文档介绍：汉语0801 黄莹
The story for the Christmas season
Most people know that the simple meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God in the Christian religion. The word Christmas originated from an old English phrase, “Cristes Masse”圣诞节。
The date, December 25, was established by Bishop Liberius利贝里乌斯(罗马教皇)of Rome in 354 AD. He selected the date to mark the official time for celebrating Christ‘s birth. Before then, the birth of Jesus was observed on different days and even to this day no one is certain the exact date of Christ’s birth.
Christmas celebrations
Cultural celebrations of Christmas include glittering light displays, the ever-present jolly oldSanta Claus(圣诞老人), group celebrations and singing called carolling(圣诞颂歌), baked holiday cookies and cakes and Christmas trees with wrapped presents displayed underneath.
The spirit of Christmas at its heart is a festival to give presents to show appreciation to friends and loved ones.
In Europe, typically, family and friends gather together on Christmas Eve, on Dec 24, for a big turkey dinner, completed with(包括)Christmas pudding. Everyone shares their stories of the year or brings a newsletter时事通讯to read out for what has happened during the past year. Games are played after the dinner. On Christmas day, Dec 25, a brunch(breakfast+lunch)with family is the norm规范,基准, followed by some light sporting events, such as a country walk to digest the heavy food.
Dec 26 is called Boxing Day(节礼日,往往在这一日大家互赠礼物)in the UK, which means everyone opens their box of presents - the most joyful day for the children. In the US, just Thanksgiving with turkey, Christmas Eve dinner is more likely to have ham and a heavy dessert. Dec 25, the Christmas Day is normally the day all the presents are opened.
Christmas trees & cards
The tradition of having a pine tree (松树)as a Christmas Tree is believed e from Germany. Since the medieval time, lighting a candle on a tree mon to e guests. Such practice has evolved into