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Holidays (节日)

Celebrating Christmas 庆祝圣诞节

详细资料: 创建于 2009年12月24日; 最后更新于 2024年5月25日; 发布于 2013年1月04日; 作者：Mike Lee; 点击数：255

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A Spectacular Celebration 令人叹为观止的圣诞节庆典

Christmas, a great celebration in most parts of the world, commemorates the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Most of us find it hard to imagine the first Christmas because people didn’t have TVs, radios, or even cameras way back then. But God arranged a celebration far more spectacular than anyone could pull off, even in these days of modern technology. He had a big choir of angels perform in the skies so people all around the world could know that this was not just a regular man-made birthday party!

圣诞节是为了纪念耶稣在伯利恒降生，在全球部份地区都是盛大的节日。大多数人可能会很难想象，很久以前的第一个圣诞节是何种光景，因为当时根本就没有电视、收音机或相机。不过，上帝却安排了莫大的庆典，壮观的程度，远超过人力所能为，就连目前的现代科技也无法办到。因为上帝安排了一群天使在天上表演，好让全世界的人都知道，这可不是一般的生日派对。

In fact, an even more starling phenomenon announced Jesus’ birth – a bright new star in the galaxy. People from as far away as China, India and distant countries saw it and wondered what it was all about. In order to understand, some inquisitive scholars studied all their ancient writings and found out that an important king would be born and that this star would lead them to him.

事实上，耶稣的降生是由更惊人的天象所宣布的：那就是银河系里的一颗明亮新星，远至中国、印度和其他遥远国度的人们都可以看到，而且都很纳闷那究竟是什么回事。为了理解这个现象，有些好奇的学者便埋首研究古籍，结果发现，那代表一位重要君王即将诞生，而这颗星将引导他们找到那位王。

It took them about two years to get there because there were no freeways, direction signs or tourist guides, but finally, the star led them to Bethlehem. They brought expensive, valuable gifts of gold, myrrh and incense to give to this very important person who had come into the world.

他们共花了两年左右，才到达目的地，因为当时并没有高速公路、也没有路标或旅游指南，但最后那颗星终于引导他们来到伯利恒。他们带来了黄金、没药和香料等价值非凡的珍贵礼物，好送给这位降生人间的非凡人士。

The Christmas story has been told in nearly all the languages of the world; many plays and musical classics have been written depicting this great revelation to all people. It proclaims that God has a solution for the future of the world that affects lives throughout all generations and lasts for eternity.

这则圣诞节的故事被用全世界几乎所有语言翻译出来，传诵于世，还有很多戏剧和经典音乐也都描绘出这个昭告世人的伟大的启示，以便向普世宣扬，上帝对世界的未来有解决之钥，足以影响到世世代代的人类，直到永恒。

The true gift of Christmas is the gift of love from the Creator of the universe. He desired to know each human being personally. This relationship can bring joy and hope and meaning into the lives of all who take the time to discover and accept it.

圣诞节的真正礼物，其实是宇宙的造物主送出的爱的礼物，因为上帝希望能认识我们每一个人，而所有愿意花时间去寻找并接受与上帝建立关系的人，将为自己的生命，带来无比的喜悦、希望和意义。

－by Doris Brougham

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Bethlehem [ˋbɛθləhɛm] n. 伯利恒（耶稣降生地）

way back 很久以前

pull off 成功完成 to perform in spite of difficulties or obstacles; bring off

choir [kwaɪr] n.（教堂的）唱诗班；圣乐团

galaxy [ˋgæləksɪ] n.【天】银河

myrrh [mɝ] n. 没药（用作香料或药品的一种树脂）a sticky, brown substance with a strong smell which is used in making perfume and incense

incense [ˋɪnsɛns] n. (常用于宗教仪式的)香

revelation [rɛv!ˋeʃən] n. 天启; 神示; 被暴露的真相; 被曝光的秘密 a manifestation of divine will or truth

proclaim [prəˋklem] v. 表明，显示[+（that）]

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No Vacancy 没空房了

For most Westerners, Christmas holidays are inextricably linked to family. However, while I was growing up, my mother and father were separated from their parents by long distances so we never once spent the holidays with just relatives. The people who enjoyed our Christmas feast with us included anyone my parents had recently met who might not have a place to go.

