manger of  our hearts," said Father Bakas.

“因为我们庆祝基督2000年前在这个遥远的地方的诞生,我们东正教基督徒的教义是基督出生在我们心中的马槽之中,”巴卡斯神父说道。

In the Greek, Philippine, and Hispanic neighborhoods, Christians of every ethnic background say Christmas is a time of fellowship and community.

在希腊,菲律宾及西班牙裔社区,每一个宗教的背景故事都记述着圣诞节是友谊和团结之节。