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西安街头,圣诞老人表演中国传统乐器
今天是圣诞节,12月24日的夜晚,也就是西方文化中的平安夜(Silent Night), 即圣诞前夕(Christmas Eve)。
圣诞节起源于基督教文化,因耶稣诞生在这一日而得名,也称作“耶稣节”。
那么你可能要问了,中国并不是一个信仰基督教的民族,为什么圣诞节在中国也能这么热闹呢?
老外跟我们也有一样的困惑。
于是,有一帮老外来中国考察了一番,用他们的角度体验了一把咱们中国的圣诞节。
他们总(tu)结(cao)了中国圣诞节的7大特点,看完我整个人都不好了,哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈原来我们在老外眼里这么逗逼?
01
喜欢互相送“平安果”,用五颜六色玻璃纸包着的那种。
Fancy, cellophane-wrapped 'Christmas apples' are a common gift.
留学君闲得没事去百度搜了一下“平安夜”,结果出来的第一个就是平安夜苹果。
这种平安果你应该见过吧?就长这样:
For Chinese apple (苹果 – píngguǒ) sounds like the Chinese word for peace. People believe they will have peace in the upcoming year by eating an apple.
因为在中文中,“苹果”跟“平安”是谐音。人们相信吃苹果能在来年获得平安。
So, if you got no idea what Chinese gifts to give to your Chinese friends, this might be a good choice!
所以,如果你不知道送你朋友什么礼物的话,苹果会是个不错的选择。
有时候我们还会在苹果上印一些图案,寄托我们美好的祝福。
其他的我都好理解,可是,谁来解释一下第二个财神爷是个什么鬼?
财神爷表示:我是谁?我为什么会在苹果上?哈哈哈哈哈哈哈
02
耶稣是谁?我们只知道圣诞老人(和他的姐妹们)。
Jesus who? It's all about Santa (and his "sisters")
有一天,圣诞老人来到了中国,于是,他拥有了自己的姐妹。图为武汉某大型卖场中的圣诞老人和一群美腻的小姐姐。
Americans are familiar with the shopping mall practice of having young workers, typically women, dress up as Santa's "helper elves."
在美过,卖场里也会有一些年轻的工作人员,他们是圣诞老师的帮手。
In China, the fact that these costumed women are supposed to be elves is apparently lost in translation sometimes, with the women simply known as Santa's friends or "sisters."
不过,在中国,这个概念因为翻译的原因出现了一些偏差。这些工作人员变成了圣诞老人的朋友或者“姐妹”。
不过,留学君觉得这样也蛮可爱的呢~你们觉得呢?
03
圣诞老人居然会吹萨克斯风!
In China, Santa Claus is often shown playing the saxophone.
The holiday's mascot is well-known, although for some reason he is portrayed, with startling frequency, as jamming out on a sax, Bill Clinton-style. Sometimes he is playing a trumpet or French horn.
圣诞节的吉祥物圣诞老人在中国广为人知,不过不知道因为什么原因,他老人家经常是吹着萨克斯风出场的,比尔克林顿那种:
Sometimes he is playing a trumpet or French horn.
有时候他老人家吹的也可能是小号,或者圆号。
I have tried and failed to find the roots of this tradition; please chime in with a comment if you have any insights.
我一直没找到这种传统的来由,如果哪位课代表知道的话,麻烦在评论区帮大家划一下重点~谢谢!
话说,要不是这位老外指出来,我还真没觉得圣诞老人吹萨克斯有啥奇怪的……可能是当局者迷,旁观者清吧
04
这哪是圣诞节?分明是情人节!
Christmas is treated more like Valentine's Day.
对于广大非单身的男性朋友来说,圣诞礼物,可以说是一道送命题。稍有不慎,女朋友就生气了。
不过没关系,大家其实完全可以放宽心,毕竟这次女朋友不满意,后面还有元旦啊,春节啊,情人节啊……还是可以补救的
That is, it's a lighthearted day for going out and being with friends, not for staying in with family, as we do in the West.
与西方人的合家团聚不同,中国人过圣诞一般都会跟朋友出去玩。
Typical ways to celebrate include seeing a movie, going to a karaoke bar, or shopping. Young couples often treat it as a romantic day. Ice skating and amusement parks are popular destinations. Thus, Christmas is treated like Valentine’s Day!
常见的庆祝方式有:看电影,唱K,或者购物。年轻人认为这一天是很浪漫的。溜冰场和游乐园也是非常受欢迎的地方。总而言之,圣诞节在中国更像是情人节。
05
圣诞节当天怎么过?当然是购物啊!
Christmas is a time for shopping!
一到圣诞,最开心的是谁?
一定是像留学君这样的败家娘们啦!圣诞在我们看来,跟双11,双12是一样一样的,我们唯一的宗旨就是——买买买!
Per China Daily, Christmas Eve is the biggest shopping day of the year. So, it is not surprising to see that the streets are ablaze with lights in shape of Christmas ornaments especially in shopping districts of big cities.
根据《中国日报》报道,平安夜是一年中最大的购物节。所以,如果你看到大街小巷,尤其是大城市的商场,都挂满了圣诞装饰物,千万不要觉得诧异。
06
来,跟圣诞老人合个影吧?123茄子!
People take pictures with Santa Claus.
圣诞节前后,各大商场,卖场,游乐园里的圣诞老人,除了装点节日气氛的作用之外,还有一个用处:用来供游客拍照。
In the mall, Christmas is busy and noisy as people of all ages would crowed into the mall for two purposes. First shopping for the best Christmas sales and second, taking pictures with friends and family in front of Santa Claus.
圣诞节一般都非常的热闹繁忙,因为男女老少都会涌进各种大型商场,为了两个目的:一是趁着圣诞打折买买买,二是跟圣诞老师合影。
好吧,你们也曾经把咱们的垃圾桶当文物来合影,我们会到处说吗?
07
圣诞不放假!圣诞不放假!圣诞不放假!
There is no day off!
Christmas is not considered as a public holiday and people don’t get a day off.
圣诞节在中国并不是公众节日,所以,圣诞节大家并不放假。
西方国家的圣诞节会放假1到10多天不等。然而在咱们中国,虽然圣诞节已经越来越重要,但是还没到放假的那种影响力……
嗯,明天就是圣诞节,留学君还是要上班的,大家也还是要上学的,想想还是有点小兴奋呢
最后,给大家献上一个papi酱对圣诞节的吐槽小视频:如果圣诞节是中国的节日……
每条大街小巷,更多有趣的英语小知识,可以关注英语教室同名订阅号哦~每个人的嘴里,见面第一句话,就是圣诞快乐!(实在是太魔性啦!2333333)
最后,本文内容纯属娱乐哦
更多有趣的英语小知识,可以关注英语教室同名订阅号哦~ |
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