一、考纲话题要求
节假日活动(Festivals, holidays and celebrations)
二、内容梳理
1、圣诞节Christmas
又称耶诞节、耶稣诞辰，译名为“基督弥撒”，是西方传统节日，起源于基督教，在每年公历12月25日。
弥撒是教会的一种礼拜仪式。圣诞节是一个宗教节，因为西方人把它当作耶稣的诞辰来庆祝，故名“耶诞节”。
Christmas Eve
即圣诞节前一天晚上，也就是12月24日的夜晚
The Night Before Christmas
圣诞前夜
“平安夜”的翻译是怎么来的？
2、平安夜 Christmas Eve
1818年奥地利一个名叫约瑟夫·莫尔的教父用德文写的，歌曲原名是 Stille Nacht，第一节歌词如下：
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft; einsam wacht!
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
教父对自己这个作品甚为满意，于是找来奥地利作曲家弗兰克·格鲁伯为之谱曲。之后在12月24日夜，莫尔教父亲自带领着唱诗班，在教堂中唱响了自己作词的 Stille Nacht，这首歌歌词静美、曲调悠扬，特别符合圣诞氛围，一唱成名。
后来，一位美国的牧师约翰·杨觉得应该有一个英文版本，于是他把 Stille Nacht 歌词译成了英文版。这才有了现在我们耳熟能详的 Silent Night。第一节歌词如下：
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
由于英文是全球通用语言，这首歌也传遍了全世界。
当时中国正处于民国时期，一位基督教牧师
刘廷芳，为 Silent Night 做了中文翻译。
本着信达雅的原则，刘廷芳并没有直接按字面意思翻译成“寂静的夜”或“安静的夜”，而是按照歌曲精神，把歌名意译为《平安夜》。
这首中文歌曲一下子传遍了全国，也让大家记住了“平安夜”的说法。
Silent Night 一直被视为圣诞经典歌曲，并已被翻译成 330 多种语言。这首歌消除了社会、宗教以及文化的分歧，在1914年第一次世界大战的圣诞节前夜，一首 Silent Night 平息了战壕中的战火，交战双方达成圣诞临时休战协定。
Silent Night
平安夜
Silent night, holy night! 平安夜，圣善夜。
All is calm, all is bright! 真宁静，真光明。
Round yon virgin mother and child, 圣光环绕圣母圣婴，
Holy infant so tender and mild. 圣洁婴孩纯真可爱。
Sleep in heavenly peace, 尽享天赐安眠，
Sleep in heavenly peace. 尽享天赐安眠。
Silent night, holy night! 平安夜，圣善夜。
Shepherds quake at the sight! 牧羊人，在旷野。
Glories stream from heaven afar, 看见天上荣光降下，
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia. 众军齐唱哈利路亚。
Christ the Savior is born, 主耶稣今降生，
Christ the Savior is born! 主耶稣今降生。
Silent night, holy night! 平安夜，圣善夜。
Son of God, love’s pure light! 神子爱，光皎洁。
Radiant beams from thy holy face, 这是救恩黎明光芒，
With the dawn of redeeming grace. 救赎恩典降临四方。
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, 主耶稣已降生，
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. 主耶稣已降生。
3、练习
阅读理解。
It all began about 2,000 years ago. An angel appeared to a Jewish girl named Maria and gave her good news: You will have a son. His name will be Jesus, the Savior. When the baby was almost due, Mary and her fiance Joseph went to their hometown, Bethlehem, for a census. The only place they could find to stay was an animal stable. There the special baby was born.
Angels announced the joyful news to some shepherds. They left their sheep and hurried to see the baby. Some time later, wise men from the East saw an unusual star. They knew someone great had been born. The star led them to Bethlehem. When they found the child Jesus, they offered him gifts fit for a king.
The celebration of this special birth came to be called Christmas. Through the ages, people developed many Christmas traditions. The custom of decorating Christmas trees began centuries ago. People in many ancient cultures decorated homes with trees and greenery in winter. In the Middle Ages, Christians in Europe added lights and religious symbols to evergreens to make Christmas trees. Santa Claus has become one of the most famous Christmas figures, particularly in America. His legend started with a kind bishop named St. Nicholas who lived around 300 A.D. and was known for his generosity. The practice of giving Christmas gifts comes from the gifts offered to the child Jesus by the wise men of the East. The star on top of the Christmas tree symbolizes the star that led the wise men to Jesus.
Sometimes Christmas can become just a ritual. Many Americans see Christmas as just a time for shopping for the perfect gift. Advertisers and businesses begin promoting Christmas earlier every year. Stores remind customers of how many shopping days are left until Christmas. It's almost a modern Christmas custom to spend too much money! Credit card debts often take months to pay off. Even children can become materialistic. They think only of what they will get from Santa Claus.
Despite the hustle and bustle of the Christmas Rush, most Americans feel Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It's a time of excitement, a time of joy, a time to show love in special ways. Best of all, Christmas is not just for Americans. Christmas is for everybody in the world. Christmas is the celebration of God’s gift to the world-Jesus.
( ) 1. Who gave Jesus presents after his birth?
A. Some wise men from the East.
B. Some shepherds.
C. The angel.
D. A Jewish girl.
( ) 2. How did the wise men find the child Jesus?
A. They found him with the help of an angel.
B. They found him with the help of star.
C. They found him with the help of some shepherds.
D. They found him with the help of nothing.
( ) 3. What does the underlined word “materialistic” in Para. 4 mean?
A.Caring more about spirits.
B. Caring more about other people.
C. Caring more about improving oneself.
D. Caring more about money and possessions.
( ) 4. When did the legend of Santa Claus start?
A. Before Jesus was born.
B. About 2,000 years ago.
C. Around 300 A.D.
D. About centuries ago.
( ) 5. Which is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for all people.
B. Mary didn’t marry when she gave birth to the baby Jesus.
C. Christmas is for celebrating the birth of Jesus.
D. Santa Claus is one of the most famous Christmas figures.
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4、与圣诞节相关的词汇积累
Christmas tree 圣诞树 Christmas stockings 圣诞袜 Christmas decorations 圣诞装饰
wreath 花环 bell 铃铛 snowflake 雪花
Father Christmas/Santa Claus圣诞老人 sleigh 雪橇
reindeer 驯鹿 elf 小精灵 chimney 烟囱
gift/present 礼物 wrap 包装 unwrap 打开包装
Christmas card 圣诞卡 turkey 火鸡 mince pie 肉馅饼
ginger man 姜饼人 Christmas cake 圣诞蛋糕 Christmas pudding 圣诞布丁
candy cane 拐杖糖 eggnog 蛋酒 family reunion 团圆；家人团聚
Merry Christmas! 圣诞快乐！
We wish you a merry Christmas!我们祝愿您圣诞快乐！
May all your wishes and dreams come true! 祝您所有愿望和美梦都成真！
