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Celebrating New Life at Easter 复活节：象征重生的缤纷庆典

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

For some people, it’s one of the most important religious festivals of the year. For others, it’s simply a time for chocolate eggs, fluffy bunnies, and newborn chicks. The festival is Easter, of course, and it’s just around the corner.

对某些人而言，这是一年中最重要的宗教节日之一。而对其他人来说，它不过是一段巧克力蛋、毛茸茸的兔子以及新生小鸡的时节。这个节日当然是复活节，而且它的脚步近了。

This weekend, Christians around the world will celebrate Easter Sunday. In many ways, Easter is even more important than Christmas, because it marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ. You might be wondering why Jesus came back from the dead, or why he had to die in the first place. Christians say that this is what he was sent to Earth to do. They believe that he died to save humans from our wrongdoings, and that by rising again, he made it possible for everyone to go to heaven.

全世界的基督徒在本周末将欢庆「复活节主日」。在许多方面来说，复活节甚至比圣诞节更重要，因为它是耶稣基督复活的纪念。你可能会有所疑惑，耶稣为何死而复生，或者衪当初究竟为何得死亡？基督徒认为这是衪被派来世界上完成的任务。他们相信耶稣的死是为了将人类从罪恶当中拯救出来，而藉由死后复生，衪使得每个人都能够上天堂。

To prepare themselves for this special day, many Christians observe a period of fasting and penitence, which is known as Lent. The final week of this period is called Holy Week, and it contains some of the most important dates on the Christian calendar. It begins with Palm Sunday, when Jesus made a triumphant entry into Jerusalem. People thought he had come to free them from the Roman Empire and rushed to throw palm leaves at his feet. Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, Jesus’s final meal with his 12 disciples, which was also a celebration of the Jewish Passover feast. Then comes Good Friday, the day on which he was crucified and buried. Finally, Holy Week comes to an end with Easter Sunday, the most important day of all.

由于要为特别的日子作准备，许多基督徒会遵守一段斋戒禁食与忏悔的时期，称之为「四旬期」（大斋期）。这段时期的最后一周称为「圣周」，其中包括了几个基督教历上最重要的日期。圣周始于「棕树主日」，当时耶稣光荣地进入耶路撒冷。人民认为衪要来将他们从罗马帝国的手中解放，急忙地往衪的脚边丢下棕榈叶。「濯足日」（圣周四）纪念了最后的晚餐（耶稣与其12个门徒的最后一餐），这天也是犹太教逾越节晚餐的庆典。接着到来的是「受难日」，耶稣在这天遭受钉上十字架处以死刑，并且被安葬。最后，圣周结束在复活节主日，所有日子里最重要的一天。

Vocabulary

单词发音

religious [rɪˋlɪdʒəs] adj. 宗教的，宗教上的

around the corner 即将来临 about to happen; imminent

celebrate [ˋsɛlə͵bret] v. 庆祝

resurrection [͵rɛzəˋrɛkʃən] n. 复活；复苏

wrongdoing [ˋrɔŋˋduɪŋ] n. 坏事；罪行

observe [əbˋzɝv] v. 遵守; 奉行

fast [fæst] v.〔尤因宗教原因而〕禁食; 斋戒

penitence [ˋpɛnətəns] n. 忏悔；赎罪

triumphant [traɪˋʌmfənt] adj. 胜利的; 成功的

commemorate [kəˋmɛmə͵ret] v. 庆祝；纪念

disciple [dɪˋsaɪp!] n. 信徒，门徒

feast [fist] n. 盛宴，筵席

bury [ˋbɛrɪ] v. 埋葬，安葬

come to an end 终结, 结束

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单词发音

fluffy [ˋflʌfɪ] adj. 毛茸茸的

chick [tʃɪk] n. 小鸡

rise [raɪz] v.【宗】复活

Lent [lɛnt]（基督教）四旬斋，大斋期（指复活节前的四十天）

Jerusalem [dʒəˋrusələm] n. 耶路撒冷

Maundy 洗足仪式; <天主教>濯足仪式时分发的救济金

Passover [ˋpæs͵ovɚ] n.（圣经）踰越节

crucify [ˋkrusə͵faɪ] v. 把……的手脚钉在十字架上处死

课文朗读

课文讲解

Easter Sunday is known as a movable feast, as it doesn’t fall on the same date every year. In fact, Easter can come anywhere between March 22nd and April 25th. This is because, like Chinese New Year, the date of the holiday is connected to the phases of the moon. Scholars have also linked Easter to an ancient northern European festival which took place at a similar time and was dedicated to Eastre, the goddess of spring and fertility.

复活节主日也被称为「可移动的节日」，因为它不一定每年都在同一天。事实上，复活节可以落在3月22日4月25日之间的任何一天。这是因为，这个节日的日期跟中国农历新年一样，与月亮的盈亏有关。也有学者将复活节与一北欧古老节庆作连结，该节日发生在差不多的时间，奉献给春天与生育力之女神伊丝特尔。

Modern-day Easter celebrations contain both religious and secular activities. There are probably more church services during Easter than at any other time of the year. On Good Friday and Easter Saturday, the tone is obviously quiet and somber since people are remembering the death of Jesus Christ. That all changes on Easter Sunday, though, when services are triumphant, joyous occasions.

