圣诞节Christmasisoneofthemostbeautifulholidaysofalltime.ItisthedaywhenGodssonwasbornonearth.Hence,thisdayissacredforallChristiansaroundtheworld.TheChristmasseasongivesrisetoanumberofChristmastraditionsthatcomealong.Hereareafewofthemthatarecelebratedwithzestandenthusiasmworldwideforcenturies.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。Onthisday,manygotochurch,wheretheytakepartinspecialreligiousservices.DuringtheChristmasseason,theyalsoexchangegiftsanddecoratetheirhomeswithholly,mistletoe,andChristmastrees.圣诞节当天,许多人会去教堂,在圣诞节,他们还会交换礼物,及用冬青、榭寄生和圣诞树来装饰自己的家。PreparationoftheChristmascake烘烤圣诞蛋糕ThiswasanEnglishtraditionwhichstartedcenturiesago.OnChristmaseve,plumporridgewasservedtothepeople.Asyearspassed,variousotherthingslikedryfruits,honeyandspiceswereused.SoonthisporridgegotreplacedwiththeChristmascake.Christmascakesaremadeusingeggs,butter,confections,fruits,etc.TodayaChristmascakeisanintegralpartofaChristmasmenu.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。DecoratingtheChristmastree装扮圣诞树Thisreferstothetraditionofdecoratingapinetreeusinglights,tinsels,garlands,ornaments,candycanes,etc.Today,aChristmastreeisanindispensablepartofChristmascelebration.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。LightinguptheChristmascandle点燃圣诞蜡烛ThisreferstothetraditionofplacingalightedcandleoutsidehousesduringtheChristmasseason.Acandlesignifieshopeasitbringslighteventothedarkestroom.Intheearliertimes,whenChristianswerepersecuted,theywerenotallowedtopracticeprayers.Hence,asinglecandleusedtobeplacedoutsidethehouseasasignthatChristianprayerswerebeingconductedinside.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。Sendinggiftstolovedones给亲友送礼物ThistraditioncomesfromthestoryofthethreewisemenwhogotgiftsforbabyJesusonChristmas.EveryChristmas,giftsareexchangedamonglovedones,especiallychildren.ThestoryofSantaClausalsocomesfromthistradition.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。SingingChristmascarols唱圣诞颂歌Itreferstotheage-oldcustomofenchantinganumberoftraditionalChristmassongsduringtheChristmasseason.Itaddstothejoyandfuntotheatmosphere.DifferentChristmashymnsorcarolslikeTheFirstNoel,JingleBells,Joytotheworld,etcaresungeveryChristmasasapartoftheChristmascelebration.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。DistributingChristmascandies分发圣诞糖果Thisisoneofthemostwonderfultraditionsofall.ChristmascandiesaredistributedtoneighborsduringtheYuletideseason.OnthedayofChristmas,allmisunderstandingsandgrudgesareforgottenandthecommunitycomestogethertocelebratethebirthofChrist.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。MakingofCribs制作圣诞马槽Thisisyetanotherage-oldtraditionofChristmas.AcribreferstotheNativityScenethatispreparedusingsmallstatues.ThefirstcribeverwasmadeoutsideachurchofSt.FrancisofAssisiforchildrentoshowthemhowtheNativityscenewaslike.Sincethen,thistraditionbecameverypopular.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。Thesetraditionshavebeencarriedoutfordecades,yettheyarecelebratedwithmoreandmoreexuberanceeachyear.Thelevelofexcitementhasnevergonedown.Itjustkeepsgettingbetterandbetterwithtime.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。复活节EasteristheChristiancommemorationoftheresurrectionofJesusasareligiousholiday.Overthepastyearthespringequinox,thefirstfullmoonofthefirstSundayafterEaster.ChurchofChristintheearlyyearsofthedateofEaster,therehavebeencontroversial,causingmomentaryconfusion,until325AD,thepriestsoftheChurchofthemeetingbeforedecidingonadaytocelebratetheunificationoftheEaster.复活节是基督教纪念耶稣复活的一个宗教节日。每年春分过去,第一次月圆后的第一个星期日就是复活节。早年在基督教会中对复活节的日期曾经有过争议,引起一时混乱,直到公元325年,教士会议才决定整个教会统一在一天庆祝复活节。TherearealotofthetraditionalEastercelebration,Eastereggisasymbolofthemosttypical.Inancienttimestheeggsareoftenseenasmorechildrenandgrandchildrenandasymbolofresurrection,becauseitbreedsnewlife.Later,ChristiansalsogivesnewmeaningtotheeggthatitisasymbolofthetombofJesus,thelifeofthefutureisbornfromitandgetridof.EastereggsareoftendyedredtorepresentthecrucifixionofJesuswhenthebloodflow,butalsoasymbolofhappinessaftertheresurrection.Thereisanancientcustom,theeggiscookedtothestreetchildrenplay.Theireggsfromrollingdownthehillside:Whobrokethelastegg,willwin,allpropertyofallofhiseggs.WhiteHousetoplaythisgameeveryyear,butisrollingeggsonthelawnonly.复活节有不少传统的庆祝活动,蛋就是复活节最典型的象征。古时人们常把蛋视为多子多孙和复活的象征,因为它孕育着新的生命。后来基督教徒又赋予蛋以新的涵义,认为它是耶稣墓的象征,未来的生命就是从其中挣脱而出世。复活节人们常把蛋染成红色,代表耶稣受难时流的鲜血,同时也象征复活后的快乐。还有一种古老的习俗,是把煮熟的彩蛋送给街头的孩子们做游戏。他们把彩蛋从山坡上滚下:谁的蛋最后破,谁就获得胜利,全部彩蛋都归他所有。美国白宫每年也玩这种游戏,只不过是把蛋放在草坪上滚动而已。RabbitisasymbolofEaster.NoweveryEaster,theUnitedStatesthetotalsizeofacandyshoptosellchocolatemadewiththeEasterBunnyandeggs.Theseeggsandeggisalmostsmall,bigmelonbigsurprise,thechildreneatthemwithrelish.Totherelativesandfriends,butalsobeagoodgift.兔子也是复活节的象征。