点击蓝色字体“美国留学”关注我

At this time of year, few sights evoke morefeelings of cheer and goodwill than the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree.

每年的这个时候，都会有一些美好事物的愿景给予我们比圣诞树上闪烁的圣诞灯饰更多的欢乐和节日感。

The popularity of a tree at Christmas is duein part to my great-great grandparents, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Afterthis touching picture was published, many families wanted a Christmas tree oftheir own, and the custom soon spread.

圣诞树的流行有一部分是因为我的曾曾祖父母，维多利亚女王和阿尔伯特亲王。在这幅令人触景生情的画对外发布后，慢慢地，每家每户都想要属于他们自己的圣诞树，于是这样的习惯就逐渐流行开来。

In 1949, I spent Christmas in Malta as anewly-married naval wife. We have returned to that island over the years,including last month for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders; and this year I metanother group of leaders: The Queen's Young Leaders, an inspirational group,each of them a symbol of hope in their own Commonwealth communities.

还记得1949年，我在马耳他过圣诞节。那时，我是一名海军军官的新婚妻子。这之后多年，我们又故地重游，包括上个月访问时和一些英联邦国家的领导人见面；今年我还见到了另一位组织的领导人——“女王青年领袖”作为一个励志的组织，里面的每一个人都是一个英联邦社会希望的象征。

Gathering round the tree gives us a chance tothink about the year ahead -- I am looking forward to a busy 2016, though Ihave been warned I may have Happy Birthday sung to me more than once or twice.It also allows us to reflect on the year that has passed, as we think of thosewho are far away or no longer with us. Many people say the first Christmasafter losing a loved one is particularly hard. But it’s also a time to remember all that we have to bethankful for.

当我们聚集在圣诞树下的时候，都会给我们一个去展望这即将到来的一年的机会。2016年对于我来说应该会是忙碌的一年，尽管我已经被提醒我可能会过超过一次或是两次的生日。这仍然让我们有机会回想这过去的一年，我们会想起那些离我们而去或是已经不在我们身边的人。很多人会说，在失去至亲后的第一个圣诞节尤其难过。但这同样是一个让我们铭记那些我们应该感谢的人的时候。

It is true that the world has had to confrontmoments of darkness this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of greathope, often read at Christmas carol services: "The light shines in thedarkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

今年我们确实一起度过了一些黑暗的时光，《约翰福音》中有一些诗歌给人以希望，经常读的圣诞颂歌中有这么一句：“光照在黑暗里，黑暗却不接受光。”

One cause for thankfulness this summer wasmarking seventy years since the end of the Second World War. On VJ Day, wehonoured the remaining veterans of that terrible conflict in the Far East, aswell as remembering the thousands who never returned. The procession from HorseGuards Parade to Westminster Abbey must have been one of the slowest ever,because so many people wanted to say 'thank you' to them.

我们应该心怀感激的原因之一，是这个夏天是第二次世界大战结束70周年纪念。在日本投降日，我们表彰那些在惨烈的远东战争中，还幸存的退伍老兵，同时，也纪念成千上万那些没有归来的战士。在从皇家骑兵卫队阅兵场到威斯敏斯特教堂进行的游行一定是行进得最慢的游行之一，因为有这么多人想对他们说声“谢谢”。

At the end of that War, the people of Oslobegan sending an annual gift of a Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square. It hasfive hundred lightbulbs and is enjoyed not just by Christians but by people ofall faiths, and of none. At the very top sits a bright star, to represent theStar of Bethlehem.

在战争的最后，在奥斯陆的民众把一棵圣诞树当做礼物送到特拉法加广场。树上有五百个灯泡，这不仅是送给基督徒的，同样也送给所有有信仰和没有信仰的人们。在树的最顶端，有一颗明亮的星星，代表伯利恒（耶稣的诞生地）的星星。

The custom of topping atree also goes back to Prince Albert's time. For his family's tree, he chose anangel, helping to remind us that the focus of the Christmas story is on oneparticular family.

