聖誕節的由來 The Story of Christmas – 影片版

聖誕,英文是CHRISTMAS,美國韋氏辭典,認為這個字是由 CHREST + MASS 合成的,其意義是「基督祭典」,而英國牛津辭典亦做相同解釋。央格魯撒克遜語「聖誕」一句,也一樣是基督祭典之意。其他非英語系統國家,如法國語、西班牙 語、義大利語等,「聖誕」則有「生日」的意義。至於德國人,稱聖誕節為「聖誕季 」,但其原文則含有「聖夜」之意。聖誕節是一個普天同慶,人人皆歡樂的日子。

 

 

歐洲聖誕節的十個聖誕市集

關於歐洲聖誕節的十個聖誕市集,你最想去哪裡?

以下資料來源:https://buzzorange.com/vidaorange/2015/11/30/xmas-is-coming/

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進入12月,歐洲各國除了準備(或是已經)迎接一片白雪大地,各個聖誕市集也陸續展開囉,這時候來歐洲除了可以看到街上到處掛滿了美麗的燈、搭起了聖誕樹,也千萬別錯過了一年一度的聖誕市集,帶你融入濃濃的聖誕氛圍中!

德國-紐倫堡
舉辦期間:11月27 至12月24日
開放時間:10:00 am 至 8:00 pm

紐倫堡聖誕市集不但已經有長達400年的歷史,更是歐洲最為知名的聖誕市集!在這裡有許多當地人開的傳統手工藝品店,和古老的紐倫堡建築,走在這裡就像是走在童話故事中,好夢幻!逛累了別忘了來杯用「聖誕襪杯子」裝的Glühwein(熱葡萄酒)、品嚐一份剛好烤好的德國香腸!(延伸閱讀:非去不可 全歐洲最大的聖誕市集
詳細介紹於此:http://bit.ly/1ScyZms

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手工木製小裝飾品讓人看了目不轉睛。(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Ben Geach)

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紐倫堡的德式傳統建築讓人有種走在童話故事裡的錯覺。(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者charley1965)

法國-史特拉斯堡
舉辦期間:11月27 至12月31日
開放時間:每日10:00 am 至 8:00 pm

從巴黎出發,搭上法國高鐵(TGV)大約需要兩個半小時的車程才可抵達史特拉斯堡。這個歷史悠久的老市集,被票選為「歐洲第一」,並且每年政府都會在克萊柏廣場(Place Kléber)設置30公尺高的巨無霸聖誕樹,今年也不例外哦!因為受德國飲食文化影響,在市集中可以吃到一些德國小點,而寒冷的天氣中也能來杯溫熱的「熱紅酒」(Vin Chaud)暖暖身子!你還會發現這裡的攤販出現了長相可怕的「巫婆玩偶」,別嚇到!這可是史特拉斯堡的特殊傳統哦!
詳細節紹於此:http://bit.ly/1PHxSxi
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和史特拉斯堡來場聖誕邂逅吧!(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Nathan Hadley)
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(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者PROPug Girl)

捷克-布拉格
舉辦期間:11月28至2016年1月1日
開放時間:每日10:00 am 至10:00 pm

布拉格最重要的聖誕巿集在舊城廣場(Old Town Square)和溫徹拉斯廣場(Wenceslas Square),除了有著華麗的中世紀建築讓人大開眼界,聖誕市集中的每個攤位都是由小木屋所構成,十分可愛!請切記,不要吃飽飯再來哦。因為這地美食攤販和熱紅酒,多到絕對足夠你好好飽餐一頓!
詳細介紹於此:http://bit.ly/1N1AQGm
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廣場上的大聖誕樹(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Rob)
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以木造小屋搭建市集的攤販,別有一番風味!(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Marcus Povey)

比利時-布魯塞爾
舉辦期間:11月27至2016年1月3日
開放時間:周一至周四12:00am-9:00pm;周五12:00am-10:00pm;週六至周日:11:00am-10:00pm

與其他歷史雍久的市集比起來,布魯塞爾不過短短10多年的歷史,但在近2km的市區街道上,你可以看見滿滿的小棚子,販售各式各樣的聖誕用品,一路挑選有趣可愛的商品和品嚐比利時鬆餅、焦糖蘋果等美食,最後,再來到布魯塞爾最知名的市政廳廣場,欣賞那高聳的耶誕樹還有絕對不能錯過的「冬日奇蹟聲光秀 」(Plaisirs d’Hiver)
詳細介紹於此:http://bit.ly/1N5ByXw
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長長的街道有滿滿的店家和聖誕商品!(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Tineke)
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布魯塞爾的聖誕市集。(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Magnus Franklin)

