第1个回答 2007-03-24
圣诞节（Christmas）
圣诞节是欧美国家一年中最重要的节日。它原本是耶稣基督（Jesus christ）诞辰纪念日，如今已成为西方国家全民性的节日，颇似中国的春节。圣诞节定于每年12月25日，而圣诞节节期（Christmas Season）往往持续二周。这段时期里，雪片般的贺卡飞往世界各地，电话线、通讯网频繁地传递人们的祝福和问候；大街小巷粉饰一新，商店橱窗前大减价、大拍卖的广告格外醒目；到处可见人们拎着大包小包的节日用品匆匆而过，到处可听见欢快的歌声和笑声。车站、机场里此时挤满了盼望回家的人群，因为圣诞节也是家人团聚的日子。无论外出多远，人们都会想方设法赶回家与亲人团聚。
圣诞节Christmas
An Ancient Holiday
The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.
In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.
The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.
第2个回答 2007-03-24
圣诞节由来——中英文版
“圣诞节”这个名称是“***弥撒”的缩写。弥撒是教会的一种礼拜仪式。耶诞节是一个宗节我们把它当作耶苏的诞辰来庆祝，因而又名耶诞节。这一天，世界所有的***教会都举行特别的礼拜仪式。但是有很多圣诞节的欢庆活动和宗教并无半点关联。交换礼物，寄圣诞卡，这都使圣诞节成为一个普天同庆的日子。
圣诞节是***教世界最大的节日。4世纪初，1月6日是罗马帝国东部各教会纪念那稣降生和受洗的双重节日、称为“主显节”Epiphany，亦称“显现节”即上帝通过那稣向世人显示自己。当时只有那路拉冷的教会例外，那里只纪念耶稣的诞生而不纪念那稣的受洗。后来历史学家们在罗马***徒习用的日历中发现公元354年12月25日页内记录着：“***降生在犹大的伯利恒。”经过研究，一般认为12月25日伴为圣诞节可能开始于公元336年的罗马教会）约在公元375年传到小亚细亚的安提阿，公元430年传到埃及的亚历山大里亚，那路撒冷的教会接受得最晚，而亚美尼亚的教会则仍然坚持1月6日主显节是那稣的诞辰。
12月25日原来是波斯太阳神（即光明之神）密特拉（Mithra）的诞辰，是一个异教徒节日，同时太阳神也是罗马国教众神之一。这一天又是罗马历书的冬至节，崇拜太阳神的异教徒都把这一天当作春天的希望，万物复苏的开始。可能由于这个原因，罗马教会才选择这一天作为圣诞节。这是教会初期力图把异教徒的风俗习惯***教化的措施之一。
后来，虽然大多数教会都接受12月25日为圣诞节，但又固各地教会使用的历书不同，具体日期不能统一，于是就把12月24日到第二年的1月6日定为圣诞节节期（Christmas
Tide），各地教会可以根据当地具体情况在这段节期之内庆祝圣诞节。自从12月25日被大多数教会公认为圣诞节后，原来1月6日的主显节就只纪念耶稣受洗了，但天主教会又把1月6日定为“三王来朝节”，以纪念耶稣生时东方三王（即三位博士）来朝拜的故事。随着***教的广泛传播，圣诞节已成为各教派***徒，甚至广大非***徒群众的一个重要节日。在欧美许多国家里，人们非常重视这个节日，把它和新年连在一起，而庆祝活动之热闹与隆重大大超过了新年，成为一个全民的节日。12月25日的主要纪念活动都与那稣降生的传说有关。
耶苏的出生是有一段故事的，耶苏是因着圣灵成孕，由童女马利亚所生的。神更派遣使者加伯列在梦中晓谕约瑟，叫他不要因为马利亚未婚怀孕而不要她，反而要与她成亲，把那孩子起名为“耶苏”，意思是要他把百姓从罪恶中救出来。
当马利亚快要临盆的时候，罗马政府下了命令，全部人民到伯利恒务必申报户籍。约瑟和马利亚只好遵命。他们到达伯利恒时，天色已昏，无奈两人未能找到旅馆渡宿，只有一个马棚可以暂住。就在这时，耶苏要出生了！於是马利亚唯有在马槽上，生下耶苏。后人为纪念耶苏的诞生，便定十二月二十五为圣诞节，年年望弥撒，纪念耶苏的出世。
圣诞节便是於十二月二十五日纪念耶苏的诞生，但真实的诞生日就没有人知道了。十九世纪，圣诞卡的流行、圣诞老人的出现，圣诞节也开始流行起来了。
Origin of Christmas
The name Christmas is short for 'Christ's Mass'. A Mass is a kind of
Church service. Christmas is a religious festival. It is the day we celebrate
as the birthday of Jesus.
There are special Christmas services in Christian churches all over the
world. But many of the festivities of Christmas do not have anything to
do with religion. Exchanging gifts and sending Christmas cards are the
modern ways of celebrating the Christmas in the orld.
The birth of Jesus had a story: In Nazareth, a city of Galilee. The virgin's
name was Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Before they came together, she was
found with child of the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband was minded to put
her away secretly. While he thought about these things, Gabriel, an angel
of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him did not be afraid to
take Mary as wife. And Mary will bring forth a Son, and he shall call his
name, Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
Before Jesus births, Joseph and Mary came to Quintus was governing Syria.
So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went
up out of Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city
of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and of
the lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who
was with child. So it was that while they were there, the days were completed
for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped
him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no
room for them in the inn.
And that, Christmas is the feast of the nativity of Jesus, is on 25th,
December every year. But nobody know the actual birthday of Jesus. And
the Christmas has become popular when Christmas cards appeared in 1846
and the concept of a jolly Santa Claus was first made popular in nineteenth
Century.