美国人庆祝万圣节.docx

美国人庆祝万圣节 (Halloween) ：10月31日每到了10月31日，孩子和大人们都会打扮成魔鬼与妖精，或是公主与海盗的模样。许多美国人会穿着特别的服装来庆祝万圣节的常规习俗，同时也会说一些有关巫婆与鬼魂的故事。南瓜会被雕刻成烛光闪耀的南瓜灯 (jack-o-lantern) 。孩子们会挨家挨户的敲门，并且大叫：捣蛋或请客 (Trick or Treat) ，希望大人们能帮他们把袋子装满糖果。对那些参加活动的人来说，这一晚是相当有趣的；但是万圣节在美国的历史上却代表着黑暗的一刻。Every October 31, both children and adults slip into the night as ghouls and goblins, princesses and pirates. Many Americans celebrate the traditions of Halloween by dressing in costumes and telling tales of witches and ghosts. Pumpkins are carved into glowering jack-o-lanterns. Children parade from house to house, knocking on doors and calling out Trick or treat! hoping to have their bags filled with candy. It can be a night of fun for those who participate, but the history of Halloween in America has a darker side.美国人庆祝万圣节 (Halloween) ：10月31日在19世纪以及20世纪之初，万圣节的活动往往是捣蛋多余请客。许多制造麻烦的人会沿着市区街道大叫，或者乱按喇叭，也会任意破坏住家与公司商店。除了玩那些无伤大雅的小把戏外，有些爱开玩笑的人可能会造成很严重的不方便。政府往往会指派特别警察四处巡逻，将危害程度降到最低。For most of the 19th century and well into the 20th, Halloween was more trick than treat. Bands of mischief-makers roamed city streets and country roads blowing horns and vandalizing both residences and businesses. In addition to playing relatively harmless tricks, some pranksters caused major inconveniences. Often, special police were appointed to keep damage to a minimum. 7月4日美国独立纪念日你认为最盛大的美国假日是那一天？最重要且最独特的美国假日一定是七月四日的独立纪念日，即美国脱离英国，独立建国的那一天。你可能以为在1776年7月4日签署独立宣言后，它立刻成为一个国定假日，然而直到1812年战争 (War of 1812) 前，它都不是一个常规节日。在1870年代前，7月4日是日历上的一个最重要的非宗教性假日。在那一天，全国所有的城镇都会用游行、烤肉和烟火来庆祝。What do you think is the biggest American holiday? The most significant and uniquely American holiday would have to be the Fourth of July, the day when the United States celebrates its independence from Britain. You might think that it became a holiday immediately after the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, but actually it didnt become a tradition until after the War of 1812. By the 1870s, the Fourth of July was the most important nonreligious holiday on the calendar. All across the country, on that day, towns and cities held celebrations with parades, barbecues, and fireworks displays. 回到1870年代，依照来自于奥勒岗州波特兰的史宾赛 (Nettie Spencer) 的定义，7月4日是年度大事，节日包括了花车、乐团及演讲者游行。史宾赛说：首先，演讲者会向英国叫嚣、宣战，而且严厉指责英国国王并直呼他是一个臭鼬鼠。午后，我们会举行我们所谓的打击丑陋 (plug uglies) ，即以当天的政治主题为装饰重点的好笑花车和小丑。那时的7月4日使人联想到脱离英国独立所代表的意义。Back in the 1870s, the Fourth of July was the big event of the year, according to Nettie Spencer, a pioneer from Portland, Oregon. The holiday included a parade with floats, a band, and a speaker. First the speaker would challenge England to a fight and berate the King and say that he was a skunk. In the afternoon we had what we called the plug uglies-funny floats and clowns who took off on the political subjects of the day, said Spencer. At that time, the Fourth of July made people think about what it meant to be independent from Britain.7月4日美国独立纪念日自签署独立宣言后，已经经过了200年，而脱离英国独立有时看起来是如此的理所当然。今天，7月4日仍以与家人和朋友一起庆祝而闻名。假日的重要在于激发、创造各个事物，小自抒情诗“Yankee Doodle Dandy”(我是Yankee Doodle Dandy生于7月4日”)，大至电影，如独立纪念日“Independence Day”。美国的独立是我们国家的一个重要事件，而且我们将努力保护它，使其免受任何人 (或任何事) 的危害。More than 200 years have passed since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and our independence from Britain is sometimes taken for granted. Today, the Fourth of July holiday is still known for celebrations with family and friends. The holidays importance has inspired the creation of everything from the lyrics to Yankee Doodle Dandy (Im a Yankee Doodle Dandy .born on the Fourth of July.) to movies like Independence Day. Americas independence has always been an important aspect of our country, and we will protect it from anyone (or anything) who tries to challenge it. 美国国家图书节书能带你去任何你想去的地方。 美国自2001年起，每年都会举办国家图书节 (National Book Festival) ，赞助者是美国国会图书馆 (Library of Congress) 。此节日总能吸引数以万计的爱书人。这个庆祝书与阅读的节日是由第一夫人萝拉布什 (Laura Bush) 发起。今年，它的庆祝日为十月四日。 你认为图书节会发生什么事？ 美国国家图书节国家图书节中会发生许多既愉快又有趣的事。许多知名作家会出席此一庆祝活动，并在庆祝大会上朗读他们的书藉；甚至，你可能已经读过某些作家的作品了。小孩有机会遇见他们喜爱的作家，而且聆听说书人利用音乐、舞蹈和木偶戏所呈现出来的动人故事。Lots of fun and interesting things happen at this festival. Many famous authors attend, reading from their books. You may have even read some of these authors works. Kids have a chance to meet some of their favorite authors and hear storytellers who perform with music, dance, and puppetry. 美国国家图书节美国总统乔治布什 (George W. Bush) 的太太萝拉布什与国会图书馆长詹姆斯毕灵顿连袂主持国家图书节。布什夫人是每年举办一次的德州图书节 (Texas Book Festival) 的创办人。如果你不住在华盛顿特区，又不能够亲自参加该图书节，为什么不干脆造访你所住地区的图书馆并选读一本书？ 赶快到图书馆一游并印证、得知更多您在此网站内所看到、读到及听到的相关信息吧！Laura Bush, the wife of President George W. Bush, hosts the National Book Festival with the Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington. Mrs. Bush was the founder of the successful Texas Book Festival, which is held every year. If you dont l