來自中國的雇員Dana跟同事Charlie聊天兒,說自己要去美國朋友家過圣誕,請Charlie給她講講美國人過圣誕的習(xí)俗。
D: I've heard that some Americans celebrate and open presents on Christmas Eve, while others choose Christmas morning. What's the difference?
C: Each American family makes their own Christmas traditions. My uncle eats hot dogs every Christmas....don't ask me why, that's just his thing. When I was a kid, we opened our presents on Christmas Eve but our neighbor always had to wait until Christmas morning.
D: That's kind of nice...everybody makes their own traditions.
美國有些家庭圣誕前夜拆禮物,有些家庭則要等到圣誕節(jié)一大早。有區(qū)別嗎?Charlie說,這要看每個家庭的習(xí)慣, Everybody makes their own traditions. 比如說,Charlie的叔叔每年圣誕節(jié)都要吃熱狗。那是為什么?Charlie說,don't ask me why, that's just his thing. 意思是不要問我為什么,他就是這么個習(xí)慣。
C: We have lots of different kinds of people in America...lots of different religions, lots of different nationalities. Jewish people don't celebrate Christmas, but they have a winter festival called Hanukkah. Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists don't celebrate Christmas either, but almost everybody in America enjoys the winter holiday season.
D: So I can expect to see snow?
C: There is a pretty good chance it will snow. But you better hope there isn't a blizzard! If there's a storm, you might not be able to go anywhere.
在美國,并非所有人都慶祝圣誕節(jié)。猶太人不過圣誕,他們過的是hanukkah。 Hanukkah is spelled h-a-n-u-k-k-a-h, 光明節(jié)。另外,穆斯林、印度教和佛教徒都不過圣誕節(jié),但是幾乎所有人都喜歡過節(jié)的氣氛。Charlie告訴Dana, there is a pretty good chance it will snow. 很有可能會趕上下雪,但是最好不要是暴風(fēng)雪,blizzard.
D: Well, I'm certainly looking forward to this trip. I think it will be a lot of fun.
C: Christmas in America is great...especially if you don't have to do any Christmas shopping. For me that's the worst part....crowded shopping malls...crazy people. I love Christmas, but I hate Christmas shopping.
D: Someone told me the day after Christmas is a good day for sales.
C: That's true. You can go check out the malls on the 26th.
D: Sounds like a plan. Thanks for your input, Charlie.
C: My pleasure and a Merry Christmas!
D: Merry Christmas to you, too!
Charlie最頭疼圣誕節(jié)前出去買禮物,因為外面到處都是人。不過,圣誕節(jié)次日是大減價的日子。The day after Christmas is a good day for sales. You can go check out the malls. 可以到商場去逛逛。