奧地利-維也納
舉辦期間:11月13至12月26日
開放時間:每日9:00am-9:00pm

其實維也納市區內有著非常多大大小小的聖誕市集,但其中就屬屬市政府廣場前最具氣氛!可以在音樂之都優雅地挑選著屬於你的聖誕天使、木偶玩具,或是幾份專屬於過節的甜品,最後再來杯應景的耶誕甜酒,都是讓旅人難以忘懷的理想選擇。
詳細介紹於此:http://bit.ly/1jeew4u
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維也納聖誕市集是許多旅人到了奧地利的第一站!(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Gabriel Hess)
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你可以在此找到許多手工藝商品(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Otto Schlappack)
瑞士-巴塞爾
舉辦期間:11月28至12月23日
開放時間:每日11:00am-8:00pm

在市區的巴弗瑟廣場,你將可體會由100多棵閃亮亮耶誕樹與將近200個小木屋攤販所展現出來的浪漫氣氛,要吃的,有玩的都有!有別於其他市集都開到聖誕過後,巴塞爾聖誕市集在23號就結囉,對他們來說,重要的節日還是要留給重要的家人!
詳細介紹於此:http://bit.ly/1QBV7Jg
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巴塞爾當地市集在12月23就結束了哦!千萬別撲空!(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者bristley)
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來逛市集總會收集到好多有趣的小物!(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Liliana Fuchs)

西班牙-巴塞隆納
舉辦期間:11月28至12月23日
開放時間:周一至周五:10:30am-8:30pm;週六至周日:10:30am-9:30pm

這個具有兩百年歷史的聖誕市集,不但是觀光客的首選之地,連在地人也會到這裡採購聖誕節的裝飾品帶回家,增添屋內的聖誕氣氛!所以各式裝飾品、玩偶都是不可少的,並擁有許多只專屬於巴塞隆納氛圍的商品擺設。其中最有特色的就屬Tió de Nadal和Caganers最為出名!當地小朋友深信在聖誕夜時,邊唱歌邊比棍子敲擊他,Tió de Nadal就會變出他想要的聖誕禮物!而Caganers是一種便便人偶,因為其「嗯嗯」出來的天然肥料可以使農作物豐收,而被視為帶來好運的小物!別忘了買一個回家!
詳細介紹於此:http://bit.ly/1NJVThm
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能夠「嗯」出好運的便便人偶「Caganers」(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Ajuntament Barcelona)

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孩子們深信只要在聖誕夜敲打Tió de Nada並在他身邊跳舞,就會變出好吃的甜點和聖誕禮物!(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Jordi Boixareu)

英國-伯明罕
舉辦期間:11月12至12月22日
開放時間:每日10:00am-9:00pm

市集裡除了美食和漂亮的裝飾品,竟然還有遊樂設施!可以騎上旋轉木馬、搭上摩天輪來感受不同的聖誕節,不管大人或小孩享受在這個期間限定了聖誕樂園中!用各式各樣繽紛的霓虹燈點亮伯明罕的街頭氣氛,在這個紅磚街道的城市裡,體會屬於英國式的完美聖誕節。
詳細介紹於此:http://bit.ly/1SSxsC4
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攤位上賣著各種裝飾品,讓人好想帶回家放在書桌上啊!(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Bob Hall)

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聖誕市集裡的移動遊樂園!(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Tim Ellis)

德國-科隆
舉辦期間:11月23至12月23日
開放時間:每日11:00am-9:00pm

德國是聖誕市集的發源地,也算是歐洲聖誕市集數一數二多的國家!而觀光大城-科隆當然也少不了聖誕市集啦!除了有漂亮的大教堂,還有一共有超過7個市集分佈在城市的四周,面極大地讓人驚豔!來到這,一定要來份剛出爐的火雞肉搭配暖手的熱紅酒外,也別忘了試試沾有香濃蘋果泥醬的Reibekuchen,這種炸馬鈴薯餅可是當地人最愛的街道小吃之一,酸酸甜甜別有一番滋味,讓人光是想像口水都流下來了!
詳細介紹於此:http://bit.ly/1QXNkVr
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除了好吃、好買,也有許多表演活動!(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Matt)

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耐心等待(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Tracie Lee)

丹麥-哥本哈根 Tivoli 聖誕市集
舉辦期間:11月14至2016年1月3日
開放時間:每日11:00am-23:00pm

哥本哈根的Tivoli樂園為世界上最古老的遊樂園之一!就連迪士尼樂園的創建,也是由此為發想的哦!每年到了聖誕節,樂園內就像換了一件新衣裳,穿上了亮麗的燈飾,無論是觀光客或是本地人都一定要來此共度聖誕氣氛。特別的是,樂園內除了有安徒生和歐洲主題,甚至還有中國、日本式的遊樂設施哦,真是讓人看了會心一笑呢!
詳細介紹於此:http://bit.ly/1Nl0SKU

*注意!12月24、25日暫停營業兩天,因為老闆們要去過聖誕節啦!
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歐式的小木屋賣著各式各樣的商品。(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Nenyaki)
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在園區內看到中國式的建築,有種很奇妙的感覺!(圖片來源:Flikr cc授權作者Jacob Surland)

 

 

 

世界各國的傳統食物: 聖誕節

關於世界各國在聖誕節的傳統美食,我們特別翻譯外國網站的原文供大家參考。

資料來源:
http://www.healthcastle.com/food-traditions-around-world-christmas

Food Traditions Around the World: Christmas
世界各國的傳統食物
: 聖誕節
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來自全球的聖誕傳統美食
Some cultures celebrate the main Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, while others do so on Christmas Day. Here are the main foods eaten at these important holiday meals throughout the world.

有些文化主要在聖誕夜的聖誕晚宴來慶祝聖誕,而其他則是在聖誕節當天。以下是全世界在這些重要假主要享用的食物

Meat

Turkey is the centerpiece of Christmas dinners in the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and New Zealand. In Australia and New Zealand, the turkey (or other poultry) may be served cold or barbecued, as Christmas falls in the middle of their summer.
Goose is the traditional Christmas dinner meat in Austria and Denmark.

In the Czech Republic, Christmas dinner features fried carp.

Ham is the Christmas meat of choice in Finland and Sweden.

In Honduras and the Philippines, the main meat dish at Christmas dinner is roast pork.

In Southern Italy, fried eel is served on Christmas Eve, while lamb or fish is served on Christmas Day.

In Norway, the traditional Christmas dinner meats are pork belly or mutton ribs.

In Portugal, families gather to eat boiled salted codfish.
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火雞在美國、加拿大、澳洲和紐西蘭的聖誕晚餐,是被擺在餐桌正中間的食物。在澳洲和紐西蘭,火雞(或者其他家禽)可能會被做成冷盤或者燒烤,因為聖誕節來臨時正好是他們的盛夏。

鹅在奧地利和丹麥是傳統的聖誕晚餐肉食。

在捷克,聖誕晚餐的特色是炸鯉魚

火腿是芬蘭和瑞典在聖誕肉品的選擇

在宏都拉斯和菲律賓,聖誕節晚餐主要的肉食是烤豬肉

在南義大利,烤鰻魚會在聖誕夜時端上桌,而龍蝦或者魚則是在聖誕節時供應。

在挪威,傳統的聖誕晚餐肉食是五花肉或者羊肋排

在葡萄牙,家族會聚在一起吃水煮鹽漬鱈魚

其他主食

Tamales are featured at Christmas dinners in Honduras and Mexico. Tamales are made from corn dough with meat and vegetables, all boiled or steamed in a leaf wrapped that is discarded before eating.

In many Eastern European countries, a twelve-dish meat-free dinner is served on Christmas Eve, with each dish representing one of the twelve Apostles. Meat, eggs, and dairy are forbidden because Christmas Eve is a strict fasting day as part of the orthodox Nativity Fast period.

In the Netherlands, families gather for gourmetten, a long meal similar to a fondue party. Using a special “gourmet set," each person cooks and seasons his or her own meal in a tiny pan. The host prepares chopped vegetables and meats for the guests to choose from.

玉米粉蒸肉在宏都拉斯和墨西哥是聖誕晚餐的主食。玉米粉蒸肉是用玉米粉混肉和蔬菜做成,用葉子包起水煮或者清蒸,食用前再把葉子丟棄。

在很多東歐國家,在聖誕夜會擺上12道無肉料裡做晚餐,每一道各代表十二位門徒之一。肉、蛋和奶是被禁止的,因為聖誕夜在正統降臨期是嚴格的禁食日。

甜點

Christmas pudding (also called plum pudding even though it contains no plums) is a tradition in England and countries with close historical ties to England, like Canada and Australia. It is a heavy dessert made of dried fruit, spices, sugar, and fat (often suet or lard). It’s the dessert served by Mrs. Crachit at the end of A Christmas Carol.

