Three    Have you wrapped your Christmas presents?
你的圣誕禮物包好了嗎？

 1   Introduction  
A   Whereas the most important holiday in China is Spring Festival (also known as the Chinese New Year), America’s most popular holiday is Christmas.  As Chinese kids get “lucky money” from their parents and relatives, American children get Christmas presents from Santa Claus.
如中國最重要的節(jié)日是春節(jié)（也叫過年）一樣，美國最大眾的節(jié)日就是圣誕節(jié)。中國小孩是父母和親戚給“壓歲錢”，美國小孩是從圣誕老人那里得到圣誕禮物。

B   From early November until January, American homes and stores are decorated with Christmas trees and colorful lights.  Similarly, Chinese homes are decorated with Spring Festival couplets and streets are full of red lanterns.
從十一月初到一月份，美國的房屋、商店都布置了圣誕樹和彩燈。相仿地，中國的房子也被春聯(lián)裝飾著，街上掛滿了燈籠。

C   Easter was borrowed from the Pagan Festival celebrating the rebirth of the sun.  It was adapted by Christianity to be interpreted as the resurrection of Jesus.  One American tradition associated with Easter is the Easter egg hunt.  Brightly colored eggs are hidden for children to try to find.  Sometimes hidden amongst the other eggs is what we call “a lucky egg”.  If you find the lucky egg, you win a prize.
復(fù)活節(jié)是借用了異教徒節(jié)慶祝太陽的復(fù)活。后被基督教采用詮釋為耶穌的復(fù)活。美國的復(fù)活節(jié)有一個傳統(tǒng)，那就是尋找復(fù)活節(jié)彩蛋。色彩鮮艷的彩蛋被藏起來讓小孩子們?nèi)フ摇Ｓ袝r候被藏在其它蛋中間的那個就是我們所說的“幸運(yùn)蛋”。如果你找到這個幸運(yùn)蛋，獎品就是你贏了。

D   Sending cards for special occasions--- such as Christmas, New Year, Mother’s Day, and birthdays – has been an American tradition.  But sending cards is less common than before since computers have become so popular.
在特殊的場合寄送卡片——比如圣誕節(jié)，新年，母親節(jié)以及生日——已經(jīng)成了美國的一種傳統(tǒng)。但是由于電腦受到如此親睞，寄送卡片也沒有以前那么普遍了。

 2   Sample Sentences
1. Christmas is just around the corner.  
   圣誕節(jié)就要到了。
2. I can’t wait to see my father.
我只想立即見我的父親。
3. We are expected for Christmas.  
我們在盼著圣誕節(jié)的到來。
4. This year my mother will cook a twenty-five pound turkey.
今年我媽媽會烹飪一個二十五磅的火雞。
5. Is everyone still coming to Christmas dinner at your apartment this year?
今年每個人還是會來你家吃圣誕大餐嗎？
6. When will we have the Easter egg hunt?
我們什么時候開始找復(fù)活節(jié)彩蛋？
7. Who is going to play the Easter Bunny this year? 
今年誰扮演復(fù)活節(jié)小兔子？
8. Are you coming to the New Year’s Eve party this year? 
今年你會來參加除夕晚會嗎？
9. What time is the hanging of the green at church?
教堂什么時候開始為圣誕節(jié)裝飾？
10. Have you put up your Christmas lights in front of the yard yet? 
你有沒有把圣誕彩燈掛在后院門口？

 3   Conversations
1.  Lo Fen, a Chinese agronomist1, is staying with the Helms family in Iowa. It's Christmas Eve.
Lo Fen:  Your tree looks beautiful.  Do you decorate it this way every year? 
Mrs. Helms:  Yes, it's a family tradition dating back to2 my childhood.  We use the same lights and ornaments3, but of course we have a new tree each year.
(She hands her a delicate glass ball.)
Mrs. Helms:  The children made some of these decorations.  Here, you can hang this on one of those high branches.
(Lo stands on a ladder to reach the upper limbs.)
Mr. Helms:  Well, everything seems to be just about ready.  Now all we need is snow. 
Lo Fen:  Do you exchange the presents in the morning? 
Mrs. Helms:  Oh, yes.  The kids are too excited to wait.  After we clean up4 the mess--all the empty boxes and the wrapping paper5 -- we have a big breakfast.  Then the kids have the whole day to play with their new toys.
Mr. Helms:  And we'll have a great turkey dinner at around four o'clock.  My brother and his family will be joining us. 
Lo Fen:  I look forward to meeting them.  Well, it's late, so I'll say good night.  I'll see you early tomorrow, so I can share your Christmas morning. 
Mr. Helms:  Good night! 

《零距離美語會話[文化風(fēng)俗差異]Lesson3:HaveyouwrappedyourChristmas》永久閱讀地址: http://www.jiazhineng.cn/yingyu/1717/