零距离美语会话[文化风俗差异]Lesson3:HaveyouwrappedyourChristmas

Three    Have you wrapped your Christmas presents?
你的圣诞礼物包好了吗？

 1   Introduction  
A   Whereas the most important holiday in China is Spring Festival (also known as the Chinese New Year), America’s most popular holiday is Christmas.  As Chinese kids get “lucky money” from their parents and relatives, American children get Christmas presents from Santa Claus.
如中国最重要的节日是春节（也叫过年）一样，美国最大众的节日就是圣诞节。中国小孩是父母和亲戚给“压岁钱”，美国小孩是从圣诞老人那里得到圣诞礼物。

B   From early November until January, American homes and stores are decorated with Christmas trees and colorful lights.  Similarly, Chinese homes are decorated with Spring Festival couplets and streets are full of red lanterns.
从十一月初到一月份，美国的房屋、商店都布置了圣诞树和彩灯。相仿地，中国的房子也被春联装饰着，街上挂满了灯笼。

C   Easter was borrowed from the Pagan Festival celebrating the rebirth of the sun.  It was adapted by Christianity to be interpreted as the resurrection of Jesus.  One American tradition associated with Easter is the Easter egg hunt.  Brightly colored eggs are hidden for children to try to find.  Sometimes hidden amongst the other eggs is what we call “a lucky egg”.  If you find the lucky egg, you win a prize.
复活节是借用了异教徒节庆祝太阳的复活。后被基督教采用诠释为耶稣的复活。美国的复活节有一个传统，那就是寻找复活节彩蛋。色彩鲜艳的彩蛋被藏起来让小孩子们去找。有时候被藏在其它蛋中间的那个就是我们所说的“幸运蛋”。如果你找到这个幸运蛋，奖品就是你赢了。

D   Sending cards for special occasions--- such as Christmas, New Year, Mother’s Day, and birthdays – has been an American tradition.  But sending cards is less common than before since computers have become so popular.
在特殊的场合寄送卡片——比如圣诞节，新年，母亲节以及生日——已经成了美国的一种传统。但是由于电脑受到如此亲睐，寄送卡片也没有以前那么普遍了。

 2   Sample Sentences
1. Christmas is just around the corner.  
   圣诞节就要到了。
2. I can’t wait to see my father.
我只想立即见我的父亲。
3. We are expected for Christmas.  
我们在盼着圣诞节的到来。
4. This year my mother will cook a twenty-five pound turkey.
今年我妈妈会烹饪一个二十五磅的火鸡。
5. Is everyone still coming to Christmas dinner at your apartment this year?
今年每个人还是会来你家吃圣诞大餐吗？
6. When will we have the Easter egg hunt?
我们什么时候开始找复活节彩蛋？
7. Who is going to play the Easter Bunny this year? 
今年谁扮演复活节小兔子？
8. Are you coming to the New Year’s Eve party this year? 
今年你会来参加除夕晚会吗？
9. What time is the hanging of the green at church?
教堂什么时候开始为圣诞节装饰？
10. Have you put up your Christmas lights in front of the yard yet? 
你有没有把圣诞彩灯挂在后院门口？

 3   Conversations
1.  Lo Fen, a Chinese agronomist1, is staying with the Helms family in Iowa. It's Christmas Eve.
Lo Fen:  Your tree looks beautiful.  Do you decorate it this way every year? 
Mrs. Helms:  Yes, it's a family tradition dating back to2 my childhood.  We use the same lights and ornaments3, but of course we have a new tree each year.
(She hands her a delicate glass ball.)
Mrs. Helms:  The children made some of these decorations.  Here, you can hang this on one of those high branches.
(Lo stands on a ladder to reach the upper limbs.)
Mr. Helms:  Well, everything seems to be just about ready.  Now all we need is snow. 
Lo Fen:  Do you exchange the presents in the morning? 
Mrs. Helms:  Oh, yes.  The kids are too excited to wait.  After we clean up4 the mess--all the empty boxes and the wrapping paper5 -- we have a big breakfast.  Then the kids have the whole day to play with their new toys.
Mr. Helms:  And we'll have a great turkey dinner at around four o'clock.  My brother and his family will be joining us. 
Lo Fen:  I look forward to meeting them.  Well, it's late, so I'll say good night.  I'll see you early tomorrow, so I can share your Christmas morning. 
Mr. Helms:  Good night! 

《零距离美语会话[文化风俗差异]Lesson3:HaveyouwrappedyourChristmas》永久阅读地址: http://91kudian.com/yingyu/1717/