2023年涵蓋英語四級詞匯的合集文章

AHistoryofChristmasChristmasisthemostcheerfulandholyofholidaysintheChristianworld,whichboastsofanestimated1.8billionpeople.Althoughtheoriginofthisholidaywaspurelyreligious,ithasevolvedintoahighlysecular(長期的,世俗的)celebrationeachyear.However,strongreligiouscomponentsarestillconveyedinvariouswayseachyear.Thetwoareintrinsically(本質(zhì)上的,完全的)mixedinthemidstofmoderncommercialism(商業(yè)主義)andattachedto.ChristmasdayfallonDecember25theachyear,celebratingthebirthofJesusChrist,thesonofacarpenterlivingovertwothousandyearsago.Christianity(基督教),themovementfollowingtheteachingsofChrist,rousedtheworldoverthenextmanycenturies.ItissaidthatthefirstcelebrationofChristmastookplacein336A.D.inAncientRome.NooneseemstoknowforsureifDecember25thwasactuallythedateofChrist’sbirth,butitispossiblethatChristianleadersinAncientRomewantedtoreplacepagan(異教的)religiousholidaysthatoccurredaroundthesametime.ManysecularsymbolsofChristmashaveemergedoverseveralcenturies.SantaClaus,inhispresentform,isafairlyrecentdevelopmentwhereashisorigin,inpart,goesbacktoRomantimes.St.NicholaswasanearlyChristianBishop(主教)ofPataraoftheLycianseaport(inpresent-dayTurkey)inthe4thcenturyA.D.TheRomanEmperorDiocletian,whopersecutedChristians,imprisoned(監(jiān)禁,關(guān)押)himbecausethepracticeofChristianitywasillegal.ThefirstChristianEmperorofRome,Constantine,laterreleasedhim.Nicholas’reputationforgenerosity(慷慨,大方),kindnessandmiraclesearnedhimawidespreadreputationandeventuallysainthood(圣徒).Heissaidtohavebroughtbacklifetothechildrenwhohadbeenchoppedintopiecesbytheirbutcherfather.Heisreputedtohaveplacedsomegoldcoinsinstockings,hungbyafiretodrybythreepoorgirls.Hehadhopedthatthegirlswouldbeabletousethemoneytomarrytoavoidlivingonprostitution(賣淫),thecommondestiny(命運(yùn))ofsuchgirlsatthattime.Fromthisgesturecamethetraditionofemptyoversize(特大的)stockingshangingonfireplacesatChristmastimeforSantatofillwithlittlegifts.Fromtheseroots,thepresent-daySantaClausseemstohaveemerged.InsomeEuropeancountries,theimageofFatherChristmasisidentifiedmorecloselywithSaintNicholasthanwithSantaClaus.Theredandwhitesuit,thatSantawears,issaidtohavecomefromthetraditionalcolorofearlyChristianBishops’robes.Santa,flyinginasleigh(雪橇)pulledbyreindeer(馴鹿),andgoingdownchimneys,originated(起源)fromanAmericanpoemwritteninthe1820’s,anotherAmericanmadeanengraving(雕刻術(shù))called“Santa’sWorkshop”inwhichSanta,isportrayed(描繪,描寫)inalovelysunset,scratchinghischin,readinglettersandcheckingalistactivitieswhichwasrevived(復(fù)蘇,清醒)everyyearinmusicandstoriestoldtochildrenduringtheyuletide(圣誕季節(jié))(Christmas)season.EveryyearchildrenwriteletterstoSantaClausbeforeChristmas,askinghimtobringfavoritetoys.Santatraditionallynavigates(航海)thefrostynightskiesDecember24thwithoutusingacompassoracharttoplothiscourse.He,inhissleighpulledbyninereindeer,usuallylandsonslipperyslopedroofs.Clumsily(笨拙的),withhisbigbagheapedwithtoysandslung(用帶吊掛)overhisshoulder,hejumpsdownchimneyanddumpstoysunderChristmastrees.Giftsoftenincludeadollforalittlegirloratrainforalittleboy.Hedoesallofthiswithoutdisturbingtheinhabitants.Santathencrawlsverticallybackupthechimneysand,withoutatrace,fliesoff,exclaimingtheresoundingphrase,“MerryChristmastoall,goodnight”.HeisbackathishomeattheNorthPolebeforedawnonChristmasmorning,tiredbutveryhappyafterhisveryspeedysweeparoundtheworld.Afterabigyawn,Santafallsasleep.Christmascarols(圣誕頌歌),orChristmasreligioussongs,beganinthemiddleAgeswhenpeopledancedandsangreligioussongsonvillagegreens(centralgatheringareasinsmalltownsandvillages)inAnglo-SaxonEngland.AChristmascaroltodayisareligioustunewithoutthedanceassociatedwithit.Astrongreligioustraditiontoday,asinothertimes,istogotochurchatmidnightofChristmasEveoronChristmasmorning.Apriestmaysaymass(inaCatholic[天主教的]Church)orpreach(宣講教義)asermon(布道)aboutthesignificanceofthebirthofChrist.AnotherveryprominentsymbolofChristmasistheChristmastree.Thereareseveralexplanationsforitsorigin.OnestorysuggeststhatMartinLutherwaswalkingthroughawoodonaclearwinternightadmiringthebeautyofthebrightstarsglowingthroughthebranchesoftrees.Hedecidedtocutdownasmallevergreentreeandtakeithome.Heputcandlesinittorepresentthestarshehadseenearlierbecausehewantedtosharethatbeautifulimagewithhisfamily.Anotherstorytellsofthebringingofanevergreentreeinsidethehomeduringwintersolstice(至日,至點(diǎn))(December21st)symbolizingtherenewal(復(fù)活,復(fù)興)oflifeinthedeadofwinter.ItbecameassociatedwithChristmas,whichoccursonlyfourdayslater.TheChristmastreewasfirmlyestablishedasaChristmassymbolbytheGermanswhoeventuallybroughtittoAmerica.InVictorianEngland,peoplehungcakesandcandiesonitandlater,fruitmadeofpaperadorned(裝飾)thebranches.Moderncommercialtreedecorationsappearedinthe1880’satWoolworth’sDepartmentStoreintheUnitedStates,andelectricChristmastreelightsmadetheirdebut(初次登場)in1882.ThefirstChristmascardsweresentinthe1840’sinbothEnglandandAmerica.GiftgivingprobablystemsfromtheBiblewhereitiswrittenthatthreekings,bearinggiftsfromtheOrient(東方),visitedBethlehemwhenJesuswasborn.WeknowthatSt.Nicholasalsogavegifts.Alatertraditiondeveloped,wherebygiftsweregivenoneachofthetwelvedaysofChristmas,fromDecember25th,whenJesusallegedly(據(jù)說,傳說)wasborn,toJanuary6th,whenJesuswasapparentlybaptized(洗滌,實(shí)行浸禮)(theEpiphany).Thereisapopularsongcalledthe“TwelveDaysofChristmas”thatkeepsthistraditionaliveeachyear.

WeunderstandthatMacy’sDepartmentStoreinNewYorkCityintroducedtheannualChristmasorSantaClausParadeduringthe1880’s.Today,inlateNovember,orearlyDecember,aChristmasParadeisheldinalmosteverycityandtowninEuropeandAmerica.EarlyonthenightbeforeChristmas(ChristmasEve),childrenareencouragedtogotobedearlyiftheyexpectSantatocome.Theylaytheirheadsontheirpillowswithvisionsofwhatthenextdaywillbring.Santaisinvisibletochildrensincenoonehasactuallyseenhim,hissleigh,orreindeeronChristmasEve.OnChristmasDay,familiesusuallygettogetherforaroastgooseorturkey(火雞)dinnerservedwithmashed(壓碎的)potatoes,gravy(肉汁),cranberrysauce,andpieorpudding(一種甜點(diǎn)心)fordessert.Grown-upswillpouraglassortwoofwineorotherspirits(烈酒).Together,familieswillopenlyexchangegiftsandgratitude.Children,includingcousins,niecesandnephews,oftenkneelonthefloorinfrontofthetree,excitedlytryingtofindpresentswiththeirnamesonthem.Onthatday,warmreceptionsareextendedtoeveryone,friendorstranger.Formanymerchants,Christmashasbecometheeconomicboomseasonoftheyear.ItisestimatedthatamajorpercentageoftheannualyieldofrevenuefromsalesisgeneratedduringthemonthormoreofintenseChristmasshoppingbeforeChristmas.Asamatteroffact,therehasbeensomedebateforyearsthatChristmashasbecometoocommercializedandthatthetruemeaningofChristmasisgraduallydisappearing.Anescalating(逐步上升的)tendencyhasbeentobuymoreandmoreexpensivegiftseachyear.Somepeoplegointodebt,sometimesowingmorethantheycaneasilypayback.Somepeoplearepersonallybeginningtorethink(反思)thiscommercialapproachtoChristmas.However,toymanufacturersandtheircontemporariesinadvertisingmakeakillingduringthisperiod.Christmasshoppinghitsapeak(最高點(diǎn),頂峰)onBoxingDay,thedayafterChristmas,whenstoresoffergreatdiscountstounloadtheunsoldChristmasmerchandise(商品).Thisisusuallythebusiestshoppingdayoftheyear.Christmashasspreadfarandwideacrosstheglobe.MywifeandIlivedinBeijinglastyear.DuringtheChristmasseason,wesawmanyChristmasdecorationsandheardalotofwesternChristmasmusicindepartmentstores.ItseemedlittledifferentfromToronto,Canada.WecelebratedChristmasmuchaswewouldhaveinCanada,exceptthatweweren’twithourfamiliesinourhomesduringthatveryspecialfamily-orientedholidayseason.WehavegreatmemoriesofChristmasesofthepastandlookforwardtomanymoregreatChristmasmemoriesinthefuture.圣誕節(jié)的歷史圣誕節(jié)是號稱有大約18億教徒里的基督教世界里最快樂、最神圣的節(jié)日。盡管這個節(jié)日的起因純粹是宗教性的，但它已演變成了每年的非常世俗化的慶祝活動。不守，純粹宗教性的部分每年還是在以各種方式進(jìn)行著。兩者在現(xiàn)代重商主義中，很自然地融合在一起。圣誕節(jié)時值每年的12月25日，是耶穌基督的誕生慶典，他是兩千數(shù)年前的一個木匠的兒子?；浇?，這場追隨基督教義的運(yùn)動，在接下來的幾個世紀(jì)里影響了全世界。據(jù)說，圣誕節(jié)的第一次慶祝活動是在公元336年的古羅馬舉行的。仿佛沒有人能肯定12月25日就是基督的實(shí)際誕生日，而更有也許的是，古羅馬的基督教領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人想要以此取代幾乎同時舉行的異教徒的宗教節(jié)日。圣誕節(jié)的很多世俗象征已經(jīng)出現(xiàn)好幾個世紀(jì)了。現(xiàn)在這種形象的圣誕老人，可以說是最近才出現(xiàn)的。然而，他的起源卻可以部分追溯到古羅馬時代。圣·尼古拉斯是公元4世紀(jì)時利西亞海港的帕塔拉(在現(xiàn)今的土耳其)的一個初期的基督教主教。迫害基督教徒的羅馬皇帝戴克里以非法宣揚(yáng)基督教的罪名把他關(guān)進(jìn)了監(jiān)獄。后來，羅馬的第一位信仰基督教的皇帝康士坦丁釋放了他。尼古拉斯的慷慨、仁慈和圣跡為他贏得了廣泛的聲譽(yù)，最終被尊為圣徒。據(jù)說，他恢復(fù)了被他們那屠夫父親砍成碎片的孩子們的生命。還說他在三個可憐女孩掛起來用火烘烤的長襪子里放了一些金幣，希望這些女孩能用這些錢結(jié)婚，以免淪為妓女，而在那個時代，這種女孩的命運(yùn)大多就是這樣。在圣誕節(jié)，把特大號的空長襪掛在壁爐上面讓圣誕老人放一些小禮物的傳統(tǒng)，就來自這個故事。根據(jù)這些傳說，現(xiàn)代的圣誕老人的形象似乎顯現(xiàn)出來。在一些歐洲國家，圣誕老人的形象更多的是與圣·尼古拉斯聯(lián)系在一起，而不是與SantaClaus聯(lián)系在一起。圣誕老人穿的紅白相間的服裝，據(jù)說是來自初期基督教主教的長袍的傳統(tǒng)顏色。在馴鹿拉的雪橇上飛翔、從煙囪里下來的圣誕老人，源自19世紀(jì)2023代克萊門特·摩爾寫的一首美國詩“圣誕節(jié)的前夜”。19世紀(jì)60年代，另一個美國人制作了一幅版畫，叫做“圣誕老人的作坊”，上面的圣誕老人被描繪成在美麗的落日余暉下，撓著下巴，讀著信，檢查一份清單(每年在圣誕節(jié)以音樂和故事的形式反復(fù)告訴孩子們的各種活動都列在這份清單上)。每年，孩子們在圣誕節(jié)之前給圣誕老人寫信，請他帶來他們最喜歡的玩具。根據(jù)傳說，圣誕老人在12月24日深夜，在寒冷的夜空飛翔，不用使用指南針或者地圖來計(jì)劃他的路線。他坐在由九頭馴鹿拉著的雪橇上，在通常很滑的斜屋頂上降落。他笨拙地扛著一個裝滿玩具的大口袋，從煙囪里跳下來，把玩具倒在圣誕樹下。禮品中經(jīng)常有送給小女孩的一個洋娃娃，或送給小男孩的一輛小火車。他無聲無息地做著這一切，然后垂直向上從煙囪里爬回去，不留一點(diǎn)痕跡，飛走時大聲地說著那句人們熟知的話：“祝大家圣誕快樂，晚安”。在圣誕節(jié)清晨破曉之前，他回到在北極的家里。在全世界快速疾馳了一夜，很疲倦?yún)s非?？鞓贰４蛄艘粋€大呵欠后，圣誕老人就睡著了。圣誕節(jié)頌歌，也叫基督教宗教歌曲，始于中世紀(jì)時期。那時，在盎格魯撒克遜人的英格蘭，人們在鄉(xiāng)村草地上（小鎮(zhèn)或村莊的聚集中心）跳舞，唱宗教歌曲。今天的圣誕節(jié)頌歌只是一道宗教曲子，沒有與之相配合的舞蹈。今天的一項(xiàng)強(qiáng)烈的宗教傳統(tǒng)，像其他時期同樣，是在圣誕節(jié)前夕半夜或圣誕節(jié)上午去教堂做禮拜。牧師也許作彌撒（在天主教堂）或者布道宣講救世主誕生的重要性。圣誕節(jié)另一個顯著的象征是圣誕樹。關(guān)于它的起源有好幾種說法。有一個故事說，在一個清冷的冬季夜晚，馬丁路德走過一個樹林，十分驚羨明亮的星光灑過樹枝的美麗。他決定砍下一棵常青樹帶回家。他在樹上放上蠟燭代替他看到過的星星，由于他想與家人一起分享那美麗的景色。