religious adj. 宗教信仰的
religion n. 宗教（信仰）/ religious holiday 宗教節日
secular [ˈsɛkjələr] adj. 世俗的 / secular holiday 世俗假日,非宗教的節日
statutory 法定的 / statutory holiday 國定假日
commemorate v.紀念 /commemorates the birth紀念誕生
retell 重述/retell the story 複述故事
manger 馬槽,馬或牛的食槽 /in the manger
| Christmas, which is celebrated on December 25, is one of the biggest celebrations of the year in many countries around the world. It is both a religious and a secular holiday. In most countries where Christmas is celebrated, it is a legal or statutory holiday. Most workers receive at least one or two days off work, and children often have a two-week vacation at this time. Christmas is a very important day for members of the Christian religion because it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. At church services everywhere, Christians retell the story of the birth of Jesus in the manger in Bethlehem. | 12 月 25 日慶祝的聖誕節是世界上許多國家一年中最大的慶祝活動之一。它既是宗教節日，又是世俗節日。在大多數慶祝聖誕節的國家/地區，它是法定或法定假日。大多數工人至少有 1 天或 2 天的休假時間，孩子們通常在這個時候有兩週的假期。聖誕節對基督教徒來說是一個非常重要的日子，因為它紀念耶穌基督的誕生。在各地的教堂禮拜中，基督徒都會重述耶穌在伯利恆馬槽中誕生的故事。 |
lasts for almost a month 持續近一個月
from mid-November on 從 11 月中旬開始
precede v. 在…之前 / the weeks preceding Christmas 聖誕節前幾週
retailer n. 零售商
annual sales 年銷售額
| Although Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December, the Christmas season actually lasts for almost a month. In many countries, from mid-November on, it is impossible to forget that Christmas is coming. Streets, homes, and shops are filled with colorful Christmas lights and decorations. Shopping centers are full of people doing their Christmas shopping. In fact, the weeks preceding Christmas are the busiest shopping weeks of the year. In most Western countries, many retailers make up 70% of their annual sales in the month before Christmas. | 雖然聖誕節是在 12 月 25 日慶祝，但聖誕節實際上持續了將近一個月。在許多國家，從11月中旬開始，就不可能忘記聖誕節即將到來。街道、住宅和商店都擺滿了五顏六色的聖誕燈飾和裝飾品。購物中心裡擠滿了聖誕節購物的人。事實上，聖誕節前幾周是一年中最繁忙的購物週。在大多數西方國家，許多零售商在聖誕節前一個月的銷售額佔其年銷售額的 70%。 |
●present-day customs 現代風俗
●associate with Christmas 與聖誕節有關
●originate 起源 / originated in 起源於
●celebrations were often held 被舉行
●around the time of 在～時前後
●pagan festival 異教節日
●solstice至日 / winter solstice 冬至, summer solstice 夏至
●began to grow longer 開始變長
●bonfire [ˈbɑnˌfaɪr] n. 火堆，篝火
●They celebrated the return of the sun by making great bonfires.
