Three Have you wrapped your Christmas presents?
你
圣诞礼物包好
吗？
Introduction
A Whereas
most important holiday
China
Spring Festival (also known asChinese New Year), America’s most popular holidayChristmas. As Chinese kids get “lucky money” from their parents
relatives, American children get Christmas presents from Santa Claus.
如中国最重要节日
春节（也叫过年）样，美国最大众节日就圣诞节。中国小孩父母和亲戚给“压岁钱”，美国小孩从圣诞老人那里得到圣诞礼物。
B From early November until January, American homesstores are decorated with Christmas treescolorful lights. Similarly, Chinese homes are decorated with Spring Festival coupletsstreets are fullred lanterns.
从十月初到月份，美国房屋、商店都布置圣诞树和彩灯。相仿地，中国房子也被春联装饰着，街挂满灯笼。
C Easter was borrowed fromPagan Festival celebratingrebirththe sun. It was adapted by Christianitybe interpreted asresurrectionJesus. One American tradition associated with Easterthe Easter egg hunt. Brightly colored eggs are hiddenchildrentryfind. Sometimes hidden amongstother eggswhat we call “a lucky egg”. If you findlucky egg, you winprize.
复活节借用异教徒节庆祝太阳复活。后被基督教采用诠释为耶稣复活。美国复活节传统，那就寻找复活节彩蛋。色彩鲜艳彩蛋被藏起来让小孩子们去找。时候被藏在其它蛋中间那就我们所说“幸运蛋”。如果你找到这幸运蛋，奖品就你赢。
D Sending cardsspecial occasions--- such as Christmas, New Year, Mother’s Day,birthdays – has been an American tradition. But sending cardsless common than before since computers have become so popular.
在特殊场合寄送卡片——比如圣诞节，新年，母亲节以及生日——已经成美国种传统。但由于电脑受到如此亲睐，寄送卡片也没以前那么普遍。
2 Sample Sentences
. Christmasjust aroundcorner.
圣诞节就要到。
2. I can’t waitsee my father.
我只想立即见我父亲。
3. We are expectedChristmas.
我们在盼着圣诞节到来。
4. This year my mother will cooktwenty-five pound turkey.
今年我妈妈会烹饪二十五磅火鸡。
5. Is everyone still comingChristmas dinner at your apartment this year?
今年每人还会来你家吃圣诞大餐吗？
6. When will we haveEaster egg hunt?
我们什么时候开始找复活节彩蛋？
7. WhogoingplayEaster Bunny this year?
今年谁扮演复活节小兔子？
8. Are you comingthe New Year’s Eve party this year?
今年你会来参加除夕晚会吗？
9. What timethe hangingthe green at church?
教堂什么时候开始为圣诞节装饰？
0. Have you put up your Christmas lightsfrontthe yard yet?
你没把圣诞彩灯挂在后院门口？
3 Conversations
. Lo Fen,Chinese agronomist,staying withHelms familyIowa. It's Christmas Eve.
Lo Fen: Your tree looks beautiful. Do you decoratethis way every year?
Mrs. Helms: Yes, it'sfamily tradition dating back to2 my childhood. We usesame lightsornaments3, butcourse we havenew tree each year.
(She hands herdelicate glass ball.)
Mrs. Helms: The children made somethese decorations. Here, you can hang thisonethose high branches.
(Lo standsa ladderreachupper limbs.)
Mr. Helms: Well, everything seemsbe just about ready. Now all we needsnow.
Lo Fen: Do you exchangepresentsthe morning?
Mrs. Helms: Oh, yes. The kids are too excitedwait. After we clean up4mess--allempty boxesthe wrapping paper5 -- we havebig breakfast. Thenkids havewhole dayplay with their new toys.
Mr. Helms: And we'll have agreat turkey dinner at around four o'clock. My brother andfamily will be joining us.
Lo Fen: look forwardmeeting them. Well, it's late, so I'll say good night. I'll see you early tomorrow, socan share your Christmas morning.
Mr. Helms: Good night!
