关于英语圣诞知识

一般祝福语Merry Christmas!圣诞快乐！Merry Christmas and a happy new year.敬祝圣诞，恭贺新喜。Best wishes on this holiday season.献上最诚挚的节日祝福。Wishing you and yours a merry Christmas this holiday season.值此佳节，祝你全家圣诞快乐。We wish you a merry Christmas.我们祝你圣诞快乐。Wishing you a beautiful holiday season.节日愉快。Happy holidays!节日快乐！Wishinbg you health and happiness in the year to come.祝你在新的一年里健康，快乐。Season's greetings.顺颂时祺。Wishing you a white Christmas.愿你有一个银白色的圣诞。Noel!圣诞快乐！May peace,happiness and good fortune be with you always.祝您年年阖第平安，岁岁满目吉祥。Have you been naughty or nice this year?你今年乖不乖？Don't forget to hang up the sock!别忘了挂上袜子！We've had a rather uneventful year!我们度过了平安无事的一年May the holidays fill your heart with happiness.祝您节日快乐。给父母亲Mom and Dad: Thank you for everything this holiday season!爸爸妈妈：值此佳节，感谢您们所给予的一切。I'll be home to enjoy this Christmas with you.我将回家与你们共度佳节。A present from me is on the way. Hope you'll like it.寄上一份礼物，希望你们会喜欢。I wish I were home for the holidays.但愿我能回家共度佳节。Thinking of you at Christmas time.圣诞佳节，我想念你们。Best wishes from Mark, Janet and the kids.马克、珍妮特和孩子们，谨呈最诚挚的祝福。Warmest thoughts and best wishes form your daughter.寄上无限的思念和最美好的祝愿，你们的女儿。Season's greetings from Xiao Li and Ming Ming.献上小丽和明明的节日问候。A holiday wish from your son Tom.寄上佳节的祝福，你们的儿子汤姆敬上。May you have the best Christmas ever.愿你过个最愉快的圣诞节。A christmas greeting to cheer you from your daughter.愿女儿的祝福带给您欢乐。Merry Christmas to the world's best parents!祝世界上最好的父母圣诞快乐！Season's greetings to my dearest parents!祝我最亲爱的父母节日愉快！给师长·上司Much joy to you in the upcoming year.愿您在新的一年充满快乐。Thank you for all you have done for us.感谢您为我们所做的一切。We'll be here after the New Year.新年过后，我们会再回来。We won't forgetyou this holiday season.假期里，我们不会忘记您的。Thank you for your hard work and patience on this holiday season.值此佳节，谨对您的辛勤栽培表示感谢。Thank you for not as signing homework this holiday season.感谢您没有留假期作业。注:upcoming adj.即将来临的assign v.分配patience n.耐心I look forward to your class after the new year.我期待着新年过后，再上您的课。Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas.祝福您及全家圣诞快乐。A merry Christmas from all of your students.祝您圣诞快乐，您的全体学生敬上。Christmas is a time for gladness and rejoicing …because there is no class.圣诞节是喜庆的日子——因为不用上课。semester n. 学期rejoice v. 欢喜May happiness follow you everywhere …just like we do.愿快乐随时与您同在——如同我们与您寸步不离。It's really a shame we can't be together at Christmas.我们不能在一起过圣诞节真是太遗憾了。Best wishes for you and your family.祝福您及您的家人。We offer Christmas blessings to you.我们向您献上圣诞节的祝福给上司长辈For you and your family, boss, during this holiday season!值此圣诞佳节，老板，献给您及您的家人。there's no place like home for the holidays.在这佳节里，没有比家更好的地方了。Best wishes for a wonderful new year.献上最诚挚的祝福，祝您新年恰愉快。May the joy of Christmas be with you throughout the year.愿圣诞佳节的喜悦，伴随您在度过新的一年。May joy and health be with you always.祝您永远健康快乐。May happiness follow you wherever you go!愿您幸福快乐，直到永远永远。A special card from your grandson.您的孙子，寄上一张特别的卡片。A Christmas wish from your nephew.您的侄儿祝您圣诞快乐。Wishing you and yours a happy happy new year.万事如意，合家平安。From all of us in sales: Merry Christmas!我们销售部全体人员祝您圣诞快乐！Your entire staff wishes you and yours a most happy Christmas.全体职员祝您及家人圣诞快乐。To Grandpa and Grandma Merry Christmas!献给爷爷奶奶：圣诞快乐！给朋友Merry Christmas, my best friend.祝我的挚友圣诞快乐。A Christmas greeting to cheer you, my good friend.希望圣诞祝福给你带来欢乐，我的好朋友。We will be having Christmas at Wang Ping's this year. You are welcome to join us!今年我们要在王平家过圣诞，欢迎你也来！Take your passion and make it come true.发挥你的热情，让理想变为现实。I hope we can spend the holidays together.希望我们能一起过圣诞节。To Hong from your good friends at Peking U.送给红——北大的一群好友。Best of luck in the year to come.愿你在未来的一年里，吉星高照。A merry yuletide!圣诞快乐！Wish all the best wishes for you.献上最美好的祝愿。Wish many good wishes for the holidays and the coming year.新的一年，向你献上最诚挚的祝福。Wishing you all the blessings of a beautiful Christmas season.愿你拥有美丽的圣诞所有的祝福。May its blessings lead into a wonderful year for you and all whom you hold dear.祝福你及你所爱的人新的一年中万事如意。To wish you special joy at the holidays and all year.祝你节日以及一年中开开心心。给你的另一半和情侣To Mr. Claus from Mrs. Claus.