新概念早讀英語初中版 第22期:情人節(jié)

Valentine's Day

情人節(jié)

Valentine's Day is named for Saint Valentine,

瓦倫丁節(jié)(情人節(jié))是為紀(jì)念圣.瓦倫丁而命名的。

an early Christian churchman who reportedly helpedyoung lovers.

瓦倫丁是早期的一位基督教教士,傳說曾經(jīng)幫助過年輕的情侶們。

Valentine was executed for his Christian beliefs

瓦倫丁因信仰基督教被處死，

on February 14 more than 1700 years ago,

于1700多年前的2月14日。

but the day that has his name is even earlier than that.

但是情人節(jié)在他處死之前就以他的名字命名了。

More than 2000 years ago,the ancient Romans celebrated a holiday for lovers.

兩千多年前,古羅馬人為情侶們規(guī)定了一個(gè)節(jié)日。

As part of the celebration,

那天有一個(gè)活動是，

girls wrote their names on pieces of paper and put them in a large container

姑娘們把她們的名字寫在紙片上,然后放在一個(gè)大匣子里。

Boys reached into the container and pulled one out.

小伙子從匣子里摸出一張紙片，

The girl whose name was written on the paper

名字寫在那張紙上的姑娘，

became his lover of sweetheart for a year.

在一年內(nèi)就是他的情人。

Lovers still put their names on pieces of paper

情人們至今仍將他們的名字寫在紙片上，

and send each other Valentine's Day cards that tell of their love.

還相互寄送表達(dá)愛情的情人節(jié)卡片。

Sometimes they send gifts,like flowers or chocolate candy.

有時(shí)還寄贈禮物,如鮮花和巧克力糖片。

Americans usually send these gifts and cards through the mail system.

美國人通過郵政系統(tǒng)寄送這些禮物和卡片，

But some use another way to send this message.

但有些人也用另一種方式傳達(dá)他們的愛意。

They have it printed in a newspaper.The cost is usually a few dollars.

他們把表達(dá)愛意的詞句登在報(bào)紙上,費(fèi)用只需幾美元。

Some of these messages are simple and short:

有些詞語很簡短,如:

"Jane,I love you very much.Peter."

"簡,我非常愛你。彼得。"

Others say more.This one for example:"Dan Roses are red, violets are blue.

有些則說得多些.例如:"丹,玫瑰是紅的,紫羅蘭是藍(lán)的,

I hope you love me as much as I love you.Forever,Mary."

但愿你愛我像我愛你一樣.永遠(yuǎn)愛你的瑪麗。"

Most of the news- papers that print such messages are local,

登載這些愛情寄語的大多是當(dāng)?shù)貓?bào)紙，

but one,USA Today,

但是一份叫<今日美國>的報(bào)紙

is sold throughout the United States and 90 other countries as well.

在美國各地及其他90個(gè)國家發(fā)行。

This means someone can send a Valentine messages to a lover

這意味著人們可以在情人節(jié)將愛情寄語傳到情人那里，

in far away city or town almost anywhere in the world.

傳到世界上任何一個(gè)遙遠(yuǎn)城鎮(zhèn)。

These massages cost$80 and more.

而費(fèi)用需要80美元或更多。

An employee of the USA Today

<今日美國>的一個(gè)雇員

says readers can have a small heart or rose

說,現(xiàn)在讀者可以把一個(gè)小小的紅心和玫瑰，

printed along with their messages nowadays.

印在愛情寄語旁。

Will this kind of Valentine's Day message reach the one you love?

你所鐘愛的人能收到這樣的愛情寄語嗎?

Well,just make sure he or she reads the newspaper.

噢，你得肯定他或她是看這份報(bào)紙的。