聖誕布丁(也稱葡萄乾布丁即使他並不含葡萄乾)對英格蘭以及其他和英格蘭有歷史淵源的國家,像加拿大和澳洲來說,是一道傳統甜點。口位偏重的甜點,用乾燥的果肉、香料、糖和油脂(常常是羊油或者豬油)。這是一道在聖誕頌歌(小氣財神)最後,由克瑞奇夫人端上的一道甜點。

In Denmark, they serve risalamande, a type of rice pudding mixed with whipped cream and almonds and topped with cherry sauce. One whole almond is placed in the dessert, and the person who finds it wins a small gift.  Variations of this dessert are also served in Sweden and Norway.

Marzipan, a sweet almond paste, features in desserts (on its own or in baking) in Germany, Italy, and Peru. It is also used in German stollen, a sweet, fruitcake-like bread with marzipan inside. In Peru, it is made from brazil nuts instead of almonds.

In Italy, the feature dessert of the Christmas season is pannetone, a sweet cake-like bread made with candied fruits. Pannetone is also served in some South American countries, including Brazil and Peru.

在丹麥,他們以櫻桃杏仁布丁來慶祝,這是一種米布丁混合打發鮮奶油和杏仁,然後在最上層塗上櫻桃醬。一整顆杏仁放在甜點內,發現的人就可以獲得一份小禮物。在瑞典和挪威也已不同的變化呈現這道甜點。

杏仁糖膏,一種甜杏仁膏,在德國、義大利和秘魯很有名(無論是直接吃或者烤過再吃)。他也被用作德國的果子甜麵包,一種很像水果蛋糕的麵包裡面包著杏仁糖膏。在秘魯,這種甜點不用杏仁而是用來自巴西的果仁做成。

在義大利,聖誕節慶的特色甜點就是水果麵包,是一種很像蛋糕包著水果的麵包。水果麵包也可在南美國家,包含巴西和秘魯見到

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35個奇妙的聖誕節傳統

關於35個奇妙的聖誕節傳統,我們特別翻譯外國網站的原文供大家參考。

資料來源 https://www.lovehomeswap.com/blog/places-and-spaces/35-bizarrest-christmas-traditions

We know that not everyone celebrates Christmas in the same way. Different countries have their own traditions – and some of them are truly bizarre.
Christmas comes but once a year.  We’ve gone away and handpicked the weirdest Christmas traditions from around the word.  From deep fried caterpillars to rotting birds, here are the world’s most unusual festive rituals.

我們知道不是所有人都用一樣的方式慶祝聖誕節。不同國家有不同的傳統,而有一些是非常有趣的。
聖誕節是ㄧ年一度,我們特別選了一些來自世界各國奇怪的聖誕傳統。從油炸的毛毛蟲到腐敗的鳥兒,這裡有世界最特殊的慶典儀式。

 

  1. South Africa非洲
    This festive South African delicacy is not for the faint hearted-on Christmas Day, Locals tuck into the deep-fried caterpillars of the Emperor Moth.
    在熱鬧的非洲慶典,沒勇氣的人是優雅不來的- 在聖誕節當天,當地人會大吃油炸的帝王蛾毛毛蟲
  2. Austria奧地利
    Austrian children live in fear of Krampus-a Christmas devil who’s said to beat naughty children with branches.
    奧地利兒童都很怕魔鬼Krampus,傳說有個聖誕惡魔會用樹枝抽打調皮的小孩

3.Catalonia加泰隆尼亞
       Catalonians include the figure of the Caganer in their nativity scenes- a small figure of a defecating man.
加泰隆尼亞把便便人偶- 也就是一個作勢在排便的人偶,放進耶穌誕生圖裡

4.Catalonians加泰隆人
Catalonians also have the Tió de Nadal, otherwise known as the “pooping log”.  Decorated with a face and blanket, on Christmas Eve the log is placed halfway into a fire and beaten with sticks.
加泰隆人還有另一個聖誕人偶,也是一個便便人偶。用臉和圍巾裝飾,在聖誕夜的時候被掛在火中用樹枝抽打。

5.Norway挪威
There’s no cleaning on Christmas Eve in Norway- all brooms are safely hidden away, in case they’re stolen by witches and evil spirits.挪威的聖誕夜是不打掃的,所有的掃把都被藏的好好的,以免被女巫或者惡靈偷走。

6.Japan日本
Advertising can be incredibly powerful.  Thanks to a campaign in 1974, many Japanese families eat at KFC on Christmas Eve.
廣告大肆播放。感謝1974年的大選,很多日本家庭在聖誕夜都會吃肯德雞

