The next morning it is Christmas. The children wake up with shouts of "He's come!" and immediately start opening all their parcels. The grownups, less excitable, save their own presents till breakfast time. After breakfast, many people go to church; but the children will be playing with their new toys, and the mother will probably be preparing the Christmas dinner. This includes poultry for the main course, salads, breads, and vegetables, and features a variety of desserts, for example, pies, puddings, and ice-cream.
第二天早上就是圣诞节。孩子醒来便高声欢呼:“他来过了!”随后便迫不及待地打开所有的礼物包。大人们就没有那么兴奋,要把自己的礼物留到早餐时才打开。早餐后,许多人去教堂;但是孩子们要玩他们的新玩具,做母亲的可能要忙着准备圣诞大餐。这顿大餐包括作为主菜的家禽(如鸡、鸭、鹅、火鸡等),以及色拉、面包、蔬菜;最具特色的是各色甜点,如水果馅饼、布丁和冰淇淋。
In the afternoon many families listen to the Queen broadcasting to the Commonwealth.In the evening, after a huge tea, often including a big Christmas cake covered with a frosting as sweet as candy and as smooth as pudding, the family will probably sit round the fire eating nuts, sweets and fruit, talking or watching television, or playing party games.
午餐后,不少家庭收听女王对英联邦国家的广播演说。晚上,是一顿丰盛的茶点,茶点中常有一只圣诞大蛋糕,蛋糕上的糖霜甜如糖果,滑爽似布丁;用过茶点,全家人可能会围坐在壁炉旁一边吃干果、糖果和水果,一边聊天或看电视,或玩集体游戏。
Everybody likes to be happy and full of goodwill at Christmas time. The great writer Charles Dickens loved Christmas, and described its merriness and warm-heartedness in books like A Christmas Carol, with drawing-room scenes of blazing log fires, while the December snow outside made all the country white. This is why people today talk of a "good, old-fashioned Christmas", and why many hope it will be a "white" one but it seldom is, for snow is a rarity in December.
人人都希望在圣诞节快快活活,充满良好的祝愿。大作家查尔斯·狄更斯很喜欢圣诞节,他在《圣诞颂歌》等书中描述了圣诞节的欢乐与温馨:客厅内干柴燃起熊熊炉火时的一幅幅场景,而屋外12月的白雪给整个大地披上一层素装。这就是为什么今日人们常要念叨“美好的传统圣诞节”,为什么好多人期盼着过个“白色”圣诞节。可惜很少有此佳景,因为在12月难得下雪。
The theatre plays its part during the Christmas season by putting on special shows for children. The circus is another thing that parents may very well take their children to see as a Christmas treat. Lions and tigers have been patiently trained to leap through the air and even the more docile beasts like elephants and horses do astonishing tricks.
圣诞节期间,戏院发挥其作用,为儿童上演专场节目。马戏团也是父母们可能领孩子们光顾的去处,以此作为节日的特别余兴。经过耐心训练的狮子、老虎会作高空腾越,就连大象、马这类性情比较温顺的动物也能露一手惊人的绝招。
So the children usually count the weeks, then the days, to Christmas. And almost everyone enjoys the happiness of Christmas.
因此,孩子们往往计算着离圣诞节还有多少星期,还有多少时日。而且几乎所有的人都爱享受圣诞节的欢乐。