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圣诞节
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背景介绍
圣诞节是西方传统宗教节日，在每年12月25日，为纪念耶稣诞辰而设。据《圣经》记载，耶稣是因着圣灵成孕，由童女马利亚所生的。上帝派遣使者在梦中晓谕马利亚的未婚夫约瑟，叫他不要因为马利亚未婚怀孕而不要她，反而要尽快与她成亲，给那孩子起名为“耶稣”,意思是要通过这个孩子把百姓从罪恶中拯救出来。当马利亚快要临盆的时候，罗马政府命令全体百姓到伯利恒申报户籍。约瑟和马利亚到达伯利恒时天色已晚，两人未能找到旅馆，只好在一个马棚暂住。最终耶稣降生在马槽里。后人为纪念耶稣的诞生，将12月25日定为圣诞节。
情景对话
Karen: Merry Christmas! I see you have your Christmas decorations up already. What a beautiful Christmas tree. It looks great!
Lance: Thanks! Maybe it's a little early for decorations, but I love the Christmas spirit, I like to get in a Christmas mood. December is my favorite month.
Karen: So that's why you've got the Christmas carols cranked up. I love Christmas too. Some may think I am a scrooge because I don't go overboard with things … but it's the commercialism that turns me off. Too much shopping!
Lance: Well, you're right that Christmas has been commercialized. But most of the Christmas traditions we celebrate remind us of the reason for the season, which is to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Karen: Well, obviously, the Nativities you see up around everywhere are reminding us of the story of Jesus' birth, being born in a stable and put in a manger. But what about all the hubbub? The lights and decorations, the candy and gifts…
Lance: These represent aspects of Christianity as well. For example, Christmas candles and Christmas lights remind us of the light of the world, which is Jesus Christ. The candy canes we give to children and hang on our Christmas trees represent the canes used by the shepherds who came to visit the baby Jesus. Christmas trees, which are always evergreen trees, remind us of the everlasting life we can receive through Jesus. And the star on top of the tree represents the star of Bethlehem, which appeared in the sky to announce the birth of a Savior. Even the colors of red and green, which represent the blood of Christ and everlasting life…
Karen: …like the evergreen tree. OK, I get your point. But what about Santa Claus and all the gift-giving?
Lance: Santa Claus is based on a real person. You might hear him called Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas or Papa Noel. A Christian Bishop, Saint Nicolas, took care of poor children by throwing coins down chimneys. The coins would land in the children's socks, which had been hung on the hearth to dry. So now we have the tradition of Santa coming down the chimney and fi lling stockings with presents. Gift-giving represents the gifts of the wise men, or Magi, who visited the baby Jesus. It also represents the gift of eternal life that Jesus offers to the world.
卡伦： 圣诞快乐！我看到你已经摆出圣诞节的装饰品了。那棵圣诞树真漂亮啊，看上去棒极了！
兰斯： 谢谢！现在摆出这些圣诞装饰品可能有点早，不过我喜欢圣诞节的氛围，我喜欢沉浸在圣诞节的气氛中。12月是我最喜欢的月份。
卡伦： 所以你都开始大声放圣诞颂歌了。我也喜欢圣诞节。有人可能会觉得我抠门，因为我不会买很多东西 …… 可是让我倒胃口的是那些商业行为，过分地买呀买！
兰斯： 是呀，你说得对，圣诞节已经被商业化了。不过我们的大部分圣诞节传统庆祝活动都提醒我们，这是纪念耶稣基督诞辰的时节。
卡伦： 好吧，四处可见的《耶稣诞生图》显然是让我们忆起耶稣诞生的故事，他出生在马棚里，然后被放在马槽里。可是那些闹哄哄的声音是干什么的？还有那些灯光、装饰品、糖果、礼物 ……
兰斯： 那些也是代表基督教的不同方式。比如，圣诞蜡烛和圣诞灯光让我们想起世界之光，也就是耶稣基督。我们送给小孩子以及挂在圣诞树上的拐杖糖代表牧羊人去拜望刚出生的耶稣时所用的拐杖。常青的圣诞树让我们想起耶稣赋予我们的永恒的生命。圣诞树上的那颗星代表圣诞星，也就是耶稣出生时出现在伯利恒上空的星，它宣布救世主的诞生。甚至那些红红绿绿的色彩也代表耶稣基督的血液和永恒的生命 ……
卡伦： …… 就像那常青树一样。嗯，我明白你的意思了。不过圣诞老人和赠送礼物又是代表什么呢？
兰斯： 圣诞老人是以真实的人物为原型的。你可能听说过圣尼克、克里斯·柯林格勒、圣诞老公公等称呼。圣尼古拉斯是一位基督教主教。他关爱穷苦的孩子，把硬币扔进烟囱里，孩子们把袜子挂在壁炉边烘干，硬币就通过烟囱落进袜子里，所以现在我们就有了这样的传统：圣诞老人从烟囱里进来，在袜子里装满礼物。赠送礼物代表智者（或者拜访刚出生的耶稣的“东方三贤人”）的礼物，也代表耶稣给这个世界带来的礼物，即永恒的生命。
词汇注解
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scrooge |
吝啬鬼 |
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Christmas carol |
圣诞颂歌 |
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crank up |
把音量调大 |
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go overboard |
过分爱好，狂热追求 |
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turn sb. off |
使某人失去兴趣、热情 |
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remind sb. of sth. |
提醒某人某事 |