圣诞老奶奶祝福圣诞老爷爷。Don't stand under the mistletoe with anyone else but me.除了我，不要和任何人站在槲寄生上。To my dearest love on this joyous Christmas.值此欢乐佳节，献给我的心上人。For this and many Christmas to come.为了这一个，也为了更多即将来临的圣诞节。On this Christmas I have but one thing to say: I love you.值此圣诞佳节，我只有一句话要告诉你：我爱你You're the best Christmas present I ever received.你是我所收到的最好的圣诞礼物。I only want you for Christmas!我只要你作为我的圣诞礼物！I give all my love to you this Christmas.值此圣诞佳节，献上我对你所有的爱。Even though we are apart, you are in my heart this Christmas.千山万水，隔不断我在佳节对你的思念。I want you stuffed in my stocking.我只要你塞在我的袜子里。I want to be in your arms this Christmas.我要在你的怀抱里度过今年的圣诞节。My heart is my Christmas present to you.我的心就是我奉献给你的圣诞礼物。You are the one for me this Christmas and for many Christmas to come.在此圣诞节和未来的每个圣诞节里，你都是我唯一的爱！I will be yours forever!我永远属于你！Let's never spend our Christmas apart.让我们永不独享圣诞节。My arms are wide open for you this Christmas.我张开双臂，盼与你共度圣诞佳节。Here's a tender Christmas kiss from you know who.你的心上人献给你一个温柔的圣诞之吻。I'm only thinking of you this Christmas.在此圣诞佳节，唯有你在心中。I hope all of our Christmases are this bright!愿所有的圣诞节都如此欢快明亮！参考资料：

Christmas In AUSTRALIAFor the majority of Australians, Christmas Downunder has all the glitter, tinsel and razzmatazz of a Christmas in New York, London Paris or Vancouver. The major difference is one of WEATHER....Christmas Down Under is never White. Snow has rarely fallen if ever on this date, Down Under. We have during past Christmases experienced all the seasonal variations of a Summer Down Under.....electrical storms, floods, hailstorms, cyclones and bushfires. But 80% of the time we are blessed with blue skies and depending on our Australian location, temperatures ranging from 25-38 degrees centigrade. Currently it is Summer Down Under and daily temperatures range from 30-40 degrees centigrade on the mainland. Tamania is always slightly cooler. Christmas is special to the majority of Australians for it is our Summer Holiday season and students especially are "wrapping" up their school year. That means sitting for end of Semester tests or exams and waiting for their results, as well as getting ready for the Summer Holidays. For the majority of Australian students this means ...SUN....SURF....SHOPPING. For students it means an end to homework and school studies and the beginning of lots of time for family, relatives and "mates". Our neighbours, the "Kiwis" or New Zealanders are actually the first ones to really celebrate the joyous day of Christmas. New Zealand is the first country immediately west of the international date line. So we're sorry most of American friends have to wait an extra day for Christmas. So how do we REALLY celebrate Christmas? You must remember that Australia, though huge in size, has a population of just over 18 million people. Our country is a harmonious mix of many ethnic groups. Our backgrounds are very varied....our people have connections with England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Europe, Italy, Greece, Spain, France, Middle East, Vietnam, China, Japan, Thailand as well as North and South America. So you can imagine that each of these national groups brings the colour ,customs and festive rituals of the Christmas celebrated in their respective homelands. As Australians we are able to appreciate culturally diverse Christmas celebrations. However, up until 30 years ago, our Christmas celebrations were heavily influenced by our original Anglo-Celtic influences. The English style of Christmas served as our model for celebrating Christmas.......right down to the traditional roast turkey and steamed pudding in over 35 degree heat. Today with the huge influx of overseas migrants our Christmas celebrations are heavily influenced by the ethnicity of families involved. Common sense is prevailing today in terms of weather. Traditional dinners have been replaced with family gatherings in back yards, picnics in parks, gardens and on the beach. For many, it