Christmas

　　Although,forChristians,Christmasisnotthemostimportantoffestivals,itisprobablythemostwidelycelebratedreligiousoccasionintheWest.ThisfestivalcelebratesthebirthofthemessiahinBethlehemPalestineabouttwothousandyearsago.ThismessiahwasJesusChristwho,Christiansbelieve,wassenttosavemankindandabsolvethemfromtheirsins.Nowadays,youmightbeforgivenformissingthereligiouselementtothisfestivalasithasdescendedsomewhatintoanorgyofconsumerismandindulgence.Giftsaregivenamongstfamilyandfriendsandcardswishing“SeasonalGreetings”sentbetweenjustabouteveryone.FatherChristmas,otherwiseknownasSantaClaus,issaidtosqueezehiswaydownchimneysacrosstheworldonChristmasEveanddeliverpresentstoanychildrenthathavebehavedwelloverthelastyear.AnotherimportantmotifofthefestivalistheChristmastree,aroundwhichtraditionallypeoplewoulddancearoundhintingatthepaganoriginsofthismid-wintercelebration.

　　圣诞节

　　虽然对基督教徒来说,圣诞节并不是其最重要的节日,但是在西方,它却是一个最受广泛庆祝的节日.圣诞节庆祝的是两千多年前弥赛亚(犹太人盼望的复国救主)在巴勒斯坦伯利恒的诞生.这个弥赛亚就是耶稣(基督教信奉的救世主).基督教徒相信,耶稣是被派来拯救人类并协助人们摆脱罪恶的救世主.如今,就算你已经忘记了这个节日的本来意义也不会有人怪罪你,因为,现在的圣诞节已经演变成为大肆消费、狂欢与纵情享受的节日.在这个节日里,亲人们、朋友间都会互送礼物,满载着“节日祝福”的贺卡也会送到每一个人的手中.“圣诞之父”（FatherChristmas）,也就是我们所熟知的“圣诞老人”（SantaClaus）,据说会在圣诞节前夕顺着烟囱下来,给世界各地的孩子们送去礼物,这些收到礼物的孩子必定是那些在过去的一年中各方面表现都很优秀的孩子.圣诞节的另一个重点是圣诞树,在这一天,人们会围着圣诞树跳舞,这也表明圣诞树是圣诞节形成之前的隆冬节日的重要组成部分.

　　Easter

　　Forreligious,asopposedtocultural,Christians,thisisthefundamentalfestivalofChristianity.ItcelebratesthefactthatJesusChristwascrucifiedanddiedandthenroseagainafewdayslater.JesusclaimedinhislifethathewastheSonofGod.TheJews,viewingthisasheinousblasphemy,hadhimhandedovertotheRomangovernorofPalestineanddemandedthathebeexecuted.Followinghisdeathonthecrosshowever,Jesusappearedtohisdisciplesandtoldthemtospreadhisgospelofloveandforgivenessaroundtheworld.DespitethereligiousthemetoEaster,tomanypeopleinthewest,thisfestivalissimplyabouttheexchangeofchocolateeggs,saidtobedeliveredbytheEasterBunny.Again,onecansee,aswithChristmas,hintsofthepaganoriginsofthisfestival,ontowhichhasbeengraftedthelaterChristianmessageofEaster.Theearlypaganconcernwaswiththeonsetofspringandtherebirthofnaturesymbolizedbyanegg!

　　复活节

　　对基督徒来说,复活节在宗教上的意义与在文化上的意义是不一样的,它是基督教中最重要的节日.它纪念的是耶稣在十字架上受刑死后几天内又复活这件事.耶稣声称自己是“上帝的儿子”.犹太人认为这是极其恶毒的亵渎话,因此把耶稣交给了当时在巴勒斯坦的罗马统治者,要求将这个“狂妄之徒”处死.在十字架上被钉死后,耶稣又出现在他的信徒们面前,号召大家把爱和宽容的信仰散播到世界各地.忽略了宗教上的本来意义,现在的许多西方人只把这个节日当成了一个互换“复活节彩蛋”的节日,还美其名曰是“复活兔”赠送的.大家可以看到,就像圣诞节一样,以前的宗教成份已经融入到了复活节当中,在复活节形成之前,人们正是利用“彩蛋”来暗示春天的到来和自然万物的新生.

　　Thanksgiving

　　ThanksgivingisaveryimportantculturalfestivalintheUnitedStates.IttakesplaceonthelastThursdayofNovemberanditspurpose,asitsnamesuggests,istogivethanksforallthatwehave.TheMayflowerpilgrimsheldtheveryfirstThanksgiving.Afterhavingbarelysurvivedaharshwinterandfollowinganabundantharvest,theydecidedtoholdafeasttogivethanks.LargelyredolentofthetraditionalEnglishHarvestFestival,asignificantanduniqueelementtothisoriginalThanksgivingwasthatthepilgrimsinvited91localIndianstowhomtheyfeltindebtedforass