In Christianity, Christmas is the festival celebrating the Nativity of Jesus, the Christian belief that the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament's Messianic prophecies was born to the VirginMary.
在基督教的传统中，圣诞节是为庆祝基督耶稣降生的节日。基督教徒相信，弥赛亚告知圣母玛利亚孕育了上帝的儿子耶稣。
有哪些传统的圣诞习俗？
Even in countries where there is a strong Christian tradition,Christmas celebrations can vary markedly from country to country.Formany Christians, a religious service plays an importantpart in there cognition of the season. Secular processions,featuring Santa Claus and other seasonal figures are often held.Family reunions and the exchange of gifts are a widespread featureof theseason.
圣诞习俗国与国之间非常不同。对基督教徒来说，在圣诞节举行相应的宗教仪式必不可少。世俗的传统，通常包含圣诞老人和其他节日特征。家庭会在这一天团聚、互换礼物。
各国的圣诞大餐都吃啥？
A special Christmas family meal is an important part of the celebration for many, but what is actually served can vary greatly from country tocountry. In England, and countries influenced by its traditions, a standard Christmas meal would include turkey, potatoes, vegetables,sausages andgravy, followed by Christmas pudding or mince pies. In Poland and other parts of eastern Europe and Scandinavia, fish of tenprovides th etraditional main course, but richer meat such as lambis increasingly served. Ham is the main meal in the Philippines,while in Germany,France and Austria, goose and pork are favored.Beef, ham and chickenin various recipes are popular throughout the world.
和习俗一样，各国的圣诞大餐也有差别。在英国和英语文化圈，标准的圣诞大餐通常包括火鸡、土豆、蔬菜、香肠和肉汁，以圣诞布丁或碎肉派结尾；在波兰等东欧国家，包括斯堪的纳维亚半岛，鱼是圣诞餐的主菜，不过近年来类似羊肉的红肉也越来越盛行；火腿是菲律宾的主菜；在德国、法国和澳洲，鹅和猪肉是人们喜爱的菜肴；另外的，牛肉、火腿和鸡肉的菜肴在全球的圣诞菜单上都很流行。
圣诞的传统装饰都有哪些？
Since the 19th century, the poinsettia, a native plant from Mexico,has been associated with Christmas. Other popular holiday plantsinclude holly, mistletoe, red amaryllis, and Christmascactus. Along with a Christmas tree, the interior of a home may be decorated with these plants, along with garlands and evergreenfoliage.In Australia, North and South America, and Europe, it is traditional to decorate the outside of houses with lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs,snowmen, and other Christmas figures. The traditional colors of Christmas are pine green(evergreen)， snow white, and heart red。
自19世纪开始，一品红，一种原产于墨西哥的植物就和圣诞节联系起来。其他流行的圣诞装饰植物还包括冬青树、懈寄生、红色宫人草和蟹爪兰。它们和圣诞树、花环、绿叶一起用以装饰房间。在澳洲、南北美和欧洲，还有用灯泡、发光的雪橇、雪人和其他圣诞人物装饰屋子外部的传统。圣诞节最传统的装饰颜色是青色、雪白和大红。
圣诞老人原名是什么？
The most famous and pervasive of these figures in modern celebration worldwide is Santa Claus, a mythical gif bringer,dressed in red, whose origins have disputed sources. Santa Claus is a corruption of the Dutch Sinterklaas, which means simply Saint Nicholas. Nicholas was Bishop of Myra (in modern day Turkey) in the fourth century. Among other saintly attributes, he was noted forthecare of Children, generosity, and the giving of gifts.