is the occasion to be with friends and relatives, to share love and friendship and not to forget, the exchange of gifts in the traditional manner. For many, it is of course a time to enjoy and consume massive quantities of food. A typical Christmas menu could include seafood, glazed ham, cold chicken, duck or turkey, cold deli meats, pasta, salads galore, desserts of all types, fruit salad, pavlovas, ice-cream plus Christmas edibles of all varieties such as mince pies,fruit cake, shortbread, chocolates etc. There has been a suggestion that "Swag Man" take over Santa's franchise Down Under!!! There is a lot of concern about Santa Claus perhaps suffering heat stroke whilst Down Under. "Swag Man" wears a brown Akubra, a blue singlet and long baggy shorts. He spends all winter under Uluru with his merry dingoes and then at Christmas time, he gets in his huge four-wheel drive and sets off through the red dust to deliver his presents. For those interested, the first official Christmas Down Under was celebrated on the 25th December,1788 at Sydney Cove by Reverend Johnson. After the service, Governor Arthur Phillips and his officers dined heartily, toasting the King of England and his family. But for the majority of the first white inhabitants...the convicts....there was no change to their regular menu... bread rations only. The only goodwill which seemed to have been displayed was to Michael Dennison. He was a convict who stole a pound of flour from Martha Pugh. He was sentenced to 200 lashes by the whip. But since it was Christmas, only 150 were delivered. Currently everyone is beginning to get ready for the "silly season". Everyone is busily planning Christmas break-up parties. Children are writing letters to Santa Claus. Decorations are being bought and set up. Shopping centres and malls are experiencing record breaking crowds. In homes, many of the traditional Christmas rituals are being followed. Many children are helping to decorate the family Christmas tree. We have yet to follow the American ritual of getting "real" Christmas trees......though some do use gum tree branches. Children are learning Christmas Carols so that they may be sung at festive occasions such as public "Carols by Candlelight" and school concerts. Christmas stockings are being hung in homes....though fireplaces are in short supply. Cards galore are being written and posted. Everyone awaits.......the anticipation is high! It must also be mentioned that with all the glitter, tinsel and razzmatazz.......Australians consider Christmas a time for remembering the true meaning of Christmas.........a time for remembering the birth of Jesus and the spiritual meaning of Christmas . For many, Christmas will begin with families attending a mid-night mass. 70% of Australians are either Catholic, Anglican or Lutheran. After the mid-night Mass, a little sleep is attempted. For many, the children in various households, wake up the family at dawn. Gifts are unwrapped and the joy of Christmas begins. For many with relatives and friends overseas, it is a mad scramble to get an early phone call to relatives worldwide. Christmas In BRITISH ISLESMany of our current American ideals about the way Christmas ought to be derive from the English Victorian Christmas, such as that described in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The caroling, the gifts, the feast, and the wishing of good cheer to all - these ingredients came together to create that special Christmas atmosphere. The custom of gift-giving on Christmas dates only to Victorian times. Before then it was more common to exchange gifts on New Year's Day or Twelfth Night. Santa Claus is known by British children as Father Christmas. Father Christmas, these days, is quite similar to the American Santa, but his direct ancestor is a certain pagan spirit who regularly appeared in medieval mummer's plays. The old-fashioned Father Christmas was depicted wearing long robes with sprigs of holly