歲末，白雪皚皚的圣誕又要到了，雖然在國內現在也有很多人過圣誕，但對這個血統正派的西洋節日你真正了解嗎？快通過我們的十個問題來測一測你對圣誕節知多少吧！

    1. 圣誕節的來歷是什么？

    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.

    在基督教的傳統中，圣誕節是為慶祝基督耶穌降生的節日。基督教徒相信，彌賽亞告知圣母瑪利亞孕育了上帝的兒子耶穌。

    2. 傳統的圣誕習俗有哪些？

    Even in countries where there is a strong Christian tradition,Christmas celebrations can vary markedly from country to country.Formany Christians, a religious service plays an important part in therecognition of the season. Secular processions,featuring Santa Claus and other seasonal figures are often held. Familyreunions and the exchange of gifts are a widespread feature of theseason.

    圣誕習俗國與國之間非常不同。對基督教徒來說，在圣誕節舉行相應的宗教儀式必不可少。世俗的傳統，通常包含圣誕老人和其他節日特征。家庭會在這一天團聚、互換禮物。

    3. 各國的圣誕大餐都吃些啥？

    A special Christmas family meal is an important part of the celebrationfor many, but what is actually served can vary greatly from country tocountry. In England, and countries influenced by its traditions, a standard

    Christmas meal would include turkey, potatoes, vegetables, sausages andgravy, followed by Christmas pudding or mince pies. In Poland and otherparts of eastern Europe and Scandinavia, fish often provides thetraditional main course, but richer meat such as lamb is increasinglyserved. Ham is the main meal in the Philippines, while in Germany,France and Austria, goose and pork are favored. Beef, ham and chickenin various recipes are popular throughout the world.

    和習俗一樣，各國的圣誕大餐也有差別。在英國，和英語文化圈，標準的圣誕大餐通常包括火雞、土豆、蔬菜、香腸和肉汁，以圣誕布丁或碎肉派結尾；在波蘭等東歐國家、包括斯堪的納維亞半島，魚是圣誕餐的主菜，不過近年來類似羊肉的紅肉也越來越盛行；火腿是菲律賓的主菜；在德國、法國和澳洲，鵝和豬肉是人們喜愛的菜肴；另外的，牛肉、火腿和雞肉的菜肴在全球的圣誕菜單上都很流行。

    4. 圣誕的傳統裝飾都有哪些？

    Since the 19th century, the poinsettia, a native plant from Mexico,has been associated with Christmas. Other popular holiday plantsinclude 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 andevergreen foliage.In Australia, North and South America, and Europe, itis traditional to decorate the outside of houses with lights andsometimes with illuminated sleighs,snowmen, and other Christmas figures. The traditional colors ofChristmas are pine green （evergreen）, snow white, and heart red.

    自19世紀開始，一品紅，一種原產于墨西哥的植物就和圣誕節聯系起來。其他流行的圣誕裝飾植物還包括冬青樹、懈寄生（拜痞子蔡所賜相信大家都知道了那個著名的關于親吻的故事）、紅色宮人草和蟹爪蘭。它們和圣誕樹、花環、綠葉一起用以裝飾房間。在澳洲、南北美和歐洲，還有用燈泡、發光的雪橇、雪人和其他圣誕人物裝飾屋子外部的傳統。圣誕節最傳統的裝飾顏色是青色、雪白和大紅。

    5. 圣誕贊歌有什么來源嗎？

    In the thirteenth century, in France, Germany, and particularly, Italy,a strong tradition of popular Christmas songs in the native languagedeveloped.[30] Christmas carols in English first appear in 1426. Thesongs we know specifically as carols were originally communal songs sung during celebrations like harvest tide as well as Christmas.

    13世紀，法國德國、特別是在意大利，用當地語言寫成的圣誕歌開始流行起來。第一首英語的圣誕贊歌寫于1426年。現在為我們所熟知的那些圣誕贊歌應該是和豐收節的傳統一并起源的。

    6. 圣誕節一定要寄卡片嗎？

    Christmas cards are usually exchanged during the weeks preceding

    Christmas Day on December 25 by many people （including non-Christians）in Western society and in Asia. The traditional greeting reads "wishingyou a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year", much like the firstcommercial Christmas card, produced by Sir Henry Cole in London 1843.

    沒有規定吧，但在圣誕節互寄卡片的確是這個節日的傳統，西方社會和亞洲都是。歷史上的第一張商業圣誕卡片起源于1843年的倫敦。（為保護環境還是建議大家寄電子卡片喲！）

    7. 有圣誕卡片就要有圣誕郵票嗎？

    A number of nations have issued commemorative stamps at Christmastime. Postal customers will often use these stampsto mail Christmas cards, and they are popular with philatelists. Thesestamps are usually printed in considerable quantities.

    沒錯啊，很多國家在圣誕的時候都會發行紀念郵票。人們也經常用這些圣誕郵票來寄他們的圣誕卡片，這些郵票通常質量都很好，常被收藏做集郵。

    8. 圣誕老人原名"圣塔尼古拉斯"!?

    The most famous and pervasive of these figures in modern celebration worldwide is Santa Claus, a mythical giftbringer, dressed in red, whose origins have disputed sources. SantaClaus is a corruption of the Dutch Sinterklaas, which means simplySaint Nicholas. Nicholas was Bishop of Myra （in modern day Turkey） inthe fourth century. Among other saintly attributes, he was noted forthe care of Children, generosity, and the giving of gifts.

    全球最知名的圣誕人物恐怕就是圣誕老人了，他老人家帶禮物、穿紅衫，廣受小盆友歡迎。他的英文名SantaClaus是德語Sinterklaas的誤傳，而Sinterklaas的直譯就是"圣塔尼古拉斯"了。尼古拉斯先生是14世紀瑪拉國（今土耳其）的主教，他非常關心孩子，慷慨大方、樂施禮物。后成為圣誕老人的原型。

    9. 小圣誕（Little Christmas）是怎么回事？

    Little Christmas is one of the traditional names in Ireland forJanuary 6, more commonly known in the rest of the world as theCelebration of the Epiphany.It is so called because it was the day on which Christmas Day wascelebrated under the Roman calendar, before the adoption of theGregorian calendar. It is the traditional end of the Christmas seasonand the last day of the Christmas holidays for both primary andsecondary schools in Ireland.

    愛爾蘭人把每年的1月6日稱為"小圣誕"--其他國家把這一天稱為"主顯日".在喬治亞歷通用以前，這一天是以羅馬歷計算的圣誕節。在愛爾蘭，小圣誕被視為是圣誕季的最后一天，過了這一天，小學和中學就開學啦。（很像咱們的"過大年"啊！）

    10. 女人的圣誕節（Women's Christmas）又是怎么回事兒？

    Little Christmas is also called Women's Christmas, and sometimesWomen's Little Christmas. It is so called because of the tradition ofIrish men taking on all the household duties for the day and givingtheir wives a day off.Most women hold parties or go out to celebrate

    the day with their friends, sisters, mothers, aunts, etc. Bars andrestaurants usually serve mostly women and girls on this night.Children often buy presents for their mothers and grandmothers.

    小圣誕節在愛爾蘭同時也叫"女人的圣誕節",或"女人的小圣誕".因為這一天，愛爾蘭的男人通常會接過家里的所有家務，讓他們的妻子休一天假。很多女人在這一天開派對、和朋友、姐妹、母親、阿姨們一起外出慶祝。酒吧和餐館在這一天通常也會接待很多女賓，而孩子們則會為他們的母親和祖母們準備禮物。