The Best of the Exotic

It is a world that keeps alive the sense of continuing creation and of the relentless drive of life.Each time that I enter it,I gain some new awareness of its beauty and its deeper meanings.

這個世界時刻展現的都是一派生命不息、造物不止的景象。每次我走進這個世界，都會對它的美麗和意蘊平添幾分更新、更深的認識。

諾丁山狂歡節

Notting Hill Carnival

The Notting Hill Carnival of London is the second biggest carnival[1] in the world and the biggest street festival in Europe!It is always on the last Sunday and Monday in August which is a Bank Holiday（a public holiday）in the United Kingdom.On Sunday there is the Children's Carnival.The Carnival takes place in Notting Hill,West London.

When did the first Carnival take place?

In the 1950's people from the Caribbean,and in particular from Trinidad,emigrated to Britain.They took their customs and traditions with them.

People remembered the great Carnivals held in the West Indies and in 1964 a street festival took place in Notting Hill.

There were few people in costume[2] dancing in the streets and carrying steel drums in this first festival.However,it was a great success.Since then Carnival has taken place every year in Notting Hill and it has grown into an enormous[3] multicultural arts festival.

Carnival celebrations normally take place before Easter,in the month of March.However,in Britain the celebrations take place in August when the weather is warmer.During the year the West Indian families prepare their beautiful costumes and practice playing their steel drums.They also work on their floats.

On the days of Carnival,Notting Hill is full of colour,excitement,music,noise and people.About two million people go to Carnival every year!

People with wonderful costumes dance in the streets and steel bands play Calypso,the traditional music of the West Indies.

They also play Soca,the traditional music of Carnival,a mixture of Soul and Calypso.

It is also possible to hear reggae,hip-hop and jazz.A parade with colourful floats travels seven and a half kilometers through the streets of London.There is a prize for the best float.It is sometimes almost impossible for the public to walk along the streets—the only way to move is to dance!

In the streets food vendors[4] sell meat and vegetable patties,salted fish and other delicious West Indian specialities.

Everyone has a good time!

文化小課堂

諾丁山狂歡節，每年8月底的最后一個周末在英國倫敦諾丁山地區舉行的街頭文化節，以非洲和加勒比的地區文化為主題。狂歡節共舉行3天，規模僅次于巴西里約熱內盧狂歡節，起源于1964年，是歐洲規模最大的街頭文化藝術節。

倫敦的諾丁山狂歡節是世界上第二大狂歡節，同時也是歐洲最盛大的街頭節日！該節日定于8月的最后一個星期日和星期一，正值聯合王國的銀行假日（一種公共節日）。星期天的狂歡屬于孩子們。整個狂歡節在倫敦西部的諾丁山舉行。

第一次狂歡節是什么時候呢？

20世紀50年代，加勒比海地區——尤其是特立尼達島地區的人們移民到英國，帶去了自己的風俗和傳統。

人們不能忘記在西印度群島舉行的盛大狂歡節，也不會忘記1964年在諾丁山舉辦的一次街頭節日。

第一次狂歡節時，只有少數人穿著民族服裝在街上載歌載舞，一邊擊打著鋼鼓。不過，這一次狂歡節非常成功。自此，諾丁山上每年都會舉辦狂歡節，后來逐漸演變成一種盛大的多元文化藝術節。

狂歡節通常都是在復活節之前舉行，也就是3月。而英國的狂歡節卻在8月，因為此時的天氣逐漸回暖。來自西印度群島的家庭會花費整年的時間來準備漂亮的服裝，還會練習鋼鼓。同時，他們還要裝扮彩車。

每逢狂歡節，諾丁山總是色彩斑斕，歌舞喧騰，熱鬧非凡。每年大概會有200萬人參加這里的狂歡節！

身著漂亮舞蹈服的人們在街上跳舞，鋼鼓樂隊會演奏西印度的傳統歌曲卡利普索。

他們還會演奏狂歡節的傳統音樂，也就是混合了靈樂和卡利普索名歌的靈卡樂。

同時，在狂歡節上還有可能聽到瑞格舞曲、嘻哈和爵士，還會有彩車列隊沿著倫敦的街道游行7.5公里。而表現最佳的彩車還能贏得獎賞。有時，人群想要步行通過這些街道幾乎不大可能——唯一的移動辦法就是跳舞！

在街道上，還有小貨攤販賣肉餡兒和蔬菜餡兒的餡餅、咸魚，以及其他美味的西印度特產。

人人都盡興而歸！

注釋

[1]carnival['kɑ:n?vl] n.狂歡節；嘉年華；節日，聯歡

[2]costume['k?stju:m] n.戲裝；演出服；服裝

[3]enormous[i'n?:m?s] a.巨大的，龐大的；極惡的；兇暴的

[4]vendors['vend?z] n.攤販（vendor的名詞復數）；小販；（房屋等的）賣主

國際親吻日：今天你親吻了嗎

National Kissing Day

July 6th is National Kissing Day in the United Kingdom.This holiday has recently been adopted worldwide making July 6th the International Kissing Day or World Kiss Day.

The idea behind the International Kissing Day is that many people may have forgotten the simple pleasures associated with kissing for kissing's sake.Kissing can be an enjoyable experience in and of itself.It is an expression and experience of intimacy[1].

Not all the kisses are connected with sexual love.Kissing also signifies courtesy[2] in every country of Europe and America.

Kissing on the back of the palm signifies respect.

Kissing on the forehead signifies friendship.

Kissing on the cheek signifies deep feeling.

Kissing on the lips signifies love.

Kissing on the eyelid signifies adoration.

Kissing on the palm signifies desire.

Kissing on the wrist or on the neck signifies desirous feeling.