7.Venezuela委內瑞拉
Venezuelans attend Mass in the run-up to Christmas.  However, Caracas residents have developed a strange tradition- journeying to Mass on roller skates.
委內瑞拉人以跑步參加彌撒來迎接聖誕。然而,卡拉卡斯居民發展成一個奇特的傳統,以溜滑輪來參加彌撒。

8.Greenland格林蘭島
Greenland has some unusual Christmas recipes.  Matak is raw whale skin, served with blubber.  Kiviak is 500 dead auk birds, stuffed into a seal skin, and left to ferment for 7 months.
格林蘭島有一些特殊的聖誕節食譜。馬特卡是一道生鯨肉佐鯨油脂。醃海雀是用500隻死去的海雀,塞進海豹皮,然後放著發酵七個月。

9.Germany德國
Germans hide a pickle in the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve- the first child to discover it in the morning receives a small gift.
德國人在聖誕夜藏一條酸黃瓜在聖誕樹上,第一個在早上找到的小孩就可獲得一份小禮物。

10.New Zealand紐西蘭
Rather than using the traditional conifer, New Zealanders decorate Pōhutukawa trees at Christmas.
有別於使用傳統的針葉樹,紐西蘭人在聖誕節用高鐵心木來裝飾聖誕樹。

11.Portugal葡萄牙
Consoda is a traditional Christmas morning feast in Portugal.  This is a time for remembering the dead, and families lay places for the souls of their late loved ones.
Consoda在葡萄牙是一種傳統的聖誕節早宴。這是一個緬懷逝者以及該年過世的家人,希望他們靈魂得到安息。

12.Germany德國
German children leave a shoe outside the house on December 5th, which is then filled with sweets overnight.  Naughty children awake to find a tree branch in the shoe instead.
德國的小孩在12月5號當天把一只鞋子留在房子外面,過了一個晚上就會被甜食塞滿。頑皮的小孩就必須在樹枝上找鞋子。

13.Ukraine烏克蘭

Ukrainians forego tinsel and baubles, instead decorating their Christmas trees with an artificial spider and web.
烏克蘭人不用金箔和彩球,他們用人造蜘蛛網來裝飾他們的聖誕樹。

14.Czech Republic捷克

In the Czech Republic, unmarried women stand by a door and throw a shoe over their shoulder- if the toe is pointing towards the door when it lands, they will get married within the next year.
在捷克,還沒結婚的女性會在站在門邊,把鞋子往上拋過肩,假如鞋尖在落下時朝著門,他們就會在隔年之內結婚。

15.Estonia愛沙尼亞
On Christmas Eve, Estonian families traditionally head to the sauna together.
在聖誕夜,愛沙尼亞的家庭傳統會一起去洗蒸氣浴。

16.Wales威爾斯
Mari Lwyd is performed in some Welsh villages on Christmas Eve.  A villager is chosen to parade through the streets, bearing the skull of a mare on the end of a stick.
瑪莉格雷在聖誕夜一些威爾斯村莊中表演。會選出一個村民,掛著母馬的頭顱,另一端用樹枝撐著,在街上遊行。

17.Iceland冰島
The Yule Cat is said to stalk the Icelandic hills.  Those who don’t receive new clothes before Christmas Eve are said to be devoured by this mythical beast.
傳說有耶誕貓在冰島的山丘出沒。那些沒有在聖誕夜前收到新衣服的人,會被這個神祕的野獸吃掉。

18.Sweden瑞典
Since 1966, authorities in Gävle have installed a straw Swedish Yule Goat.  However, almost every other year, vandals have succeeded in burning it down.
從1966年開始,政府當局在耶夫勒用稻草設置一座聖誕羊 (耶夫勒羊)。然而,幾乎每一年,都會被破壞者成功燒毀。

19.Another Swedish tradition involves festive rice pudding. A peeled almond is hidden in the dessert, and the person who finds it will supposedly be married within a year.
另一個瑞典的傳統是和慶典的米布丁有關。一顆去皮的杏仁會被藏在甜點裡,發現的人據說會在一年內結婚。

20.Great Britain大不列顛

An age-old tradition dictates that each member of the family must stir the Christmas pudding mix in a clockwise direction before it’s cooked, making a wish as they do so.
有一個流傳已久的傳統,家庭的每個成員在聖誕節,都要在布丁烹煮前順時針攪拌一下布丁,然後一邊許下願望。