现代的复活节庆典同时包含了宗教与世俗的活动。复活节期间举办的教堂礼拜仪式大概比一年当中的任何时节都还要多。受难日与复活节周六时，气氛很明显地是安静且肃穆的，因为人们忆起了耶稣的死。不过一切在复活节主日都不一样了，这时候的礼拜仪式是欢欣鼓舞且令人愉快的场合。

Outside church, festivities focus on Easter eggs and the Easter bunny, both of which can be traced back to the ancient festival celebrating Eastre. Brightly-painted Easter eggs are probably the most important symbol of the holiday, as they represent both new life and, with their bright colors, the sunlight of spring. During the popular Easter egg hunt, children search for these eggs, which are hidden around their homes and gardens. Many children also wake up on Easter morning to find that the Easter bunny has left them chocolate eggs, candy, and marshmallow chicks.

在教堂之外，庆祝活动则集中在复活节彩蛋以及复活节兔子上，两者都可以回溯到赞颂伊丝特尔的古老节日。有鲜艳彩绘的复活节彩蛋或许是这个节日中最重要的象征，因为它们意味着新生，而其鲜艳的色彩代表着春天的阳光。在盛行的寻找复活节彩蛋游戏当中，小孩子遍寻被藏在家中和庭院四周的彩蛋。许多孩子也在复活节当天早上起床时，发现复活节兔子给了他们巧克力蛋、糖果以及棉花糖小鸡。

Easter has changed at a lot over the years and, for better or worse, it has become a marriage of deep religious significance and sweet-toothed revelry. You’ll have to decide for yourself which of the two to honor on Sunday.

多年来，复活节的面貌改变了许多。而不论好坏，它都成为了深刻宗教意义与充满甜食的狂欢宴会之结合。你必须自己决定礼拜天时要尊重信守何者。

−by Andrew Crosthwaite

Vocabulary

单词发音

movable [ˋmuvəb!] adj.（节日）每年日期不同的

connect [kəˋnɛkt] v. 和... 有关联

phase [fez] n. 阶段，时期

scholar [ˋskɑlɚ] n. 学者

link .. to ..  把…与…连在一起

dedicate [ˋdɛdə͵ket] v. 奉献, 献身于, 致力于

fertility [fɝˋtɪlətɪ] n. 生育能力; 繁殖力

activity [ækˋtɪvətɪ] n. 活动

somber [ˋsɑmbɚ] adj. 忧郁的；沉闷的

joyous [ˋdʒɔɪəs] adj. 快乐的；高兴的

occasion [əˋkeʒən] n. 场合；重大活动，盛典

trace back to 可追溯到

represent [͵rɛprɪˋzɛnt] v. 代表

for better or worse 不管是好是坏; 不管结果如何 if a situation exists or happens for better or for worse, it exists or happens whether its results are good or bad

Usage notes: This phrase is used in a traditional marriage ceremony in which the man and woman promise to stay together whether their life is good or bad.

honor [ˋɑnɚ] v. 尊敬; 实践

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单词发音

secular [ˋsɛkjəlɚ] adj. 世俗的；非宗教的

festivity [fɛsˋtɪvətɪ] n. 庆祝活动

marshmallow [ˋmɑrʃ͵mælo] n. 棉花糖

sweet-toothed 嗜食甜品者的; 充满甜食的 of a great liking for sweet-tasting foods

revelry [ˋrɛv!rɪ] n. 寻欢作乐，狂欢

Reading Questions

1. According to the article, why do Christians believe Jesus came to Earth?

A. To punish humans for their mistakes.

B. To enable people to get into heaven.

C. To educate people about Easter Sunday.

D. To change the laws of the government.

2. Which of the following things might a person who is not religious do during Easter?

A. Go to church.

B. Say a prayer.

C. Speak with a priest.

D. Enjoy some chocolate eggs.

3. Which of the following statements about Easter is true?

A. Easter eggs symbolize rebirth and the beginning of winter.

B. It is always held on the same day each year.

C. Jesus was killed on Good Friday, not Easter Sunday.

D. Many Christians don’t eat on Easter Sunday.

4. Which statement best describes this article?

A. It provides an overview of what Easter is and how people celebrate it.

B. It summarizes the ways in which people can enjoy Easter this year.

C. It disputes some claims that many religious people make about Easter.

D. It attempts to convince readers that they should start celebrating Easter.

How to make Amazing Easter Egg art!

Typical Western Lent in March/April 2011, with days labelled. Precise dates vary each year, and start/end days vary by denomination. The last three weeks are duplicated at the bottom to show Passiontide, the Holy Week, and the Easter Triduum. See Great Lent for Lent in Eastern Christianity

The Jesus Movie 1979 Full

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