同学们， 2013年的圣诞节即将来临，让我们一起来普及一下有关圣诞节的知识吧！
1.圣诞节的来历是什么？
In Christianity, Christmas is the festival celebrating the Nativity of Jesus, the Christian belief that the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament's Messianic prophecies was born to the Virgin Mary.
在基督教的传统中，圣诞节是为庆祝基督耶稣降生的节日。基督教徒相信，弥赛亚告知圣母玛利亚孕育了上帝的儿子耶稣。
2.传统的圣诞习俗有哪些？
Even in countries where there is a strong Christian tradition, Christmas celebrations can vary markedly from country tocountry. For many Christians, a religious service plays an important part in the recognition of the season. Secular processions, featuring Santa Claus and other seasonal figures are often held. Family reunions and the exchange of gifts are a widespread feature of the season.
圣诞习俗国与国之间非常不同。对基督教徒来说，在圣诞节举行相应的宗教仪式必不可少。世俗的传统，通常包含圣诞老人和其他节日特征。家庭会在这一天团聚、互换礼物。
3.各国的圣诞大餐都吃些啥？
A special Christmas family meal is an important part ofthe celebration for many, but what is actually served can vary greatly from country to country. In England, and countries in fluenced by its traditions, a standard Christmas meal would include turkey, potatoes, vegetables, sausages and gravy, followed by Christmas pudding or mince pies. In Poland and other parts of eastern Europe and Scandinavia, fish of ten provides the traditional main course, but richer meat such as lambis increasingly served. Ham is the main meal in the Philippines, while in Germany, France and Austria, goose and pork are favored. Beef, ham and chicken in various recipes are popular throughout the world.
和习俗一样，各国的圣诞大餐也有差别。在英国，和英语文化圈，标准的圣诞大餐通常包括火鸡、土豆、蔬菜、香肠和肉汁，以圣诞布丁或碎肉派结尾；在波兰等东欧国家、包括斯堪的纳维亚半岛，鱼是圣诞餐的主菜，不过近年来类似羊肉的红肉也越来越盛行；火腿是菲律宾的主菜；在德国、法国和澳洲，鹅和猪肉是人们喜爱的菜肴；另外的，牛肉、火腿和鸡肉的菜肴在全球的圣诞菜单上都很流行。
4.圣诞的传统装饰都有哪些？
Since the 19 th century, the poinsettia, a native plantfrom Mexico, has been associated with Christmas. Other popular holiday plants include holly, mistletoe, red amaryllis, and Christmas cactus. Along with a Christmas tree, the interior of a home may be decorated with these plants, along with garlands and evergreen foliage. In Australia, North and South America, and Europe, it is traditional to decorate the outside of houses with lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas figures. The traditional colors of Christmas are pinegreen (evergreen), snow white, and heart red.
自 19世纪开始，一品红，一种原产于墨西哥的植物就和圣诞节联系起来。其他流行的圣诞装饰植物还包括冬青树、懈寄生(拜痞子蔡所赐相信大家都知道了那个著名的关于亲吻的故事)、红色宫人草和蟹爪兰。它们和圣诞树、花环、绿叶一起用以装饰房间。在澳洲、南北美和欧洲，还有用灯泡、发光的雪橇、雪人和其他圣诞人物装饰屋子外部的传统。圣诞节最传统的装饰颜色是青色、雪白和大红。
5.圣诞赞歌有什么来源吗？
In the thirteenth century, in France, Germany, and particularly, Italy, a strong tradition of popular Christmas songs in the native language developed. Christmas carols in English first appear in 1426. The songs we know specifically as carols were originally communal songs sung during celebrations like harvest tide as well as Christmas.
13世纪，法国德国、特别是在意大利，用当地语言写成的圣诞歌开始流行起来。第一首英语的圣诞赞歌写于 1426年。现在为我们所熟知的那些圣诞赞歌应该是和丰收节的传统一并起源的。
6.圣诞节一定要寄卡片吗？
Christmas cards are usually exchanged during the weeks preceding Christmas Day on December 25 by many people( includingnon-Christians) in Western society and in Asia. The traditional greeting reads" wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year", much like the first commercial Christmas card, produced by Sir Henry Cole in London 1843.
没有规定吧，但在圣诞节互寄卡片的确是这个节日的传统，西方社会和亚洲都是。历史上的第一张商业圣诞卡片起源于 1843年的伦敦。（为保护环境还是建议大家寄电子卡片哟！）
7.有圣诞卡片就要有圣诞邮票吗？
A number of nations have issued commemorative stamps at Christmastime. Postal customers will often use these stamps to mail Christmas cards, and they are popular with philatelists. These stamps are usually printed in considerable quantities.
没错啊，很多国家在圣诞的时候都会发行纪念邮票。人们也经常用这些圣诞邮票来寄他们的圣诞卡片，这些邮票通常质量都很好，常被收藏做集邮。
8.圣诞老人原名“圣塔尼古拉斯”！？
The most famous and pervasive of these figures in modern celebration worldwide is Santa Claus, a mythical gift bringer, dressed in red, whose origins have disputed sources. Santa Claus isa corruption of the Dutch Sinterklaas, which means simply Saint Nicholas. Nicholas was Bishop of Myra( in modern day Turkey) in the fourth century. Among other saintly attributes, he was noted for the care of Children, generosity, and the giving of gifts.
全球最知名的圣诞人物恐怕就是圣诞老人了，他老人家带礼物、穿红衫，广受小盆友欢迎。他的英文名 SantaClaus是德语 Sinterklaas的误传，而 Sinterklaas的直译就是“圣塔尼古拉斯”了。尼古拉斯先生是 14世纪玛拉国（今土耳其）的主教，他非常关心孩子，慷慨大方、乐施礼物。后成为圣诞老人的原型。
9.小圣诞（ Little Christmas）是怎么回事？
Little Christmas is one of the traditional names in Ireland for January 6, more commonly known in the rest of the worldas the Celebration of the Epiphany. It is so called because it was the day on which Christmas Day was celebrated under the Roman calendar, before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar. It is the traditional end of the Christmas season and the last day of the Christmas holidays for both primary and secondary schools in Ireland.
爱尔兰人把每年的 1月 6日称为“小圣诞”——其他国家把这一天称为“主显日”。在乔治亚历通用以前，这一天是以罗马历计算的圣诞节。在爱尔兰，小圣诞被视为是圣诞季的最后一天，过了这一天，小学和中学就开学啦。（很像咱们的“过大年”啊！）
10.女人的圣诞节（ Women's Christmas）又是怎么回事儿？
Little Christmas is also called Women's Christmas, and sometimes Women's Little Christmas. It is so called because of the tradition of Irish men taking on all the household duties for the day and giving their wives a day off. Most women hold parties or goout to celebrate the day with their friends, sisters, mothers, aunts, etc. Bars and restaurants usually serve mostly women and girls on this night. Children often buy presents for their mothers and grandmothers.
小圣诞节在爱尔兰同时也叫“女人的圣诞节”，或“女人的小圣诞”。因为这一天，爱尔兰的男人通常会接过家里的所有家务，让他们的妻子休一天假。很多女人在这一天开派对、和朋友、姐妹、母亲、阿姨们一起外出庆祝。酒吧和餐馆在这一天通常也会接待很多女宾，而孩子们则会为他们的母亲和祖母们准备礼物。
