不同意味的圣诞节

Once a simple observance in America, Christmas is now a complex mixture of religious services, family visits, gift giving, holiday parties, decorations, and charity. And dont forget Santa Claus.

　　过去，在美国过圣诞节非常简单，可是如今，圣诞节却成为混合各种宗教仪式和节日聚会的日子。节日期间，人们走亲访友、互送礼品、聚会庆贺、布置圣诞装饰，并从事慈善活动，当然也少不了请圣诞老人来给孩子们祝福。

　　This has become the cliché of an American Christmas - a shopping frenzy¹ that boosts the earnings² of stores across the United States, and leaves shoppers exhausted³ and stressed. But Christmas is more than that.

　　圣诞节期间，全美各地的消费者因疯狂购物而累得筋疲力尽，但也因此提高了商店的利润，每年圣诞节，人们似乎都是这么度过的。但是，圣诞节的内容远远不止这些。

　　For Americans, Christmas is a sentimental⁴ time, with friends and family being the priority. For Tyler Beasley, having his father home in time for Christmas was all he wanted. Tylers, father Marine⁵ Sergeant⁶ Rodney Beasley, is stationed Iraq. But he did arrive home, and along with Santa Claus, came to Tylers classroom to surprise him. After a two-week stay with his family, Sergeant Beasley returns to Iraq.

　　对美国人来说，圣诞节还是一个表达情感的日子，人们最希望的就是和亲朋好友在一起。对泰勒?比斯利来说，他最盼望的是能和爸爸一起过圣诞节。小泰勒的父亲海军中士罗德尼?比斯利驻扎在伊拉克。他不仅回来过圣诞节，还把圣诞老人带到小泰勒的教室里，令他喜出望外。但是，两个星期之后，比斯利中士还要再返伊拉克。

　　Every year, U.S. Marines hold an annual Christmas toy drive, where they collect toys and donations for underprivileged children. Volunteers take the children into a makeshift store where they are allowed to pick a few items for themselves. The Toys for Tots program is national campaign that has helped millions of children. Across the United States, people use lights and decorations to mark the Christmas holidays. In one neighborhood in Texas, residents have outfitted⁷ their homes with thousands of lights. Some homes have specific themes, like politics or current events.

　　美国海军陆战队每年都要举行一年一度的圣诞节玩具捐赠活动，人们把各种玩具和礼品捐给家境贫穷的孩子们。自愿人员还把孩子们带到模拟商店中，让他们挑选自己喜欢的礼物。这个全国性计划帮助了上百万的孩子们。全美各地的人们都在张灯结彩庆祝圣诞节。在得克萨斯州的一个居民区，人们用五彩缤纷的圣诞灯把房子装饰起来。有些家庭的圣诞装饰还带有时事政治主题。

　　This homeowner explains why he decorates. Most people are awed⁸ by it. I have never seen anything like this. And that makes us feel good. It sort of makes it worth the effort it takes to put it up, he says.

　　有位房子的主人解释了他为什么要搞圣诞装饰。他说：“很多人看到我们的圣诞装饰后都惊叹不已，他们说：我从来没有看到这样的装饰，这让我们感到欣慰，我们觉得自己的努力值得的。”

　　And for many Americans, an enduring symbol of Christmas is the National Christmas tree on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The President or the First Lady in a nighttime ceremony usually lights the tree. And finally, for many Christians¹⁰, this candle could be the ultimate gift. In Minnesota, storeowner Kim Foels, is selling candles that claims to have the same scent¹¹ as Jesus Christ. She says the aroma¹² is very comforting. A devout¹³ Christian⁹ couple manufactured the candles. They based the candles scent on a biblical verse that says Jesus garments smell like myrrh, aloe and cassia.

　　对许多美国人来说，圣诞节的一个永久性象征是华盛顿国家大草坪上的国家圣诞树。在一个晚间庆祝仪式上，通常由总统或第一夫人点燃这棵树上的圣诞灯。对许多基督徒来说，圣诞蜡烛可能是最好的礼物。 在明尼苏达州，一个名叫金?弗尔斯的店主正在出售据他所说的带着耶稣清香之气的蜡烛。她说，这个香气能给人带来安慰。这种蜡烛是由一对虔诚的基督徒夫妇根据圣经的记载做成的。圣经上提到耶稣的衣服上有没药、陈香木和桂皮的香味。