在圣诞树顶端加装饰的习俗从阿尔伯特亲王（Prince Albert）时代就开始了。他在自家圣诞树的顶上放了一只天使，用来提醒人们圣诞节的故事是关于那个特殊的家庭。

ForJoseph and Mary, the circumstances of Jesus's birth -- in a stable – werefar from ideal, but worse was to come as the family was forced to flee thecountry. It’s no surprise that such a human story stillcaptures our imagination and continues to inspire all of us who are Christians,the world over.

那天基督出生在了马厩里，对于他的父母玛丽和约瑟夫夫妇而言，这已经够糟糕了，然而更遭的是耶稣出生后他们全家从此背井离乡、颠沛流离。这个故事早已被讲过千百遍，然而这么多年还一直牵动着全世界基督教徒的心。

Despitebeing displaced and persecuted throughout his short life, Christ's unchangingmessage was not one of revenge or violence but simply that we should love oneanother. Although it is not an easy message to follow, we shouldn't bediscouraged; rather, it inspires us to try harder: to be thankful for thepeople who bring love and happiness into our own lives, and to look for ways ofspreading that love to others, whenever and wherever we can.

虽然耶稣在其短暂的一生中不断遭到迫害，但他内心的信念从未改变--我们应当忘却仇恨、拒绝暴力，彼此相爱相重。追求这个信念并不容易，但我们应当因此更加努力：感谢那些把爱和欢乐带入我们世界的人，并把爱传递给他人，无论何时，无论何地。

One of the joys ofliving a long life is watching one’s children, then grandchildren, then greatgrandchildren, help decorate the Christmas tree. And this year my family has anew member to join in the fun!

活到我这个岁数的人有一个好处，我有机会看着一代代的子孙们装饰圣诞树。今年我们家又喜添了一位小公主！

The customarydecorations have changed little in the years since that picture of Victoria andAlbert's tree first appeared, although of course electric lights have replacedthe candles.

从维多利亚和阿尔伯特（Prince Albert）第一次用了圣诞树后，装扮圣诞树的习俗几乎从未改变，当然用于装饰的蜡烛已经变成了彩灯。

There’s an oldsaying that “it is better to light a candle than curse thedarkness”.

有一句老话说得很好：“在黑暗里点亮一支蜡烛要好过诅咒黑暗本身”。

Thereare millions of people lighting candles of hope in our world today. Christmasis a good time to be thankful for them, and for all that brings light to ourlives.

这世上有成千上万的人都在点亮蜡烛。圣诞节是感谢这些人的最好时机，感谢他们为我们带来光明。

I wish you a very happy Christmas.

我祝大家圣诞快乐！

“Merry Christmas” 的说法可追溯到1534年，但它真正的流行则是在狄更斯在1843年出版的《圣诞颂歌》后。因为他在里面中多次用到了“Merry Christmas” 。

商家也顺势而为，推出了写有这句话的圣诞贺卡，于是“A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You”像买一送一捆绑销售一样，成功洗脑了一代又一代人。“Merry Christmas” 如此流行，为何女王在每年做圣诞演讲时，都只说“Happy Christmas”呢？

因为Merry的原意是“jovial, and outgoing，probably mildly intoxicated”，就是天性活泼的，可能还有些醉了。在1840年代推出的第一批Merry Christmas贺卡，场景中也是一家人饮酒作乐。

所以“最长待机”的女王在每年的圣诞讲话中都会不疾不徐地道一声：

Happy Christmas

而不是

Merry Christmas

- The End -

--------------------------------- 乐闻·携尔 ---------------------------------

托福 | SAT | GRE | 北美留学

长按上图二维码关注我哦

如果你想更最快速的得到留学选校申请指导！不妨戳下面的 ◤阅读原文 ◢ 找大牛为你指点迷津！↙↙↙↙↙↙