in his long white hair. Children write letters to Father Christmas detailing their requests, but instead of dropping them in the mailbox, the letters are tossed into the fireplace. The draft carries the letters up the chimney, and theoretically, Father Christmas reads the smoke. Gifts are opened Christmas afternoon. From the English we get a story to explain the custom of hanging stockings from the mantelpiece. Father Christmas once dropped some gold coins while coming down the chimney. The coins would have fallen through the ash grate and been lost if they hadn't landed in a stocking that had been hung out to dry. Since that time children have continued to hang out stockings in hopes of finding them filled with gifts. The custom of singing carols at Christmas is also of English origin. During the middle ages, groups of serenades called "waits" would travel around from house to house singing ancient carols and spreading the holiday spirit. The word "carol" means "song of joy." Most of the popular old carols we sing today were written in the nineteenth century. The hanging of greens, such as holly and ivy, is a British winter tradition with origins far before the Christian era. Greenery was probably used to lift sagging winter spirits and remind the people that spring was not far away. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe is descended from ancient Druid rites. The decorating of Christmas trees, though primarily a German custom, has been widely popular in England since 1841 when Prince Albert had a Christmas tree set up in Windsor Castle for his wife Queen Victoria, and their children. The word "wassail" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon phrase waes hael, which means "good health." Originally, wassail was a beverage made of mulled ale, curdled cream, roasted apples, nuts, eggs, and spices. It was served for the purpose of enhancing the general merriment of the season. Like many of the ancient customs, "wassailing" has a legend to explain its origin. It seems that a beautiful Saxon maiden named Rowena presented Prince Vortigen with a bowl of wine while toasting him with the words "Waes hael." Over the centuries a great deal of ceremony had developed around the custom of drinking wassail. The bowl is carried into a room with great fanfare, a traditional carol about the drink is sung, and finally, the steaming hot beverage is served. For many years in England, a roasted boar's head has been associated with Holiday feasting. The custom probably goes back to the Norse practice of sacrificing a boar at Yuletide in honor of the god Freyr. One story tells of a student at Oxford's Queen College who was attacked on Christmas Day by a wild boar. All he had in his hand to use as a weapon was his copy of Aristotle, so he shoved the book down the boar's throat. Wanting to retrieve his book, the student cut off the animal's head and brought it back to the college where it was served for Christmas dinner with much pomp and ceremony. The celebration of Boxing Day, which takes place on December 26 - the feast of St. Stephen, is a part of the holiday season unique to Great Britain. Traditionally, it is on this day that the alms box at every English church is opened and the contents are distributed to the poor. Also, this is the day that servants traditionally got the day off to celebrate with their families. It became traditional for working people to break open their tip boxes on this day. Boxing Day began in the mid-nineteenth century when the custom of tipping by rich persons to persons in service positions had apparently gotten out of hand. Children and others pretended to be in the trades and solicited tips. The custom was expanded to giving to anyone and everyone who had less money than you did, and soon the streets at Christmastime were full of aggressive soliciting of tips. To contain the nuisance "Boxing Day" was designated as the one day for giving to the less fortunate.