全球最知名的圣诞人物恐怕就是圣诞老人了，他老人家带礼物、穿红衫，广受小盆友欢迎。他的英文名SantaClaus是德语Sinterklaas的误传，而Sinterklaas的直译就是“圣塔尼古拉斯”了。尼古拉斯先生是14世纪玛拉国(今土耳其)的主教，他非常关心孩子，慷慨大方、乐施礼物。后成为圣诞老人的原型。
那些与“圣诞节”相关的英语词汇
the birthday of Jesus Christ圣诞
Christmas Day圣诞节
Christmas Eve圣诞节前夕(12月24日)
Boxing Day圣诞节的次日
Christmas time/holiday圣诞节假期 (12月24日至1月1日/6日)
Christmas recess 圣诞节暂停营业、上学、工作期间
Menology圣诞节日历
Bethlehem伯利恒(耶稣降生地)
poinsettia 圣诞红
Jesus Christ 耶稣基督
Christ Child 圣婴
midnight mass 子夜弥撒
to hear mass 望弥撒
to go caroling 报佳音
yule，yuletide，yuletime圣诞季节
celebrate Christmas to 庆祝圣诞
Christmas festival 圣诞佳节
Christmas present 圣诞礼物
Christmas scene 圣诞节景象
Christmas Waits：报佳音的人。圣诞夜指12月24日晚至25日晨。教会组织一些圣诗班（或由信徒自发地组成）挨门挨户地在门口或窗下唱圣诞颂歌，叫作“报佳音”，
Christmas wishes 圣诞祝福
Christmas tree - 圣诞树
Christmas decorations 圣诞装饰
White Christmas 白色圣诞节
Santa Claus 圣诞老人
Sleigh 圣诞老人乘坐的雪橇
Fireplace 壁炉
Christmas party圣诞晚会
Christmas carol圣诞颂歌
Christmas hymn圣诞圣歌
Santa Claus/ Father Christmas (英)圣诞老人
Christmas card圣诞卡
Christmas greetings圣诞祝贺
Christmas gift 圣诞礼物
joyful atmosphere 欢乐气氛
Christmas feast/dinner圣诞大餐
yule log(圣诞节原木形大蛋糕)圣诞柴
plum pudding 干果布丁
roast turkey 烤火鸡
wrapping paper 包装纸
cranberry sauce 小红莓果酱
pumpkin pie 番瓜饼
Christmas pudding 圣诞布丁
Turkey -火鸡
Cranberry 蔓越橘
Eggnog -蛋酒，圣诞节传统饮料，由奶，蛋和酒调成，每年圣诞期间星巴克都有卖的
Christmas cake 圣诞蛋糕
Christmas pudding -圣诞布丁
Chestnut -栗
Candle 蜡烛
Stuffing 放在火鸡肚子里的肉馅，水果之类的填充物
Suger cane 圣诞老人拐杖形状的糖果
Gingerbread cookie 姜饼
colorful decorations 多采多姿的装饰
Christmas tree圣诞树
twinkling electric light 闪烁的电灯泡
mistletoe 槲寄生(其树或枝可作圣诞节之装饰，根据圣诞习俗，任何人皆可亲吻站在此树下的人)
sleigh bells 雪橇铃(系于雪橇或拖雪橇之鹿上的小铃)
Christmas stocking 圣诞袜
glittering decorations 灿烂耀眼的装饰物品
Christmas ornament 圣诞节用的装饰物品
icicle 冰柱
red ribbon 红丝带
wreath 花环
package 包裹
cellophane 玻璃纸
reindeer 驯鹿
chimney 烟囱
fireplace 壁炉
candle 蜡烛
candle stick 烛台
tinsel 金银丝
evergreen garland 常青树枝编的花环
evergreen bough 常青树枝
Tinsel 金属箔，五颜六色一溜一溜的那种
Christmas ornaments -用来装饰圣诞树的小装饰品
Trimming the tree 装饰圣诞树
Christmas lights -圣诞灯
Bauble -装饰圣诞树的球
Candlebridge -蜡台，但是形状跟桥似的
Garland -花环，套在圣诞树上的那种由金属箔制成的
Christmas Stocking -圣诞袜子，放礼物的，不叫christmas red sock
Mistletoe -槲寄生，情侣站在下面要亲吻的，是爱情的象征
Christmas crakers -圣诞爆竹，两头拉，拉破了会嘭的响
Door wreath 挂门上的花圈
