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Mardi Gras: A Street Party Like No Other Mardi Gras：无乐不作的狂欢嘉年华

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Around the globe, there are several festivals that allow people to let their hair down and escape from the stresses of life. But one grand fiesta, held annually, seems to top them all. Every March, partygoers from all over the world head to New Orleans, U.S.A. for Mardi Gras – a raucous bash in which everyone lets the good times roll.

世界上有许多节庆能让人彻底解放、远离现实生活中的压力。但是有个一年一度的盛大派对似乎最为狂野欢乐。每年三月，来自世界各地热爱跑趴的人士会前往美国纽奥良参加Mardi Gras，这是一个所有人都能尽情享乐、大闹一番的活动。

Mardi Gras refers to the last and wildest day of the famed Carnival celebration. Although it’s often associated with New Orleans, the celebration of Mardi Gras is actually much older than the U.S. It’s rooted in pagan festivals that date back to ancient times. But over the years, it was adopted to fit in with European culture, and in 1582 Pope Gregory XIII declared it a Christian holiday. Gregory strategically changed the date of Mardi Gras so it would conclude right before the start of Lent, a holiday in which Christians are required to fast and pray. In French, Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday” because people tended to gorge themselves with drinks and fatty foods during the celebration.

Mardi Gras指的是有名的嘉年华庆祝活动的最后一天，也是最疯狂的一天。虽然一提到它就让人联想到纽奥良，但是Mardi Gras庆典的历史其实比美国还古老。它源起于一个和基督教无关的古老节庆。但是它随着时间演进融入了欧洲文化，教宗葛雷格里十三氏于1582年宣布它为一个基督教节日。葛雷格里还巧妙地修改了Mardi Gras的日期，使这个节日正好落在基督徒必须禁食和祈祷的四旬斋开始之前。Mardi Gras在法文指「油腻星期二」，因为人们常会在这个庆祝活动期间大吃大喝油腻且令人肥胖的食物。

When French-Catholic settlers first came to America in the early 1700s, they brought the tradition of Mardi Gras along with them. Since they controlled the territory of Louisiana, the city of New Orleans became the prime location for Mardi Gras celebrations. Parades were added in 1838 and pretty soon everyone had heard about this legendary rowdy celebration. So much so that cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, Quebec City, and several others host their very own Mardi Gras celebrations each year.

当法国天主教移民在1700年代早期首度来到美国开拓定居时，他们把Mardi Gras的传统也一并带到美国。由于当时路易斯安那州是他们的领土，纽澳良市因此成为Mardi Gras庆祝活动的首选地点。1838年，花车游行也加入这个活动，很快地每个人都耳闻这个传说中热闹滚滚的庆典。里约热内卢、雪梨、魁北克市等其他城市也跟进，许多城市每年也开始举办具各自地方特色的Mardi Gras庆典。

Vocabulary

单词发音

fiesta [fɪˋɛstə] n. 〔尤指西班牙和南美洲以舞蹈﹑音乐等来庆祝的〕宗教节日

partygoer [ˋpɑrtɪ͵gor] n.  社交聚会常客

raucous [ˋrɔkəs] adj. 喧闹的

bash [bæʃ] n. 热闹的聚会; 痛快的玩乐;  狂欢; Slang a celebration; a party

pagan [ˋpegən] n. 异教徒；非基督教徒

adopt [əˋdɑpt] v. 采纳；吸收

conclude [kənˋklud] v. 结束

Lent [lɛnt]（基督教）四旬斋，大斋期（指复活节前的四十天）

fast [fæst] n. 禁食；斋戒 to eat very little or abstain from certain foods, especially as a religious discipline.

gorge [gɔrdʒ] v. 狼吞虎咽地吃，大吃

territory [ˋtɛrə͵torɪ] n. 领土，版图

parade [pəˋred] n. 游行

rowdy [ˋraʊdɪ] adj. 吵闹的

Rio de Janeiro [ˈriodədʒəˈnero] 里约热内卢（巴西共和国的旧首都）

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片语发音

let one’s hair down 不拘礼节轻松一下 to relax and enjoy yourself without worrying what other people will think

let the good times roll 尽情地玩乐; 玩得开心 to have fun or live fully; may imply letting things that are going well proceed.

refer to 与...关连

root in something 来源于 based on something; connected to a source or cause

fit in with 与……一致；使与……一致 If one activity or event fits in with another, they exist or happen together in a way that is convenient.

so much so that 到如此程度以致... to such a great degree

课文朗读

课文讲解

One reason that Mardi Gras is so beloved is that it’s steeped in fantasy and mystique. On Mardi Gras, many people also hold private balls in honor of a fictional king and queen. Women dress in elaborate gowns as men don aristocratic attire. To add an element of mystery, people wear custom-made masks to hide their identities. When you intermingle with guests at these events, you can never be sure whom you’re talking to.

