Christmas or as the Germans call it “Weihnachten” is the most cheerful and important season of the year.

　　在德国，人们称之为“Weihnachten”的圣诞节是一年当中最热闹也是最重要的节日。

　　Families get together for a rich holiday dinner and to wait for Santa who brings the presents that night. Basically families exchange their gifts on the night of the 24th.

　　全家人会聚在一块ㄦ享用丰盛的晚餐，然后一起等待圣诞老人带着礼物的到来。 事实上也就是全家人在二十四号这天晚上互相交换礼物。

　　The Germans call the time from December 1st to December 24th “Adventszeit” which means the time before Christmas Eve.

　　从十二月一日至二十四日德国人称为“Adventszeit”，那是“圣诞夜前的等待”的意思。

　　Parents give their children calendars that count down the days. Every day in December they can open one of the doors and receive either a small candy or a toy. These calendars just make the wait to Christmas Eve a little easier.

　　父母亲会给他们的小孩一个倒数计时的月历，十二月的每一天，小孩们都可以打开月历上的一个小门，然后从中得到一个小糖果或礼物。 这样的月历只是要让小朋友们能够耐心的等待圣诞节的到来。

　　Very famous events are the Christmas Markets that take place throughout Germany. These Markets are little traditional houses lined up selling Christmas ornaments, candy, handmade jewelry, and so on. People from all over the world like to visit these markets and enjoy the atmosphere of Christmas.

　　其中一个德国著名的圣诞节活动是圣诞市场, 这种圣诞市场由传统房舍排成一列组合而成, 通常贩售一些圣诞饰品、糖果、手工珠宝等等。 参观的民众由世界各国而来, 享受着浓厚而温馨的圣诞气氛。

　　Another tradition is a wreath decorated with Christmas ornaments and 4 candles. People light up a candle every Sunday until Christmas Eve arrived. This is also part of the “Adventszeit”.

　　德国的圣诞节的另一个传统是在“Adventszeit”(“圣诞夜前的等待”)的这段期间，人们会在每个星期日点燃以圣诞花环和饰品装饰的四根蜡烛。

　　(文/高 哲；英语辅导报初中教师版04~05学年第24期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)