平安夜

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平安夜
Christmas Eve
平安夜即圣诞节的前一天，是为了纪念耶稣拿撒勒诞生日的一个广泛庆祝节日。它在西方国家中是一个具有重要文化价值的庆祝活动。人们把它作为圣诞节的一部分。
平安夜传统
Christmas Eve Traditions
The night before Christmas has as many unique traditions as it does people who celebrate it. Marking the end of the Advent Season, Christmas Eve is on December 24th. Here is a look at some of the more popular and prevalent Christmas Eve traditions.
圣诞节前的晚上人们以很多独特的传统来庆祝它。12月24日是平安夜，它标志着基督降临日的结束。下面来看看一些比较流行的和普遍平安夜传统。
Deck the Halls
闪亮的圣诞节
Throughout Europe and in many last-minute American homes, too, families gather to set up their Christmas tree. They also hang garlands of evergreen boughs over the window and wreaths on the doors.
在整个欧洲和许多美国家庭，家人们都会一起来装饰圣诞树。他们还会在窗户上和门上挂常青树枝和花环。
Bayberry Candles
杨梅蜡烛
Bayberry candles were first made by the colonists, who discovered that, even though they take longer to make, they burned longer and cleaner than traditional wax candles. Because these candles took so much effort to make, many families began saving them for special occasions. Thus was born the tradition of lighting bayberry candles on Christmas, and reciting the verse: "Bayberry candles burned to the socket, puts luck in the home, food in the larder, and gold in the pocket."
杨梅蜡烛是殖民者第一发现并制作的，尽管它们需要花很长的时间来制作，但与传统的蜡烛相比，杨梅蜡烛燃烧时间更长，更干净。由于这些蜡烛花了很多的努力菜制作完成，所以许多家庭特殊场合才用。于是杨梅的圣诞蜡烛照明和背诵经文的传统诞生了：“燃尽的杨梅蜡烛，把好运带到家中，让储藏室里有食物，让口袋里有黄金。”
Feast of Seven Fishes
七种鱼的盛宴
The Feast of Seven Fishes originated in southern Italy and is practiced today by many Italian American families.
七种鱼的盛宴起源于意大利南部，并且现在在许多意大利裔的美国家庭还在实行。
In celebration of the birth of baby Jesus, many Roman Catholics do not eat meat on Christmas Eve. Instead, a feast of seafood and shellfish is prepared. Why seven different types of fishes? Tradition tells that it is because God took seven days to create the universe.
在庆祝耶稣诞生的活动时，通常大多数罗马天主教徒在平安夜都不吃肉。但恰恰相反，他们会准备好海鲜和贝类的盛宴。为什么是七种不同类型的鱼呢？传说，这是因为上帝七天创造了宇宙。
Caroling
圣诞颂歌
An old European custom of singing Christmas songs throughout the village is still commonly practiced in the United States. Carolers, groups of friends or church-goers, will go from door to door, entertaining neighbors with traditional songs and hymns. Residents often give the carolers hot cocoa in return.
一个古老的欧洲习俗——唱圣诞歌，还在美国普遍实行。唱圣诞颂歌的人，朋友或教会人士，会挨家挨户，用传统歌曲和诗歌娱乐邻居。居民通常会给唱圣诞颂歌的人热可可作为回报。
Santa Claus
圣诞老人
For many families, Christmas Eve also marks the late-night arrival of Santa Claus. Children leave out milk and cookies before they go to bed, for Santa and his reindeer to enjoy. In some families, children open one present before they go to bed -- often a pair of Christmas pajamas. Other families save all the gifts to be opened on Christmas morning.
对于许多家庭来说，平安夜也标志着圣诞老人深夜的到来。孩子们会准备好牛奶和饼干才上床睡觉，那是给圣诞老人和他的驯鹿享受。在一些家庭中，孩子们打开一份礼物才上床睡觉 - 往往是圣诞节睡衣。其他家庭会把所有的礼物留在圣诞节早晨打开。
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