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Sunny Spirits Brighten the Longest Night 冬夜漫漫，汤圆甜甜

课文朗读

课文讲解 

 繁體中文譯本

With one final flash, the sun drops below the horizon, creating wide shadows that stretch across the land. A long night lies ahead, with daybreak further off than ever. Families gather together in their homes to enjoy delicious foods specially prepared for the occasion.

太阳发出最后一道光芒，沈落至地平线之下，广袤的阴影笼罩着大地。漫漫长夜开始，破晓时刻比以往来得更晚。家家户户在家中团聚，享用着特地为此刻准备的美食。

The winter solstice is the day with the shortest daytime and longest nighttime of the year. It was forecast by the Chinese as early as 2,500 years ago. They were able to predict it by observing the movements of the sun and using a sundial. Depending on the Earth’s orbit, it often happens between December 20th and 23rd in the northern hemisphere.

冬至是一年当中白昼最短、黑夜最长的一天。中国人早在2,500年前便预测到这个现象，他们藉由观察太阳运行及使用日晷来预测冬至。视地球运行的轨道而定，北半球的冬至通常落在12月20日到23日之间。

According to traditional Chinese thought, there are two forces in the universe, “yin” and “yang.” Since the days become longer after the winter solstice, the “yang” grows stronger and stronger from this date onwards. “Yang” represents the sun and strength, so that force is welcomed.

根据传统中国思想，宇宙间有两股力量，阴与阳。因为冬至之后白昼越来越长，阳的力量也从这一天起越来越强。阳代表太阳和力量，因此也受到人们欢迎。

It was not until the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to A.D. 220) that the winter solstice became an actual festival that was widely celebrated. Officials and common people alike would take a rest, businesses closed, and traveling stopped. It being a sentimental event, friends and family would present each other with unique dishes.

一直到汉朝（公元前206年至公元220年），冬至才真正成为广为庆祝的节庆。官员和平民一样都会放假，商家歇业，旅人也停下赶路的脚步。这是一个有人情味的节日，亲友们会互赠特别的佳肴。

Vocabulary

单词发音

horizon [həˋraɪzn] n. 地平线

daybreak [ˋde͵brek] n. 黎明，破晓

forecast [ˋfor͵kæst] v. 预测，预报

dynasty [ˋdaɪnəstɪ] n. 王朝；朝代

sentimental [͵sɛntəˋmɛnt!] adj. 情感上的

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单词发音

off [ɔf] adj. 离去的 away

occasion [əˋkeʒən] n. 场合，时刻

solstice [ˋsɑlstɪs] n.【天】至

sundial [ˋsʌn͵daɪəl] n. 日晷；日规

hemisphere [ˋhɛməs͵fɪr] n.（地球的）半球；半球体

onwards [`ɑnwɚdz] adv. 向前地; 从今天起

课文朗读

课文讲解 

While the festival may have originated in China, it soon dispersed throughout Asia, such as Taiwan, Korea, and Japan.

虽然这个节庆起源于中国，却很快地传遍亚洲各地，如台湾、韩国及日本。

In Taiwan, it is customary to eat rice balls, which are called “tangyuan” in Mandarin. The “yuan” symbolizes togetherness, which of course is very important to families. As such, rice balls are given as offerings to ancestors.

依照台湾的习俗，冬至那天要吃糯米做成的圆球，也就是中文的「汤圆」。「圆」象征团圆，当然对各个家庭来说十分重要。因此，汤圆也成为祭祖的供品。

Many Koreans believe that the color red can drive away evil spirits, so they make it a habit to eat red bean porridge during the winter solstice. They also sprinkle the magic porridge around the house for maximum protection.

很多韩国人相信红色可以驱赶恶灵，所以他们习惯在冬至时吃红豆粥。他们还会把这种神奇的粥撒在房屋四周，以寻求最严密的保护。

Far from avoiding demons, the Japanese people actually eat them! A part of them, that is. To observe the winter solstice, the Japanese eat “devil’s tongue” (konnyaku), a potato-like plant. By feasting on this, they hope to attain financial success. Another tradition is to take baths in a spa filled with citrons, in the belief that it will prevent colds for one year.

日本人根本不避恶灵，而是干脆把它们吃掉！更确切地说，是吃掉其中一部份。为了庆祝冬至，日本人吃「恶魔的舌头」（蒟蒻），那是一种类似马铃薯的植物。他们大吃特吃蒟蒻，希望能够发大财。另一项传统则是在添加许多柚子的温泉里泡澡，他们相信这样可以预防一整年都不会感冒。

Although each of these cultures may commemorate the winter solstice in their own particular way, they all share a common hope – to attract good luck. While a long night might be commonly seen as a time of dread, in Asia it is considered a fresh start.

虽然这些文化都以其独特的方式庆祝冬至，但都有一个共同的希望──祈求好运。虽然漫漫长夜常被视为令人生畏的时刻，不过在亚洲，却被当成崭新的开始。

−by Marcu Lindy Sortijas

Vocabulary

单词发音

customary [ˋkʌstəm͵ɛrɪ] adj. 习惯上的，惯常的

offering [ˋɔfərɪŋ] n. 供品; 祭品

maximum [ˋmæksəməm] adj. 最大的；最多的；最高的

financial [faɪˋnænʃəl] adj. 财政的；金融的

dread [drɛd] n. 畏惧; 恐怖

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单词发音

disperse [dɪˋspɝs] v. 传播；散发

togetherness [təˋgɛðɚnɪs] n. 团结

drive away 赶走, 驱逐 to repel someone or an animal from something or some place

porridge [ˋpɔrɪdʒ] n. 粥，糊

sprinkle [ˋsprɪŋk!] v. 洒；撒

demon [ˋdimən] n. 恶魔，恶鬼

observe [əbˋzɝv] v. 庆祝（节日等）

devil’s tongue 蒟蒻

feast on 尽情欣赏(或享受) to eat a great deal of something

citron [ˋsɪtrən] n. 圆佛手柑; 柚子

in the belief that 相信...

commemorate [kəˋmɛmə͵ret] v. 庆祝；纪念

Reading Questions

1.  What is NOT true about the winter solstice?

A.  It marks the day with the least daylight of the year.

B.  It is a time of celebration in some cultures.

C.  Traditionally, it was a time for relaxation.

D.  It occurs everywhere at the end of December.

2.   According to the article, what is the Chinese connection to the winter solstice?

A.  The Chinese are the ones who celebrate it most.

B.  China was among the first countries to observe it by the sun’s movements.

C.  The Chinese principle of “yin” and “yang” was invented from it.

D.  It has been a festival in China for over 2,500 years.

3.   Which of the following is a winter solstice tradition?

A.  The Koreans sprinkle red-colored rice around their houses.

B.  In Japan, people take a cold bath to toughen their bodies.

C.  The Taiwanese eat rice balls as a symbol of good health.

D.  The Japanese people eat a certain plant hoping it will bring wealth.

4.   What is the main theme of the second half of the article?

A.  To examine various ways of celebrating the winter solstice in Asia.

B.  To explain how the winter solstice traditions spread throughout Asia.

C.  To give an overview of winter solstice food around Asia.

D.  To look at why Asian countries’ winter solstice practices are so different.

Answer