15篇文章贯通大学英语四级CET4词汇第7篇
AHistoryofChristmas
ChristmasisthemostcheerfulandholyofholidaysintheChristianworld,wh ichboastsofanestimated1.8billionpeople.Althoughtheoriginofthisholiday waspurelyreligious,ithasevolvedintoahighlysecular(长期的,世俗的)celebrationeachyear.However,strongreligiouscomponentsarestillconve yedinvariouswayseachyear.Thetwoareintrinsically(本质上的,完全的)mixedinthemidstofmoderncommercialism(商业主义)andattachedto.
ChristmasdayfallonDecember25theachyear,celebratingthebirthofJesus Christ,thesonofacarpenterlivingovertwothousandyearsago.Christianity(基督教),themovementfollowingtheteachingsofChrist,rousedtheworldoverthenex tmanycenturies.ItissaidthatthefirstcelebrationofChristmastookplacein3 36A.D.inAncientRome.NooneseemstoknowforsureifDecember25thwasactuallyt hedateofChrist’sbirth,butitispossiblethatChristianleade rsinAncientRo mewantedtoreplacepagan(异教的)religiousholidaysthatoccurredaroundthesametime.
ManysecularsymbolsofChristmashaveemergedoverseveralcenturies.Sant aClaus,inhispresentform,isafairlyrecentdevelopmentwhereashisorigin,in part,goesbacktoRomantimes.
St.NicholaswasanearlyChristianBishop(主教)ofPataraoftheLycianseaport(inpresent-dayTurkey)inthe4thcenturyA.D. TheRomanEmperorDiocletian,whopersecutedChristians,imprisoned(监禁,关押)himbecausethepracticeofChristianitywasillegal.ThefirstChristianEmp erorofRome,Constantine,l aterreleasedhim.Nicholas’reputationforgenero sity(慷慨,大方),kindnessandmiraclesearnedhimawidespreadreputationandeventuallysai nthood(圣徒).Heissaidtohavebroughtbacklifetothechildrenwhohadbeenchoppedintopi ecesbytheirbutcherfather.Heisreputedtohaveplacedsomegoldcoinsinstocki ngs,hungbyafiretodrybythreepoorgirls.Hehadhopedthatthegirlswouldbeabl etousethemoneytomarrytoavoidlivingonprostitution(卖淫),thecommondestiny(命
运)ofsuchgirlsatthattime.Fromthisgesturecamethetraditionofemptyoversi ze(特大的)stockingshangingonfireplacesatChristmastimeforSantatofillwithlittl egifts.Fromtheseroots,thepresent-daySantaClausseemstohaveemerged.
InsomeEuropeancountries,theimageofFatherChristmasisidentifiedmore closelywithSaintNicholasthanwithSantaClaus.Theredandwhitesuit,thatSan tawears,issaidtohavecomefromthetraditionalcolorofearlyChristianBishop s’robes.Santa,flyinginasleigh(雪橇)pulledbyreindeer(驯鹿),andgoingdownchimneys,originated(起源)fromanAmericanpoemwritteninthe1820’s,anotherAmericanmadeanengravi ng(雕刻术)called“Santa’sWorkshop”inwhichSanta,isportrayed(描绘,描写)inalovelysunset,scratchinghischin,readinglettersandcheckingalistac tivitieswhichwasrevived(复苏,苏醒)everyyearinmusicandstoriestoldtochildrenduringtheyuletide(圣诞季节)(Christmas)season.EveryyearchildrenwriteletterstoSantaClausbeforeC hristmas,askinghimtobringfavoritetoys.
Santatraditionallynavigates(航海)thefrostynightskiesDecember24thwithoutusingacompassoracharttoploth iscourse.He,inhissleighpulledbyninereindeer,usuallylandsonslipperyslo pedroofs.Clumsily(笨拙的),withhisbigbagheapedwithtoysandslung(用带吊挂)overhisshoulder,hejumpsdownchimneyanddumpstoysunderChristmastrees. Giftsoftenincludeadollforalittlegirloratrainforalittleboy.Hedoesallof thiswithoutdisturbingtheinhabitants.Santathencrawlsverticallybackupth echimneysand,withoutatrace,fliesoff,exclaimingtheresoundingphra se,“M erryChristmastoall,goodnight”.HeisbackathishomeattheNorthPolebefored awnonChristmasmorning,tiredbutveryhappyafterhisveryspeedysweeparoundt heworld.Afterabigyawn,Santafallsasleep.
Christmascarols(圣诞颂歌),orChristmasreligioussongs,beganinthemiddleAgeswhenpeopledancedand sangreligioussongsonvillagegreens(centralgatheringareasinsmalltownsan dvillages)inAnglo-SaxonEngland.AChristmascaroltodayisareligioustunewi thoutthedanceassociatedwithit.
Astrongreligioustraditiontoday,asinothertimes,istogotochurchatmid nightofChristmasEveoronChristmasmorning.Apriestmaysaymass(inaCatholic