对大部分西方人来说，圣诞假期一定和家人密不可分。只不过，在我成长的过程中，爸妈住的地方，和爷爷奶奶的家相隔甚远，所以我们从来都没有只和亲戚共度佳节，而和我们一起享用圣诞节大餐的人们，还包括了爸妈刚认识不久的新朋友，他们在圣诞节没有地方可以去，爸妈就会邀请他们来共度。

To this day, my holidays tend to include people I barely know. Thanks to my new friends in Asia, I have enjoyed this kind of hospitality myself. I spent Lunar New Year with members of the Toroko tribe in Hualien, and I enjoyed learning how to make zhongzi with a friend and her children during Dragon Boat Festival.

一直到现在，我的节日也往往都是和那些几乎不太认识的人共度。感谢我在亚洲认识的新朋友，我现在也体验到从前爸妈对新朋友的殷勤款待。去年农历新年，我是和花莲的太鲁阁族人一起度过；今年端午节，我则是开心地向一位朋友和她的孩子学包粽子。

As for Christmas, every year since I moved here, I’ve celebrated with new friends. A potluck dinner satisfies our appetites with everything from the traditional yams and pumpkin pie to barbequed kebabs and pancakes.

自从我来台之后，每年圣诞节都是和新朋友一起庆祝。大家各自带菜肴共享晚餐，传统的蕃薯和南瓜派、烤肉串和松饼等各式餐点，满足了大家的味蕾。

And every year, I read the story of Jesus’ birth again. When I get to the part about innkeepers turning Mary and Joseph away, I sympathize with those business owners. They were probably busy with the countless visitors to the city and their own families. But when they told the couple they had no room to host them, they were passing up a chance to witness one of the most important events in history. They didn’t realize that a miracle was about to take place.

此外，每年圣诞节我都会朗读耶稣降生的故事。当我念到旅店主人支开马利亚和约瑟时，我都会很同情那些店主，也许他们忙着应付来到市区、不计其数的游客和自己的家人，以致于无暇顾及其他，但当他们告诉那对夫妻，没有空房可以让他们住的时候，其实也失去了见证历史上最重大事迹的机会。他们不知道，奇迹即将发生了。

As our lives keep getting busier, we have to scrape together extra minutes to enjoy with our families. In our haste to create quality time, we often forget to include those who may not have anyone to spend their extra minutes with.

现代人的生活愈来愈繁忙，必须东拼西凑片段的空闲时间，才能和家人一起享受，但在我们忙着营造优质时光的同时，却往往忽略了那些没有人可以分享闲暇时光的人。

I want to learn from the Christmas story. I want my holidays to be full of friends and family, but I hope to welcome a few strangers, too. God may be ready to show me a miracle.

我希望能从圣诞节的故事中学到宝贵的功课，希望我的节日都能和亲朋友共聚，但也敞开双手欢迎陌生人。或许上帝正准备向我显现一个奇迹喔。

－by Naomi Biesheuvel

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hospitality [͵hɑspɪˋtælətɪ] n. 好客；殷勤招待

potluck [ˋpɑt͵lʌk] n. 百乐餐（参加聚餐者每人各带菜肴共享的餐会）

barbequed [ˋbɑrbɪkjud] adj. 烧烤的；用调料烤的

kebab [kəˋbɑb] n.【印度】烤肉串

innkeeper [ˋɪn͵kipɚ] n. 旅馆主人；客栈老板

pass up【口】拒绝；放弃 to let go by; reject

scrape [skrep] v.【口】（艰难地）凑集，积攒；勉强过日子[（+up/together）]gather (money or other resources) together over time

minute [ˋmɪnɪt] n. 一会儿，片刻

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Where is Christmas? 圣诞节的真正所在

Landing in Taipei seven years ago, I crossed the globe, and crossed over to a culture with different holidays and traditions. Just how different things were hit me that first Christmas here.

