成人高等教育英語(yǔ)教材3 02

[00:00.00] UNIT 2 [00:29.39]Western Holidays [00:34.72]Integrated Skills Development [00:40.59]Passage [00:45.45]Christmas [00:49.11]Christmas Day, which is the most festive time in the United States, [00:57.18]falls on December 25th on which Christian people [01:03.53]believe Jesus Christ was born. [01:07.97]This is the biggest and best-loved holiday in the United States, [01:14.50]which is full of joy and gaiety, love and laughter, [01:19.96]hospitality and good will. [01:24.51]Americans begin to prepare Christmas long before the actual day. [01:32.45]Small families and large business firms [01:38.12]prepare the holiday differently. [01:42.48]Stores are decorated with the traditional [01:47.34]Christmas colors of green and red. [01:51.78]Goods associated with Christmas become best sellers at this time. [01:59.25]Many Americans take advantage of the time [02:04.71]to earn extra money by selling Christmas cards, [02:10.06]small gifts and ornaments, etc. [02:15.11]The decorating of homes for Christmas is also very common. [02:21.87]Most Americans who observe Christmas [02:26.94]have a Christmas tree in their homes. [02:31.67]People like evergreens and they think that branches of fir [02:38.43]will bring good luck and symbolize spring. [02:43.68]The Christmas tree is usually covered with strings of colored lights, [02:50.95]and a star fixed on top representing the star in the East [02:57.71]which guided the three Wise Men to where Jesus was born. [03:04.48]Christmas food is special: bright colored hard sweets, [03:12.52]chocolates, clusters of chocolate-covered raisins, walnuts, etc. [03:19.78]As for the Christmas dinner, [03:23.65]Americans traditionally have turkey or ham, [03:28.80]sweet potatoes, vegetables, and Christmas pudding. [03:34.86]Although Christmas is religious in origin, [03:42.33]many of the customs and celebrations are no longer religious. [03:48.88]Among them, the most popular ones are as follows: [03:55.13]● Exchanging Gifts [03:59.99]This custom originated from the ancient religion of believing [04:07.14]that the first Christmas gifts [04:11.51]were given by the three Wise Men to the infant Jesus Christ. [04:18.38]It has been passed down and become very popular [04:23.94]among friends and families in the United States: [04:29.58]● Sending Christmas Cards [04:36.24]This custom first started in London in the 19th century. [04:43.82]Today, most Americans send greeting cards [04:49.38]to their friends and families at Christmas time. [04:54.24]Some people who are friends or relatives [04:59.81]and live great distances from each other [05:04.48]may not be much in contact with each other during the year — [05:10.36]but will usually exchange greeting cards and often a Christmas letter. [05:17.81]● Receiving Gifts from Santa Claus [05:24.36]Santa Claus is believed by American children [05:31.21]to be a fat jolly old man with a red suit, [05:36.67]red hat and a long white beard. [05:41.92]On Christmas Eve Santa Claus comes down through [05:47.56]the chimney to bring them gifts. [05:52.00]So young children are happiest at this time of the year [05:57.88]and look forward eagerly to Christmas morning [06:02.92]when they find the gifts they want.

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