21.Italy義大利
Rather than Snta Claus, Italian children await the arrival of Befana, a friendly witch who delivers sweets and toys on the fifth of January.
義大利小孩不是等聖誕老人,而是等待貝方娜- 一個會發送甜點和玩具的親切女巫,在1月5號的到來。

22.Ethiopia衣索比亞
Ethiopians celebrate Christmas on January 7th.  People wear white clothes, and the men play ganna- a fast-paced game with sticks and wooden balls.
衣索比亞人在1月7號這天慶祝聖誕節。人們會穿著白衣服,男生會玩ganna- 一種用木棒和木球節奏快速的遊戲

23.Latvia拉脫維亞
In Latvia, a group of “mummers”, dressed in a variety of costumes, travel from house to house.  Each household must give them a treat in return for a blessing.
在拉脫維亞,有一群啞劇演員,穿著各式各樣的戲服,逐門逐戶的拜訪。每一戶都必須給他們一些東西作為祝福。

24.Guatemala瓜地馬拉
Guatemalans sweep out their houses before Christmas.  Each neighborhood will then create a large pile of dirt, before placing an effigy of the devil on top, and burning it
瓜地馬拉人在聖誕節前會大掃除。左鄰右舍會將灰塵聚成一堆,再把代表惡魔的肖像放在最上面,然後燒掉

25.Cuba古巴
Every December, Cuban city Remedios plays host to the Parrandans festival.  The city divides into two halves, each building a themed sculpture from light bulbs, in preparation for Christmas Eve.
每一年12月,古巴城雷梅迪奧斯會舉辦帕朗達節饗宴。整座城市會區分為兩半,每個建築物用燈泡裝飾成不同的主題雕像,迎接聖誕夜。

26.Bavaria巴伐利亞
In Bavaria, a noisy Christmas tradition has taken hold.   Wearing the national costume of lederhosen, Bavarian Highlanders fire mortars into the air.
在巴伐利亞,熱鬧的聖誕節已行之有年。穿著民族服飾的皮短褲,在巴伐利亞高地將迫擊砲射向空中

27.Greece希臘
The Kallikantzaroi, a race of evil goblins, lurk underground according to Greek legend.  During the 12 days of Christmas they supposedly surface, wreaking havoc.
小妖精,根據希臘傳說,是潛伏在地底下邪惡精靈的一族。在聖誕節的12天當中,他們可能會露面,帶來浩劫。

28.Slovakia斯洛伐克
In Slovakia, the most senior man of the house takes a spoonful of loksa pudding and throws it at the ceiling- the more that sticks, the better.
在斯洛伐克,一家之中最年長的人會盛一匙洛克薩布丁,然後丟向天花板,黏的越牢表示越好。

29.Japan日本
White Christmas cards are sent to friends and family.  Red cards, however, are to be avoided- this is traditionally the color of funeral announcements.
白色聖誕卡會寄送給家人朋友。但是紅色的卡片則是禁忌- 這在傳統上是用來告知喪禮的顏色。

30.Canada加拿大
Canada Post recognizes the address Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada, HOHOHO.  Any letters received bearing this address are both opened and replied to.
加拿大郵政承認聖誕老公公的住址,北極-加拿大-HO HO HO。任何接獲此住址寫來的信都會被開啟並回覆。

31.Finland芬蘭
Finnish people traditionally mark Christmas with a touching tribute to the dead.  Families light candles at the graves of their departed loved ones, making Finnish graveyards a beautiful sight.
芬蘭人會在聖誕卡上寫下對死者感人的敬詞。家人會在他們逝去親友的墓碑上點上蠟燭,讓芬蘭墓地城為一個漂亮的景緻。

32.Icelan冰島
Icelandic children leave a shoe on their bedroom windowsills during the 12 days of Christmas.  Each night, it’s filled with sweets or gifts, ready to be enjoyed in the morning.
冰島小孩在聖誕節的12天期間,把一只鞋子放在臥房窗台。每一晚,都會被塞滿糖果或禮物,一早就能享用。

33.England英格蘭
Santa Claus traditionally leaves presents in a child’s stocking on Christmas Eve.  However, naughty children may wake up on Christmas morning to find a lump of coal in their stockings.
聖誕老人傳統上會在聖誕夜把禮物放在孩子們的長襪。但是,頑皮的孩子可能會在聖誕節早上醒來發現,他們的襪子裡被放了一塊煤炭。

34.South Africa南非
South African children are told the story of Danny, a young boy who angered his grandmother by eating the cookies that had been left for Santa.  In her range she killed him, and he is said to haunt homes at Christmas
南非的小孩都知道一個Danny的故事,是一個小男孩因為對奶奶生氣,吃了她留給聖誕老人的蛋糕。奶奶居然殺了他,而他的鬼魂據說會在聖誕節出沒在家鄉。