【译文】
——你们树看起来好漂亮。你们每年都这么布置吗？
——。记得从我孩提时候开始这就家里传统。我们用样灯泡和装饰品；当然，我们每年都用棵新树。（她递给她精巧玻璃球。）
——这些装饰中部分孩子们弄。给，你可以把这吊在根高枝。（Lo站在梯子，伸手去够高点大树枝。）
——似乎切都准备就绪。现在我们都希望下场雪。
——你们在早交换礼物吗？
——。孩子们兴奋得迫及待。我们把杂物打扫完——所这些空盒子和包装纸之后，我们就会吃团圆早餐。然后，孩子们会整天时间玩他们新玩具。
——我们会在四点钟左右吃火鸡。我兄弟和他家人也会来和我们共餐。
——我很希望见到他们。好，太晚，我要说再见。明天我会大早来看你们，那样我就可以和你们分享圣诞早晨。
——晚安！
2. Christian’s Holiday.
Stewart: Merry Christmas!
Mary: Huh?
Stewart: said Merry Christmas! Don't you know that Christmasalmost here?
Mary: It is? Oh, that's nice.
Stewart: Huh? Didn't you know? Aren't you excited?
Mary: Actually, I'd forgotten about it.
Stewart: Forgotten about it? How could you?
Mary: Because I'm not Christian6, I'm Jewish7.
Stewart: Oh, I'm sorry. didn't know.
Mary: It's all right. There are so many ChristiansAmerica that everybody takesfor granted that I'm Christian.
Stewart: guess so. So what do you do around this timeyear?
Mary: Well, I'll celebrate Hanukah soon, but that's not as importantus as Christmasto you. Mainly I'll just enjoyholiday break.
Stewart: Well, would you be horribly offended8 ifinvited youa Christmas party at my house?
Mary: Not at all. A partya party. I'll be happycome.
Helpful Information：
Christmasan adaptationthe Pagan feastYule. Originally celebrated byCelticsold Britain. Christianity borrowedideachanged itrepresentsupposed birthdayJesus. Few people actually know whattrue originthe holiday is. Most people wrongly assume that Christmas has
complete Christian origin when
actually originated asPagan Holiday.
圣诞节
按照非异教徒犹太人盛宴改换过来。最初由古老英国凯尔特人庆祝。基督教借用这
想法，并把它改为象征耶稣出生日。很少
人真正知道这假日真正由来。大部分人错误地认为圣诞节完完全全来自于基督教，而它实际
却起源于
非异教徒节日。
【译文】
——圣诞快乐！
—— 嗯？
——我说圣诞快乐！难道你
知道圣诞节快到吗？
——吗？哦，太好。
——嗯？你难道知道？难道你兴奋？
——我真忘记。
——忘记？你怎能忘记？
——因为我基督教徒，我犹太人。
——哦，对起，我知道。
——没关系。美国这么多基督教徒以致人人都认为我也基督教徒。
——我想这样。那么每年这时候你都在做什么？
——唔，久我要庆祝光明节，但光明节对我们来说没圣诞节对你们那样重要。我主要好好享受这段假期。
——唔，如果我邀请你来我家参加圣诞聚会，你会很生气吗？
——点也。聚会聚会。我会很高兴来参加。
3. Truth about Santa Claus.
Eddie: So how's everything going
Christmas?
Jill: I've got allpresents
need,my familyworking together
get allfood ready. That's easy; buthave another problemdeal with.
Eddie: What's that? Don't tell me you've still got Christmas cardswrite;usually takes my wifemonthwrite all
ours.
Jill: No,did thatlong time ago. It's about telling my sontruth about Santa Claus.
Eddie: He still doesn't know that Santa isn't real? How oldhe, eight?
Jill: Yes. He's never said anything sonever told him. But now that he's getting older…
Eddie: You think it's better that he should be told?
Jill: Yes, he's too oldbelievethat typethings. And I'd rather tell him beforekids at school do.
Eddie: That happenedmy oldest girl. She became really upset when her classmates told her Santa wasn't real.
Jill: can understand. was lucky with my oldest; she figuredout by herselfdidn't tell my son.
Eddie: Well, when you tell him, be gentle. It's hardkidsfindout something like that.
Helpful Information：
When American kids get into their teens, they beginfind out that Santa Claus doesn’t really exist. Some smarter kids even know that before then. They feel it’s nothing butjoke. Of course, some are devastated when they findout. But most realize thatcharacter “Santa Claus”reallyfictional character presenteda light-hearted waythe enjoymentchildren. It doesn’t matter he’s real or not,legend will remain.
