人们今年庆祝的方式有变化吗？What's new and old about Christmas｜日积阅累 打磨自信的英语表达力

    今天这个时间正好来说说和圣诞有关的话题。其实早在半个月前，北美英国等地方的一些社区，特别是独立屋社群陆陆续续就开始在自己的房子上进行各种装饰了。当地人很会“来事情”，似乎迫不及待想要告诉路过的人，他们的装饰最独特。这个情况其实在前不久的Halloween见识过了，有些的确到了白天还听瘆人的，效果拉满。当然，圣诞节的风格应该是快乐温暖充满童趣的。

在今天的视频里，我整理了一些近几年大家庆祝圣诞的一些小变化，当然还有一些你在这个时节用英语沟通时可能会遇到的表达方式。当然，我更感兴趣的是在一百多年前，人们又是如何过圣诞的，这可能只有在文学作品中找寻答案了。今天在视频中，我们一起分享几部作品中关于圣诞的描述。

在狄更斯的应景小说《圣诞颂歌》中，主人公Ebenezer Scrooge在圣诞节晚餐时回忆起了节日的庆祝活动，特别是食物的细节。

Excerpt from A Christmas Carol (Stave 1):

"There was a great deal of bustle about the door, and the air was full of the Christmas cheer. The old gentleman sat with his family and looked on, as the people who were about him sat around the table, enjoying themselves. The table was spread with roast meats, mashed potatoes, pies, puddings, and mince pies, and a glorious goose was the centerpiece. There were bowls of vegetables, sweet sauces, and cranberry jelly. Everything was steaming hot, and the scent of it filled the room with warmth.”

“门外一片忙碌，空气中充满了圣诞的欢乐气氛。老人和家人坐在一起，旁人也围坐在桌旁，尽情享受着美好的时光。桌子上摆满了烤肉、土豆泥、馅饼、布丁和迷你馅饼，一只丰盛的鹅成了餐桌的中心。还有一碗碗的蔬菜、甜美的酱汁和蔓越莓果冻。一切都是热腾腾的，房间里弥漫着食物的香气，带来了温暖的氛围。”

这段描述了典型的圣诞节大餐，食物包括烤肉、土豆泥、甜点、圣诞布丁、迷你馅饼等，整个房间充满了温暖和美食的香气。

在简·奥斯汀的《理智与情感》中，虽然圣诞节的庆祝活动并不是故事的主要内容，但仍然有一些生动的描述，尤其是在马奇一家人聚集的家庭活动中。以下是一个关于圣诞节的具体描述，涵盖了准备食物和活动的细节：

Excerpt from Sense and Sensibility (Volume 3, Chapter 4):

“The Christmas holidays were spent with a great deal of spirit. The Christmas dinner was a plentiful and well-cooked meal, with roast beef, turkey, and all the trimmings. There was a pudding, which was set alight, and a large mince-pie to follow. The children were all excited, as was customary, and the whole house was filled with the sounds of merry-making. There were games and songs, and the evening was spent in cheerful conversation, as they all gathered around the fire. The weather outside was cold and the snow was thick on the ground, but inside, all was warmth, laughter, and good food.”

“圣诞节假期过得十分热烈。圣诞晚餐丰盛且烹调得当，桌上有烤牛肉、火鸡以及各种配菜。还有一份点燃的圣诞布丁，接着是一大份迷你馅饼。孩子们都感到兴奋，这也是平常的做法，整个房子充满了欢声笑语。大家玩游戏、唱歌，晚上在炉火旁欢聚，谈笑风生。外面的天气寒冷，积雪覆盖大地，但屋内温暖如春，充满了欢乐和美食。”

这段描述详细描绘了家庭在圣诞节的聚会，尤其是关于食物和活动的安排：丰盛的烤牛肉、火鸡、圣诞布丁、迷你馅饼等食物，孩子们的兴奋，家人围炉共度时光，欢声笑语和节日的游戏。尽管《理智与情感》中的圣诞节场景相对简短，这段描写仍展示了典型的英国家庭节庆氛围。

在《哈利·波特与魔法石》中，也有很多生动的圣诞节描写，特别是在霍格沃茨学校，学生们和教师们一起庆祝圣诞节，享受丰盛的圣诞大餐。

Excerpt from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Chapter 12):

“The Great Hall was decorated with enormous Christmas trees, and the students were treated to a grand feast. The table was piled high with roast turkeys, ham, potatoes, pies, and all kinds of sweets. Candles floated in mid-air, and snowflakes drifted through the open windows. Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged gifts, and there was a sense of warmth and magic in the air.”

“大厅里装饰着巨大的圣诞树，学生们被邀请参加丰盛的宴会。桌子上堆满了烤火鸡、火腿、土豆、馅饼和各种甜点。蜡烛漂浮在空中，雪花从敞开的窗户飘进来。哈利、罗恩和赫敏互赠礼物，空气中弥漫着温暖和魔法的气息。”

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