35.USA美國
美國創辦了一個叫做”聖誕老人狂追”暢飲聖誕傳統。每個會場都看見大批人群打扮成聖誕老人,在大型的酒吧裡舉行。
Americans have created a boozy Christmas tradition called The Running of the Santas.  Each event sees scores of people- dressed as Santa- taking part in a large bar crawl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

節禮日

關於節禮日的由來,我們特別翻譯外國網站的原文供大家參考。

以下翻譯自:http://didyouknow.org/christmas/

December 26 was traditionally known as St. Stephen’s Day, after the first Christian martyr. It is now more commonly known as Boxing Day. This expression came about because money was collected in alms-boxes placed in churches during the festive season. This money was then distributed to the poor and needy after Christmas.
It is thought the Boxing Day was first observed in the Middle Ages. It found renewed popularity in the 19th Century when the lords and ladies of England presented gifts in boxes to their servants on December, 26 in appreciation of the work they had done over the Christmas celebrations.
If December 26 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, Boxing Day takes place on the Monday.

12月26號在第一個基督教徒殉難之後,傳統上被視為是聖斯蒂芬日。現在多被認定為節禮日。其由來是因為慶典期間,金錢被收集在放置於教堂的救濟盒。這些錢在聖誕過後被用來發配給窮困人家。
節禮日被認為始於中古時期,在19世紀當英格蘭貴族和仕女以盒子裝盛禮物,於12月26號贈送給他們的僕人,以勞他們為了聖誕慶典所做的工作時再度流行。
如果12月26號當天剛好是星期六或者星期日,節禮日就會改為星期一舉行。

 

精靈的名字

關於精靈的名字的由來,我們特別翻譯外國網站的原文供大家參考。

以下翻譯自:http://didyouknow.org/christmas/

In the pagan times of Scandinavia, people believed that house gnomes guarded their homes against evil. Although these gnomes mostly were benevolent, they quickly could turn nasty when not properly treated, so it is told. Throughout the centuries, they were either loved or loathed. Some people even believed them to be trolls and cannibals. The perception of gnomes largely depended on whether a person was naughty, or nice.
When Christmas became popular again as a festive season in the middle-1800s, Scandinavian writers such as Thile, Toplius, Rydberg sketched the gnomes’ true role in modern life: fairies that are somewhat mischievous, but the true friends and helpers of Father Christmas (Santa Claus). They are the Christmas elves. Artists such as Hansen and Nystrm completed the picture of elves for us.

在益教徒時期的Savukoski郡,人們相信房屋的土地神對抗惡靈,守護著他們的屋子。即使這些土地神多半是仁慈的,傳說中他們如果沒有被善待,很容易變的棘手。幾個世紀以來,他們不是被喜愛就是被憎恨。有些人甚至相信他們是侏儒或者食人族。對於土地神的任制大多取決於一個人是頑皮的或者和善的。

當聖誕在1800年中度時期再次成為一個受歡迎的節慶假期,斯堪的納維亞作者像Thile, Toplius和Rydberg用現代人生來描繪土地神的真實角色: 仙子是淘氣的,但他們是耶誕老人真正的朋友和幫手。他們就是耶誕精靈。Hansen和Nystrm等藝術家則為我們完成了精靈的畫作。

麋鹿的名字

關於麋鹿的名字的由來,我們特別翻譯外國網站的原文供大家參考。

以下翻譯自:http://didyouknow.org/christmas/

Rudolph is the most famous reindeer. He is the leader of the other 8, whose names are Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Dasher, Donder, Prancer, and Vixen.

The names of the 8 reindeer were published by Clement Clark Moore, an American poet and professor of theology, in his 1822 poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas.” Rudolph was first written about only in 1939 by Robert May, who included him in a story for the Montgomery Ward Christmas catalog. (Of course, the elves knew their names long, long before Moore and May did.)
The reindeer are cared for by one of the Christmas elves, Wunorse Openslae. He also designed Father Christmas’s sleigh and maintains it for top performance.