Mardi Gras会如此受欢迎的其中一个理由在于其极具幻想与魔幻气息。Mardi Gras当天，许多人也会举办私人舞会以对假扮的国王与王后表示崇敬。女性身着精致华丽礼服，而男性则扮成王公贵族。为了营造一点神秘感，人们还会戴着订作的面具让人认不出来他们的身份。当你在这些聚会中与宾客说笑往来时，你永远无法确定你的聊天对象是谁。

When walking through the streets of New Orleans, you’re bound to see purple, green, and gold everywhere you turn. These are the traditional colors of Mardi Gras, standing for justice, faith, and power. But beware: you may find yourself being showered from above by stuffed animals, long pearl beads, and plastic cups. This ritual of throwing trinkets into the crowd started back in the 1870s and still continues today. If you get the chance, you may want to pocket one as a souvenir to remind you of your trip.

当你走在纽澳良的街道上，会见到各处充斥着紫色、绿色和金色。这些Mardi Gras的传统颜色代表正义、信仰和力量。但是请小心，因为你可能会发现你被从天而降的填充绒毛玩偶、塑料珠长项链及塑料杯包围。这个朝人群丢东西的习俗起源于1870年代并持续至今。如果你有机会，你还可以将这些小东西随手放入口袋当作日后留念此趟旅行的纪念品。

But, the focal point of Mardi Gras is always the big parade. Visitors jockey for position on crowded streets and balconies to get the best view of the floats as they pass by. Showgirls in colored feathers, circus clowns, people dressed as French royals, and countless others take part in these festivities as marching bands fill the air with jazzy renditions of old standards.

不过，Mardi Gras最吸睛的焦点绝对是盛大的花车游行。游客在挤得水泄不通的街上、阳台上卡位，希望能从最好的角度欣赏游行的队伍。身上以色彩缤纷羽毛装饰的歌舞女郎、马戏团小丑、打扮成法国贵族的人们等，无数人加入这欢乐的庆典，此时还有奏起爵士风老歌的随行乐团让欢乐的气氛更加喧闹。

In 2011, Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, March 8. So if you’re ready to flood your senses with great music, unusual sights, and delectable Louisiana dishes, head to New Orleans and experience the finest that Fat Tuesday has to offer.

今年的Mardi Gras将于3月8日星期二举行。所以如果你准备好迎接一场音乐、视觉和路易斯安那州美食的感官盛宴，就前往纽澳良体验油腻腻的肥胖星期二所提供的盛典吧。

－by Jamie Blackler

Vocabulary

单词发音

beloved [bɪˋlʌvɪd] adj. 受钟爱的，被喜爱的

fantasy [ˋfæntəsɪ] n. 幻想；梦想

mystique [mɪsˋtik] n. 神秘

ball [bɔl] n. 舞会

fictional [ˋfɪkʃən!] adj. 虚构的；小说的

elaborate [ɪˋlæbə͵ret] adj. 精心制作的；精巧的

gown [gaʊn] n. 女礼服，（妇女穿的）长礼服

don [dɑn] v. 穿上

aristocratic [͵ærɪstəˋkrætɪk] adj. 贵族的

attire [əˋtaɪr] n. 服装，衣着；盛装

intermingle [͵ɪntɚˋmɪŋg!] v. 使混合；使搀和[（+with）]

beware [bɪˋwɛr] v. 当心，小心

trinket [ˋtrɪŋkɪt] n. 小装饰物；廉价首饰

pocket [ˋpɑkɪt] v. 把……装入袋内

souvenir [ˋsuvə͵nɪr] n. 纪念品，纪念物

jockey [ˋdʒɑkɪ] v. 耍手段图谋[（+for）]

float [flot] n.（游行时用的）花车

circus [ˋsɝkəs] clown [klaʊn] 马戏团小丑

festivity [fɛsˋtɪvətɪ] n. 庆典，庆祝活动

rendition [rɛnˋdɪʃən] n. 表演；演奏

delectable [dɪˋlɛktəb!] adj. 好吃的，甘美的

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片语发音

be steeped [stipt] in  (尤用于被动语态) 某物弥漫(或充满)...  saturated, filled

bound to 一定会..  certain to

focal [ˋfok!] point 焦点

jockey for position （赛马时）挤其他骑师以占有有利位置 to work oneself into a desired position

flood… with 充斥, 充满 to cover or inundate someone or something with something

Reading Questions

1.    When was Mardi Gras first celebrated in North America?

(A)  No one is really certain.

(B)  In the late 16th century.

(C)  Sometime in the early 1700s.

(D)  It was first celebrated in 1838.

2.    Which of the following statements is NOT true about Mardi Gras?

(A)  People celebrate it by eating and drinking a lot.

(B)  It’s the first day of the Carnival parade.

(C)  Nowadays, it is celebrated in many cities.

(D)  Many people wear disguises during it.

3.    Where might you find this article?

(A)  In a New Orleans newspaper.

(B)  In a magazine about events in 2011.

(C)  In a textbook about European holidays.

(D)  On a travel website about family vacations.

4.    How does the author seem to feel about Mardi Gras?

(A)  He thinks the parade is somewhat overrated.

(B)  He thinks Mardi Gras is similar to many other festivals.

(C)  He thinks people won’t enjoy it unless they wear a disguise.

(D)  He thinks it’s something that party goers will likely enjoy.

Superkrewe of Endymion + Tucks Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans

New Orleans Mardi Gras 2013

Answer