【外語學(xué)習(xí)】歡度圣誕并賀新年   Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

“圣誕節(jié)”這個(gè)名稱是“基督彌撒”的縮寫。彌撒是教會(huì)的一種禮拜儀式。耶誕節(jié)是一個(gè)宗教節(jié)。我們把它當(dāng)作耶穌的誕辰來慶祝，因而又名耶誕節(jié)。這一天，世界所有的基督教會(huì)都舉行特別的禮拜儀式。但是有很多圣誕節(jié)的歡慶活動(dòng)和宗教并無半點(diǎn)關(guān)聯(lián)。交換禮物，寄圣誕卡，這都使圣誕節(jié)成為一個(gè)普天同慶的日子。
12月25日原來是波斯太陽神（即光明之神）密特拉（Mithra）的誕辰，是一個(gè)異教徒節(jié)日，同時(shí)太陽神也是羅馬國教眾神之一。這一天又是羅馬歷書的冬至節(jié)，崇拜太陽神的異教徒都把這一天當(dāng)作春天的希望，萬物復(fù)蘇的開始�？赡苡捎谶@個(gè)原因，羅馬教會(huì)才選擇這一天作為圣誕節(jié)。這是教會(huì)初期力圖把異教徒的風(fēng)俗習(xí)慣基督教化的措施之一。后來，雖然大多數(shù)教會(huì)都接受12月25日為圣誕節(jié)，但又因?yàn)楦鞯亟虝?huì)使用的歷書不同，具體日期不能統(tǒng)一，于是就把12月24日到第二年的1月6日定為圣誕節(jié)節(jié)期（Christmas Tide），各地教會(huì)可以根據(jù)當(dāng)?shù)鼐唧w情況在這段節(jié)期之內(nèi)慶祝圣誕節(jié)。