Rudolph魯道夫是最有名的麋鹿名。他是其他麋鹿- Blitzen閃電、Comet,彗星、Cupid邱比特、Dancer舞者、Dasher猛衝、Donder唐德、Prancer騰躍以及Vixen雌孤。
這八隻麋鹿的名字是由Clement Clark Moore,一個美國的詩人以及神學專家1822年的詩作”來自St. Nicolas的造訪”。 Rudolph只在1939年被Robert May,在Montgomery Ward (郵購公司)的聖誕目錄中第一次被提及(當然,我們知道精靈比Moore和May更早更早知道麋鹿的名字)。
麋鹿是由第一個聖誕精靈Wunorse Openslae所照顧。他也設計了第一個聖誕雪橇,並且長期維護他,以保持雪橇頂尖的表現。

 

有名的聖誕麋鹿

關於有名的聖誕麋鹿的由來,我們特別翻譯外國網站的原文供大家參考。

以下翻譯自:http://didyouknow.org/christmas/

At one stage it was thought that Father Christmas (Santa Claus) lives in the North Pole. In 1925 it was discovered that there are no reindeer in the North Pole. But there are lots in Lapland, Finland. So today we know that the reindeer live around the secret village of Father Christmas and the elves somewhere on the Korvatunturi mountain in the Savukoski county of Lapland, Finland, which is on the Finnish-Russian border.
Long ago, Father Christmas and the elves discovered the special formula of Magical Reindeer Dust which make them fly. This dust is sprinkled on each of the reindeer shortly before they leave on Christmas Eve. It gives them enough magic to fly right around the world. They can fly very fast: at about the speed of a Christmas light.

有一個時期,聖誕老人被認為是住在北極。在1925年發現北極並沒有麋鹿的存在。但是在芬蘭的拉普蘭卻有很多。因此,今日我們知道麋鹿是住在聖誕老人的神秘村落,而精靈是在芬蘭拉普蘭Savukoski郡的耳朵山(Korvatunturi)上,也就是在芬蘭和俄羅斯的交界。
很久以前,聖誕之父還有精靈發現了神奇的麋鹿粉可以讓麋鹿飛翔。這個粉在聖誕夜麋鹿離開前,用來撒在每隻麋鹿身上,讓麋鹿有神力可以飛躍全世界。他們可以飛的很快,大概是聖誕光芒一樣的速度

聖誕拐杖糖

關於聖誕拐杖糖的由來,我們特別翻譯外國網站的原文供大家參考。

以下翻譯自:http://didyouknow.org/christmas/

Christmas candy cane
The Christmas candy cane, shaped as a shepherds’ crook, represents the humble shepherds who were first to worship the new-born Christ.

Legend has it that the candy cane was invented in 1670 by a choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral who handed out the bent sugar sticks among children to keep them quiet during the long Living Crèche ceremony.

聖誕拐杖糖

聖誕拐杖糖以牧羊人的拐杖為造型,代表謙卑的牧羊人是第一批祭祀耶穌重生的人。

聖誕禮物

關於聖誕禮物的由來,我們特別翻譯外國網站的原文供大家參考。

以下翻譯自:http://didyouknow.org/christmas/

Christmas gifts

Gifts were exchanged in the Roman ceremonies of Saturnalia, the festivities of solstice, the origin of our Christmas celebrations. We know the exchanging of gifts best from the three magi mentioned in the Bible. But as mentioned in the History of Christmas, during the previous centuries Christmas was a solemn affair. Religious puritans reminded Christians that the Magi gave gifts only to Jesus, not to His family or to each other. But since the celebration of Christ’s birth was incorporated with the solstice festivities outside the official church, and since Christmas really became widely popular during the last century, it has become a commercial phenomenon.
The first mention Christmas stockings being hung from or near a chimney were made only earlier this century by the illustrator, Thomas Nast, through his pictures and the writer, George Webster, in a story about a visit from Santa Claus. The story quickly caught on.
During World War II it was necessary to mail Christmas gifts early for the troops far way. Merchants joined in the effort to remind the public to shop early and the protracted shopping season was born.

聖誕禮物

在羅馬農神節的冬至慶典,也就是聖誕節慶祝的起始,會交換禮物。我們知道最開始的禮物交換是聖經上提到的三博士。但如同聖誕節歷史中提到,在前幾世紀,聖誕節是一個莊嚴的事件。
宗教的清教徒憶起基督徒三博士只有給耶穌禮物,並沒有給其家人或者其他人。但因為耶穌誕生的慶典和其他非正式教堂的冬至慶典是合併舉行的,加上耶誕節在前一世紀已廣為盛行,這已經成為一個商業現象。
聖誕襪被掛在靠近煙囪一說最早出現在本世紀的一個插畫家Thomas Nast,透過他的畫作以及作者- George Webster 在一個故事中提到聖誕老公公來訪。這個故事很快被傳開。