Do you know? Origin of Chdstmas___圣诞由来 The name Christmas is short for“Christ’s Mass”．A Mass is a kind of Church service．Christmas is a religious festivaI．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 world． 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 jn the jnn．And that．Christmas IS the feast of the nativity of Jesus．is on 25th，December every year．But nobody know the acluaI birthday of Jesus．And the Christmas has become popular when Christmas cards appeared in 1 846 and the concept of a joily Santa Claus was first made popular in nineteenth Century． “圣诞节”这个名称是“基督弥撒”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稣的诞辰来庆祝，因而又名耶诞节。这一天，世界所有的基督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，寄圣个诞卡，这都使圣诞节成为一个普天同庆的日子。 圣诞节是基督教世界最大的节日。4世纪初，1月6日是罗马帝国东部各教会纪念耶稣降生和受洗的双重节日、称为“主显节”Epiphany，亦称“显现节”即上帝通过耶稣向世人显示自己。当时只有耶路撒冷的教会例外，那里只纪念耶稣的诞生而不纪念耶稣的受洗。后来历史学家们在罗马基督徒习用的日历中发现公元354年12月25日页内记录着：“基督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，耶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日主显节是耶稣的诞 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基督教化的措施之一。 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。随着基督教的广泛传播，圣诞节已成为各教派基督徒，甚至广大非基督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耶稣降生的传说有关。

An Ancient HolidayThe 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.In Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.绝对正确~~~~希望能帮助你

The word Christmas is a combination of the words Christ and Mass.Christmas这个词是基督和弥撒的缩写，弥撒是教会的一种礼拜仪式。 For today's Christian, the origin of Christmas is, and should be, the birth of Jesus Ch The word "Christmas" is a combination of the words "Christ" and "Mass".“Christmas”这个词是“基督”和”弥撒“的缩写，弥撒是教会的一种礼拜仪式。 For today's Christian, the origin of Christmas is, and should be, the birth of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible. Nothing more and nothing less. However, most of what we witness on December 25th each year has absolutely nothing to do with that blessed day, which probably occurred in late summer or early fall about 2,000 years ago. In fact, most of the customs and traditions of Christmas actually pre-date the birth of Jesus, and many of them are downright deceptive in their meaning and origin. Anyway, who cares whenChrist was born?耶诞节是一个宗教节日，世人把它当作耶稣的诞辰来庆祝，因而又名耶诞节。这一天，世界所有的基督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。又有人说耶稣诞生是在夏末秋初，并非圣诞之日。然而，圣诞节究竟是否耶稣诞辰之日对于现代人来说已经不那么重要，它就像我们的春节一样，大家相聚一堂，交换礼物，寄圣诞卡，吃火鸡大餐，圣诞节是一个普天同庆的日子。圣诞节小常识：圣诞树Christmas Tree据称，圣诞树最早出现在古罗马12月中旬的农神节，德国传教士尼古斯在公元8世纪用纵树供奉圣婴。随后，德国人把12月24日作为亚当和夏娃的节日，在家放上象征伊甸园的“乐园树”，上挂代表圣饼的小甜饼，象征赎罪；还点上蜡烛，象征基督。到16世纪，宗教改革者马丁.路德，为求得一个满天星斗的圣诞之夜，设计出在家中布置一颗装着蜡烛的圣诞树。圣诞卡Christmas Card世界上第一张圣诞卡是1843年英国人亨利.高乐爵士提议，由约翰.卡尔葛荷斯利设计的。卡片上画的是一个贵族家庭，三代人一齐举杯对一位不在场的亲友表示祝贺。当时他印了1000张，没有用完的印刷厂就以每张1先令的价钱卖出。圣诞卡就这样诞生了。圣诞歌Christmas Songs圣诞歌曲曲目不断丰富，我们最熟悉的就是"Jingle Bell"，为欧美国家所喜闻乐见的还有：Adeste Fidelis、Angles We Have Heard On High、Angels Watching Over Me、A Child Is Born、Silent Night......。活跃于当今乐坛的A1、Destiny's Child、Bruce Springsteen、Mariah Carey、Luther Vandross、Gloria Estefan等音乐巨星也纷纷出力，有不少新的圣诞歌曲问世。圣诞老人Santa Claus圣诞老人原指公元4世纪时小亚细亚专区的主教尼古拉，他因和蔼可亲慷慨济贫万里闻名。到了6世纪，东方把他尊称为圣尼古拉。由于民间有关尼古拉的传说中，都联系到少年儿童和礼物，从此，圣诞老人便成为专门在圣诞节向孩子们送礼物的慈祥老人的形象。到了18世纪，通过文学和绘画，圣诞老人逐渐成为身穿红外衣的白胡子、白眉毛老人形象。圣诞礼物Christmas Gift据《圣经》记载，来自东方的圣人在耶稣降生的时候赠送礼物，这就是圣诞老人为儿童赠送礼品习俗的由来。英国孩子在圣诞前夕把长统袜子放在壁炉旁，相信圣诞老人在夜里会从大烟囱下来，给他们带来满袜子的礼物。法国的孩子把鞋放在门口，让圣婴来时把礼物放在鞋里面。圣诞大餐Christmas Dinner正像国人过春节吃年夜饭一样，欧美人过圣诞节也很注重全家团聚，围坐在圣诞树下，共进节日美餐。圣诞大餐吃火鸡的习俗始于1620年，火鸡烤制工艺复杂，味道鲜美持久，以致麦兜小朋友垂涎三尺。这种风俗盛于美国。英国人的圣诞大餐是烤鹅，而非火鸡。奥大利人爱在平安夜里，全家老小约上亲友成群结队地到餐馆去吃一顿圣诞大餐，其中，火鸡、腊鸡、烧牛仔肉和猪腿必不可少，同时伴以名酒，吃得大家欢天喜地。Finally, wish everybody a merry Christmas and happy new year!