●festive a.節日的
●festival n. 節日慶祝歡宴 a.節日的；喜慶的；快樂的
●serving large, festive meals 準備豐盛的節日大餐
●were combined 被結合
| Many of the present-day customs that we associate with Christmas actually originated in pagan festivals long ago. Thousands of years ago, celebrations were often held around the time of the winter solstice. People were often afraid when the sun disappeared during the long, cold nights of winter. When the days finally began to grow longer, they celebrated the return of the sun by making great bonfires, serving large, festive meals, and exchanging gifts. After the birth of Christ, many of these traditions of the old pagan festivals were combined with the celebration of Christmas. | 我們與聖誕節相關的許多現代習俗實際上起源於很久以前的異教節日。數千年前，慶祝活動通常在冬至前後舉行。在漫長而寒冷的冬季，當太陽消失時，人們常常感到害怕。當日子終於開始變長時，他們生起篝火、準備豐盛的節日大餐和交換禮物來慶祝太陽的回歸。基督誕生後，許多古老的異教節日傳統都與聖誕節的慶祝活動相結合。 |
●recognizable adj. 可辨認的/the most recognizable最知名的,最易辨識的
●recognize v. 認出識別
●elf [ɛlf] n. 小精靈，小妖精 /複數: elves
●on a sleigh pulled by reindeer 在馴鹿拉的雪橇上
●land on 降落 / lands on the roof 降落在屋頂
●chimney煙囪/enters through the chimney通過煙囪進入
●throughout 到處貫穿介系詞in every part of (a place or object) / throughout the cities 整個城市
●Excited children 興奮的孩子們
●wait in long lines 大排長龍
●lap 腿,膝部
●what presents they are hoping 他們希望得到什麼禮物
| Probably the most recognizable non-religious symbol of Christmas is that of Santa Claus. Pictures can be seen everywhere of the jolly old man with the long, white beard, big stomach, and red suit. Children in Canada and the United States believe that Santa Claus lives in the North Pole where he makes toys with his helpful little elves On Christmas Eve, December 24, he travels through the sky on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. He lands on the roof of people's homes, enters through the chimney, and leaves wonderful gifts for all the good little boys and girls. In some countries, December 6 is known as Saint Nicholas Day and is celebrated in a similar way as Christmas. In the weeks before Christmas, Santa Claus often appears in many stores and shopping centers throughout the cities. Excited children wait in long lines to sit on Santa's lap, have their pictures taken with him, and tell him what presents they are hoping to receive at Christmas. |
聖誕節最知名的非宗教象徵可能是聖誕老人。隨處可見那個留著長長的白鬍子、大肚子、穿著紅色西裝的快活老頭的照片。加拿大和美國的孩子們相信聖誕老人住在北極，在那裡他會和樂於助人的小精靈一起製作玩具 12 月 24 日平安夜，他乘坐馴鹿拉的雪橇穿越天空。他降落在人們家的屋頂上，穿過煙囪進入，並為所有善良的小男孩和女孩留下精美的禮物。在某些國家/地區，12 月 6 日被稱為聖尼古拉斯日，其慶祝方式與聖誕節類似。在聖誕節前幾週，聖誕老人經常出現在各個城市的許多商店和購物中心。興奮的孩子們排著長隊，坐在聖誕老人的腿上，與他合影留念，並告訴他他們希望在聖誕節收到什麼禮物。 |
travel long distances 長途跋涉
Singing Christmas carols 唱聖誕頌歌
decorating the family Christmas tree裝飾傢庭聖誕樹
hanging stockings by the fire在火邊掛長襪
Stuffed turkey with mashed potatoes 土豆泥釀火雞
remains the most traditional meal served at Christmas dinners 仍然是聖誕晚宴上最傳統的一餐
festive treats 節日款待
| Besides being a religious celebration and a wonderful, exciting time for children, Christmas is also an important time for family gatherings. People travel long distances to spend time with their families at this time of the year. Singing Christmas carels decorating the family Christmas tree, hanging stockings by the fire, and exchanging cards and gifts are all part of the holiday season. Of course, food is also a very important part of the Christmas celebration. Stuffed turkey with mashed potatoes remains the most traditional meal served at Christmas dinners, but other wonderful Christmas dishes, holiday baking, and special festive treats fill the homes of all who celebrate this season. | 聖誕節除了是宗教慶典和孩子們美好、激動人心的時刻外，也是家庭聚會的重要時間。人們在一年中的這個時候長途跋涉與家人共度時光。唱聖誕頌歌裝飾傢庭聖誕樹，在火邊掛長襪，交換卡片和禮物都是節日的一部分。當然，食物也是聖誕節慶祝活動中非常重要的一部分。土豆泥釀火雞仍然是聖誕大餐中最傳統的一餐，但其他美妙的聖誕菜餚、節日烘焙和特殊的節日美食充滿了所有慶祝這個季節的人的家。 |
英語筆記 (11)