当美国小孩子进入十几岁以后，他们开始得知圣诞老人并真正地存在。些聪明些小孩甚至在这之前就知道。他们觉得这只过笑话。当然些人当他们知道此事时很伤心。但大部分人意识到圣诞老人这人物确实虚构角色，以轻松自在方式给孩子们带来乐趣角色。他真与否，都无关紧要，传说还会流传下去。
【译文】
——圣诞节准备得怎么样？
——要礼物我都准备好，而且我们全家正在起准备食物。那很容易，但我还难题要处理。
——什么事？要告诉我你还许多圣诞卡要写；我妻子通常花月时间写好我们所圣诞卡。
——，圣诞卡我早就写完。难题怎样告诉我儿子关圣诞老人实情。
——他还知道圣诞老人真？他多大，八岁？
——，他从未说过什么，因此我也从未告诉过他。但现在他越来越大……
——你认为他应该知道实情比较好吗？
——，他太大，应该相信那种事情。而且我宁愿在学校孩子们告诉他以前告诉他。
—— 以前我大女儿也这样。当她同学告诉她圣诞老人真时候，她变得很伤心。
——我能理解。我幸运我大女儿没这种麻烦，她自己猜出圣诞老人假，但没告诉我儿子。
——唔，那你告诉他时，温和点。对小孩来说，得知那样事很难承受。
4. Taking downChristmas tree.
Gary: Ok, honey, timetake downChristmas tree.
Martha: Do we have to?
Gary: Come on, it's losing needles alltimethe branches are sagging9.
Martha: It's not that bad; besidesreally looks nicethat corner. It givesroomgood atmosphere0.
Gary: A good atmosphere? The treefalling apart,it's messing uproom.
Martha: Butmakesplace feel so much like Christmas. I'd really hatehavetakedown.
Gary: But Christmas was two weeks ago! It's been there only because we've been too busyget ridit.
Martha: know, butseems like suchshamehavetakeaway.
Gary: But it's falling apart,the cat keeps playing withlower branches.
Martha:know,know. Butreminds methe great Christmas we just had. Allus were here -- my parents, your parents,kids,the cousins --food was good,everybody got what they wanted.
Gary: Yeah,wasgood Christmas. It won't always be this good, but we can't makelast longer thanshould.
Martha: Ok, fine. We needtake downtree.
Gary: I'll makedeal with you. We'll leaveup until Sunday,then we'll takedown after church.
Martha: Ok, good.
Additional Information：
Gifts are placed undertree fromtimetrees are put up untilgifts are opened
Christmas morning. Parents are always excitedseecheerful facestheir children atmoment they open their gifts. It’s also an American customleavetree up until afterNew Year. Some people feelsaddest thing about Christmastaking downChristmas tree.
旦圣诞树摆好，礼物就被放在树下面直到圣诞节早礼物被拆开。父母亲总很兴奋地看到他们孩子拆开他们礼物时欢快表情。再者，将圣诞树直摆到新年美国习俗。些人觉得关于圣诞节最伤心事把圣诞树拆卸开来。
【译文】
——行，亲爱，该拿走圣诞树东西。
——必须拿下吗？
——快点，它总往下掉松针，而且树枝已下垂。
——没那么糟糕；况且放在那角落里看去确实很好。它使房间好气氛。
——好气氛？圣诞树都七零八落，还使房间里乱糟糟。
——但它使这里感觉像过圣诞节样。我实在愿拿下它。
——但圣诞节已经过去两星期。它还留在那因为我们直太忙，没时间清理它。
——我知道，但拿走它似乎遗憾。
——但它正变得七零八落，猫还总玩弄下面树枝。
——我知道，我知道。但它使我想起我们刚刚度过快乐圣诞节。所人都在――我父母，你父母，孩子们和堂兄弟姐妹们――食物很好，并且每人都得到所想要。
——，愉快圣诞节。它会总这样好，但我们能使它持续太长时间。
——，行。我们需要拿走圣诞树。
——我向你说定。我们将把它保留至星期天，做完礼拜后再拿下它。
——行，好吧。
4 WordsExpressions
. agronomist 农(艺)学家
2. date back to 属于,始于某时期
3. ornament 装饰品
4. clean up 打扫;整理，清理
5. wrapping paper 包装纸
6. Christian 基督教，基督教徒
7. Jewish 犹太人，犹太教
8. offend 冒犯;触怒;伤害...感情
9. sag 松弛, 下陷, (物价)下跌, 漂流
0. atmosphere 大气，气氛
. makedeal with 与...做生意, 和...妥协