Christmas December 25 The history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the Christ child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires, the yule log, the giving of gifts, carnivals(parades) with floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, the holiday feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians. Many of these traditions began with the Mesopotamian (美索不达米亚) celebration of New Years. The Mesopotamians believed in many gods, and as their chief god - Marduk (马杜克,古代巴比伦人的主神,原为巴比伦的太阳神). Each year as winter arrived it was believed that Marduk would do battle with the monsters of chaos. To assist Marduk in his struggle the Mesopotamians held a festival for the New Year. This was Zagmuk, the New Year's festival that lasted for 12 days. The Mesopotamian king would return to the temple of Marduk and swear his faithfulness to the god. The traditions called for the king to die at the end of the year and to return with Marduk to battle at his side. To spare their king, the Mesopotamians used the idea of a "mock" king. A criminal was chosen and dressed in royal clothes. He was given all the respect and privileges of a real king. At the end of the celebration the "mock" king was stripped of the royal clothes and slain, sparing the life of the real king. The Roman's celebrated their god Saturn. Their festival was called Saturnalia which began the middle of December and ended January 1st. With cries of "Jo Saturnalia!" the celebration would include masquerades (化妆舞会) in the streets, big festive meals, visiting friends and the exchange of good-luck gifts called Strenae (lucky fruits). "Jo Saturnalia!" was a fun and festive time for the Romans, but the Christians though it an abomination (深恶痛绝) to honor the pagan (异教) god. The early Christians wanted to keep the birthday of their Christ child a solemn and religious holiday, not one of cheer and merriment as was the pagan Saturnalia. But as Christianity spread they were alarmed by the continuing celebration of pagan customs and Saturnalia among their converts. At first the Church forbid this kind of celebration. But it was to no avail (徒劳). Eventually it was decided that the celebration would be tamed and made into a celebration fit for the Christian Son of God. Some legends claim that the Christian "Christmas" celebration was invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December. The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also the Persians whose religion Mithraism (密特拉教，奉祀密特拉神的宗教，纪元后最初3世纪内传至罗马帝国) was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. The Church eventually was successful in taking the merriment, lights, and gifts from the Saturanilia festival and bringing them to the celebration of Christmas.