我是在七年前，踏上了台北这块土地，不但是飞越了大半个地球，其实也横跨了一个全新的文化，而这个文化有着不同的节日和传统。不过，一直等到我在台北度过的一个圣诞节，我才了解文化的差异有多大。

“You mean I have to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?” I asked my buxiban supervisor. For many Americans, including me, Christmas has become a week of vacation, rather than a time of reflection.

「你是说，我必须在圣诞夜和圣诞节工作吗？」我问我在补习班的主管说。对包括我在内的许多美国人而言，圣诞节代表一周的长假，而非让人省思的时刻。

Sentimental memories of exchanging gifts and family dinners danced in my head. But here I was, 10,000 miles from home – and I had to work! Sitting at my desk, feeling sorry for myself, little did I know that my young students would teach me where Christmas was.

交换礼物，以及和家人共进晚餐等充满感情的回忆，浮现脑海。但如今，我只身在台，离家一万哩，而且居然非得上班不可！我坐在办公桌前，自怨自艾，殊不知，年轻的学生正准备教我一堂宝贵的功课，教我圣诞节真正的所在。

Heavenly Melody sings, “Christmas isn’t Christmas, ’til it’s Christmas in your heart.” It reminds me that celebrating Jesus’ birth isn’t about being in a certain place, spending money or eating great food. Instead, Christmas is about loving, sharing and forgiving everyday of the year. Rather than lamenting the goodies I’m not eating, who am I feeding. Do I miss the gifts, or give to the needy?

天韵诗班唱着：「一直要等到你心中有圣诞节，圣诞节才会是真正的圣诞节。」（译注：歌名是《Christmas isn’t Christmas》）这旋律提醒了我，庆祝耶稣的降生，并不在于必须到某个特定地点，或是花很多钱，也不是吃好吃的食物。相反地，圣诞节在于一年中的每一天，都要去爱、分享和原谅，而不是只在圣诞节这一天而已。我不该惋惜没有吃到哪些美食，而是该想想，我有没有和有需要的人分享食物！我不该在乎没有收到礼物，而是该检讨自己有没有对有需要的人伸出援手！

I worked Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – and it was one of my best Christmases. In the first class, my young students surprised me with Christmas songs they had practiced. Many used crayons to draw rudimentary Christmas cards that meant more than any fancy card could.

我在圣诞夜和圣诞节上班──结果那是我有生以来最棒的一个圣诞节。当我走进第一堂课的教室时，年轻的学生们就开始唱他们练习过的圣诞歌，令我非常惊喜。许多学生用蜡笔画了简单的圣诞卡，但在我眼中却比任何精美的卡片还更有意义。

For two days, my classes celebrated the holiday with me, and I realized I wasn’t missing anything. The children taught me that the best gifts were time and attention.

连续两天，班上学生都和我一起庆祝圣诞节，让我体会到，我其实根本没有错失任何事。这些孩子让我学习到，最棒的礼物，就是奉献出自己的时间和关心。

That Christmas passed by in the blink of an eye. We covered our English lessons, but we also celebrated a Christmas that I’ll never forget. Dozing off to sleep that night, 10,000 miles from home, it didn’t matter where I was, or what presents I got. What mattered was what I gave.

那个圣诞节在转瞬间飞逝。我们有上完该上的英文课，但同时也庆祝了这个我难忘怀的圣诞节。当晚，离家一万哩的我，渐渐阖上眼皮入睡（译注：doze off指打瞌睡、打盹儿），其实，我身在何方、收到了哪些礼物，并不重要，重要的是，我给出了什么。

－by Bill Quinn

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