Now, the Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.
這里是VOA特別英語詞語典故節(jié)目。
Santa Claus is someone who will remain in the hearts of children forever. He is the make-believe person who brings toys and other gifts to children at Christmas.
圣誕老人是孩子們心中永遠(yuǎn)銘記的人物。他讓孩子們相信，圣誕節(jié)之日他會(huì)為帶來玩具或其他禮物。
To grown-ups, he is a special symbol of goodwill and selfless giving.
對(duì)于大人們來說，圣誕老人象征著美好的愿望以及無私的給予。
Santa Claus also has some other names: Saint Nicholas, St. Nick, Kris Kringle, Pelznickel.
人們還把圣誕老人叫做：圣尼古拉斯、圣尼克、克里斯.柯林格勒和佩爾茲尼克爾。
Two of his names -- Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas -- both come from the Dutch who settled in New York long ago.
圣誕老人和圣尼古拉斯這兩個(gè)名字起源于很久以前居住在紐約的荷蘭人，
The Dutch believed Saint Nikolas gave gifts to children. They honored this kindly saint with a yearly festival on December sixth.
他們認(rèn)為是圣尼古拉斯給孩子們送禮物的，因此在每年12月6日共同歡度節(jié)日來記念這位善良的圣徒。
The English-speaking people who lived nearby greatly enjoyed Dutch festivals. And they brought the saint and the custom of giving gifts into their own celebration at Christmas time.
住在這些荷蘭人附近的說英語的人們也一起歡度這個(gè)節(jié)目。并且他們也將圣徒的傳說和送禮物的習(xí)俗一并納入了自己慶祝圣誕的方式之中，
The Dutch spoke the name "Saint Nikolaas" very fast. It sounded like "sinterklaas." And so, when the English said this word, it sounded like Santa Claus.
荷蘭人說圣尼古拉斯時(shí)速度非常快，聽起來象"圣尼克"。而這些英國人發(fā)這個(gè)音的時(shí)候，聽起來就象“圣誕老人”。
West of New York, in Pennsylvania, many German farmers had also heard of Saint Nikolas.
在賓夕法尼亞州的紐約西部地區(qū)，許多德國農(nóng)民也聽說了圣尼古拉斯。
But they called him Pelznickel. This word came from "pelz," meaning fur, and "nickel" for Nicholas. And so, to the Germans of Pennsylvania,
但是他們稱他為佩爾茲尼克爾。這種叫法來源于"pelz,"意思是皮毛，再加上代替尼古拉斯發(fā)音的"nickel"。同時(shí)，對(duì)這些賓夕法尼亞州的德國人來說，
Saint Nicholas or Pelznickel was a man dressed in fur who came once a year with gifts for good children.
圣尼古拉斯或者佩爾茲尼克爾是帶著送給好孩子的禮物每年降臨世間一次的穿著毛皮大衣的人。
Soon, people began to feel that the love and kindness Pelznickel brought should be part of a celebration honoring the Christkindl,
很快，人們意識(shí)到佩爾茲尼克爾帶來的愛心和善意應(yīng)當(dāng)融入到Christkindl的慶祝節(jié)目中
as the Germans called the Christ child. After a time, this became Kris Kringle. Later, Kris Kringle became another name for Santa Claus himself.
（德國人稱之為幼年基督）。過了一段時(shí)間，這一節(jié)目被稱為Kris Kringle。再后來，Kris Kringle就成為圣誕老人的另一個(gè)名字。
Whatever he is called, he is still the same short, fat, jolly old man with a long beard, wearing a red suit with white fur.
不論被叫做什么，他始終就是同一位穿著帶毛的紅色衣服的矮矮胖胖、喜氣洋洋、長胡子老人。
The picture of Santa Claus as we see him came from Thomas Nast. He was an American painter born in Bavaria.
我們現(xiàn)在看到的圣誕老人的樣子是那思特創(chuàng)造的。他是位美國畫家，出生于巴伐利亞州。
He painted pictures for Christmas poems. Someone asked him to paint a picture of Santa Claus.
他為圣誕詩附畫，有人請(qǐng)他畫圣誕老人的圖畫。
Nast remembered when he was a little boy in southern Germany. Every Christmas, a fat old man gave toys and cakes to the children.
那思特便回憶起他在德國南部的童年生活，那時(shí)，每次圣誕節(jié)，一個(gè)胖胖的老爺爺都會(huì)給孩子們送來玩具和蛋糕。
So, when Nast painted the picture, his Santa Claus looked like the kindly old man of his childhood.
因此，他畫出的圣誕老人看起來就是他童年時(shí)代那位和藹可親的老人的樣子。
And through the years, Nast's painting has remained as the most popular picture of Santa Claus.
這么多年以來，那思特的圣誕老人畫一直最受人們喜歡。
Santa can be seen almost everywhere in large American cities during the Christmas season.
在整個(gè)圣誕季，美國的各大城市隨處可見圣誕的身影。
Some stand on street corners asking for money to buy food and gifts for the needy. Others are found in stores and shopping centers.
有些站在街角募捐些錢，來為窮人買食物和禮物。還有的圣誕老人出現(xiàn)在各大商店和購物中心，
It is easy to find them by the long lines of children waiting to tell Santa what they want for Christmas.
在這些地方，很容易找到他們，因?yàn)楹⒆觽兌寂胖�長隊(duì)要告訴他，他們想要什么圣誕禮物呢。

Christmas in my heart
Every time we say goodbye
There is something breaking deep inside
I tried to hide my feelings to keep myself controlled
But somehow I can't deny what's deep inside my soul
I've been always on the run
So many different places, having fun
But like a river always knows just where to flow
Now that December comes I feel like coming home
It's Christmas in my heart
When I'm with you
No matter where we are or what we do
Tomorrow may be grey
We may be torn apart
But if you stay tonight
It's Christmas in my heart
I don't know how to stay alive
Without your touch without you by my side
Just like the desert's always waiting for the rain
Oh baby, I wish the holy night would come again
It's Christmas in my heart
When I'm with you
No matter where we are or what we do
Tomorrow may be grey
We may be torn apart
But if you stay tonight
It's Christmas in my heart
Everywhere I go and everyone I know
Is making lots of wishes for old Santa Claus
But all I really need tonight
Is for you to come and hold me tight
What is Christmas without you here by my side
I need you tonight
It's Christmas in my heart
When I'm with you
No matter where we are or what we do
Tomorrow may be grey
We may be torn apart
But if you stay tonight
It's Christmas in my heart
It's Christmas in my heart

2015 is coming, my friends and everyone I concerned, may happiness follow you wherever you go!
Now, please write down your words to your  families,friends and other people
Best wishes to all of you


今天是平安夜，祝大家一切順利，用最好的狀態(tài)迎接2015吧~
更多圣誕信息 請(qǐng)戳http://www.kekenet.com/topic/2012christmas/