Christmas in the UK 英式圣誕節(jié)

In Britain, Christmas Day is normally spent at home, with the family, and it is regarded as a celebration of the family and its continuity. Preparations start well in advance, with the sending of Christmas cards and installation of a decorated Christmas tree in a prominent place in the home. Although it is now a firmly established tradition, the Christmas tree was first popularised by Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, who introduced the custom from his native Germany in 1840.

在英國，圣誕節(jié)往往在家和家人一起過，且被視為對家庭和睦的一種慶祝。準(zhǔn)備工作很早就開始了，大家寄賀卡且在家最顯眼的地方裝飾圣誕樹。盡管這已經(jīng)成為了根深蒂固的傳統(tǒng)，圣誕樹最早是由維多利亞女王的丈夫，阿爾伯特王子在1840年從德國引入這一風(fēng)俗，且開始流行起來。

Some houses are decorated with evergreens (plants which do not lose their leaves in winter); a wreath of holly on the front door and garlands of holly, ivy and fir indoors. Bunches of mistletoe are often hung above doorways - any couple passing underneath must exchange kisses! Traditional food is prepared: sweet mince pies, a rich Christmas cake and the Christmas pudding. Everyone has their own favourite recipe, but they’re all packed full of spices, nuts, dried fruit and brandy.

Presents are bought and wrapped, and traditionally placed under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. Christmas is both a secular and a religious holiday, and many families like to attend a midnight service at church on Christmas Eve, or celebrate Christmas in church on Christmas morning.

一些房子用常青植物（冬天不會掉葉子的植物）裝點(diǎn)；前門掛圣潔的花圈，屋內(nèi)用圣潔的花冠，常春藤和皮毛裝飾。一捆捆的槲寄生經(jīng)常放在門口上方——任何從下走過的情侶都必須互吻！要準(zhǔn)備的傳統(tǒng)食物：甜餡的派，一個花式的圣誕蛋糕和圣誕布丁。人人都有自己喜愛的食譜，但都用足了香料，堅果，干果和白蘭地。禮物是買來包好的，通常都是在圣誕夜擺放在圣誕樹下的。圣誕節(jié)也是世俗的宗教節(jié)日，許多家庭喜歡在圣誕夜去教堂參加午夜活動，或者在圣誕節(jié)早上去教堂慶祝圣誕。

The excitement begins for children on Christmas Eve, when they hang up their stockings (an old sock or, more ambitiously, pillow cases) around the fireplace or at the foot of the bed for Father Christmas to fill with presents. The English Father Christmas or Santa Claus is first recorded in his traditional red and white outfit in a woodcut of 1653, but the story of Santa arriving in his reindeer-drawn sleigh and descending down the chimney to fill children’s stockings with presents derives from the USA.

圣誕節(jié)最興奮的要屬孩子了，他們在壁爐邊或者床角掛起襪子（一只舊襪子，或者貪心點(diǎn)，一個枕頭），來裝圣誕老人的禮物。英國的圣誕老人或者叫Santa Claus最先在1653年被木刻下來，穿著傳統(tǒng)的紅白服飾，但是關(guān)于圣誕老人坐馴鹿拉的雪撬來，并且下到煙囪里給孩子送禮物的故事卻是來源于美國的。

Practically everyone sits down to a Christmas dinner in the early afternoon of Christmas Day, traditionally roast turkey, but some families prefer goose or roast beef. The turkey is followed by the Christmas pudding, brought to the table flaming hot. Brandy is poured over the pudding, then lit. After dinner, everyone relaxes by going for a walk, playing games, enjoying their presents or watching television.

實(shí)際上，人人都在圣誕節(jié)那天下午早早地坐下吃圣誕晚餐，烤火雞是傳統(tǒng)食物，但有些家庭更喜歡鵝或者烤牛肉。在圣誕布丁之后上的菜就是熱氣騰騰的火雞。白蘭地斟在布丁上，然后點(diǎn)燃。晚飯后，所有人都去散散步放松一下，玩玩游戲，賞玩他們的禮物或者看看電視。