Kissing on other part of the body signifies intense emotion.

1.Kissing boosts immunity.

A recent study reported in the journal Medical Hypotheses says kissing may increase a woman's immunity from Cytomegalovirus[3].

2.Kissing helps you pick the best mate.

Anthropologist Helen Fisher describes kissing as a “mate assessment tool”.Much of the cortex is devoted to picking up sensations from around the lips,cheeks,tongue and nose.Kissing is not just kissing.It is a profound advertisement of who you are,what you want and what you can give.

3.Kissing burns calories!

Depending on different reports,anywhere from 2 to 6 calories a minute.

4.Kissing keeps facial muscles strong.

Researchers say you use 30 muscles while kissing and the smooching[4] helps keep your cheeks tight.Nice.We'll take what we can get.

5.Kissing naturally relaxes you.

Swapping spit is noted to increase dopamine[5],which aids in feelings of romantic attachment.

文化小課堂

國際親吻日又稱國際接吻日、世界接吻日，定于每年的7月6日。親吻的歷史始于約公元前3000年，古人在膜拜眾神時都要親吻他們。在古羅馬時期，不僅與朋友和家庭成員親吻，還要與商人和路人親吻以示歡迎。

7月6日是英國的國家親吻日。這個節日近來被全世界廣泛采用，于是7月6日就成了國際親吻節，或者說世界親吻節。

國際親吻節背后的意義在于，很多人或許已經忘記為了親吻而親吻這種簡單的歡愉。親吻本身就是一種愉快的經歷，它可以表達和體驗親密的感覺。

另外，不是所有的親吻都與性愛有關。在歐洲各國和美國，親吻還可以表示禮貌。

親吻手背表示尊敬。

親吻前額表示友誼。

親吻臉頰表示深情。

親吻雙唇表示愛情。

親吻眼瞼表示愛慕。

親吻手掌表示欲望。

親吻手腕和脖子表示情欲之情。

親吻身體的其他部分則表示強烈的情感。

1.接吻能提高免疫力。

最近，一本名為《醫學假說》的雜志報導稱，接吻能夠提高女性對巨細胞病毒的免疫力。

2.接吻能幫你找到最佳配偶。

人類學家海倫·費希爾將接吻描述成一種“配偶評估工具”。人類的一部分大腦皮層專門用來收集嘴唇、臉頰、舌頭和鼻子周圍的感覺。接吻并不只是接吻。那是一種意義深遠的廣告，它能告訴對方，你是誰、你想要什么、你又能給予對方什么。

3.接吻可燃燒卡里路！

據各種各樣的報告稱，接吻每分鐘可燃燒2—6卡路里。

4.接吻能讓面部肌肉變得結實。

調查者說，你在接吻的時候會牽動30塊肌肉，所以接吻會讓你臉頰上的肌肉變緊。好極了，這樣一來，我們也能有所收獲。

5.接吻會很自然地讓你放松。

據說交換口水能促進多巴胺的增長，而多巴胺有助于浪漫情感的增長。

注釋

[1]intimacy['?nt?m?s?] n.親密；隱私

[2]courtesy['k?:t?s?] n.謙恭有禮，禮貌，請安；有禮貌的舉止（言詞）；承蒙

[3]Cytomegalovirus[?sa?t???meg?l??va?r?s] n.巨細胞病毒，簡稱CMV，一種皰疹病毒組DNA病毒

[4]smooch[smu:t?] v.接吻；擁吻

[5]dopamine['d??p?mi:n] n.<生化>多巴胺（由腦內分泌，可影響一個人的情緒）

歷史上第一個感恩節

The Historical First Thanksgiving Day

In 1621,the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast which is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies.This harvest meal has become a symbol of cooperation and interaction between English colonists and Native Americans.

Although this feast is considered by many to the very first Thanksgiving celebration,it was actually in keeping with a long tradition of celebrating the harvest and giving thanks for a successful bounty of crops.Native American groups throughout the Americas,including the Pueblo,Cherokee,Creek and many others organized harvest festivals,ceremonial dances,and other celebrations of thanks for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in North America.

Historians have also recorded other ceremonies of thanks among European settlers in North America,including British colonists in Berkeley Plantation,Virginia.

At this site near the Charles River in December of 1619,a group of British settlers led by Captain John Woodlief knelt in prayer and pledged “Thanksgiving” to God for their healthy arrival after a long voyage across the Atlantic.This event has been acknowledged by some scholars and writers as the official first Thanksgiving among European settlers on record.

Whether at Plymouth,Berkeley Plantation,or throughout the Americas,celebrations of thanks have held great meaning and importance over time.The legacy of thanks,and particularly of the feast,have survived the centuries as people throughout the United States gather family,friends,and enormous amounts of food for their yearly Thanksgiving meal.

It is better to be thankful than suffer in front of hurts.Appreciate those hurtful things and forget those hurtful people for the reason that hurts are always unintentional and growth is obliged.

文化小課堂

感恩節是美國和加拿大共有的節日，由美國人民獨創，原意是為了感謝上天賜予的好收成。美國每年11月的第四個星期四為感恩節，加拿大則是10月第二個星期一。正如中國的春節，這一天不管多忙，人們都要和自己的家人團聚。

1621年，普利茅斯殖民地居民和萬帕諾亞格印第安人所共赴的秋收宴，即為現在公認的部落里的第一個感恩節慶祝儀式。這種豐收盛宴已成為英國殖民地和美洲原住民之間合作互動的標志。

盡管很多人認為，這一饗宴就是第一次感恩節的慶祝儀式，但實際上，饗宴沿襲了慶祝和感謝農作物豐收的悠久傳統。在歐洲人抵達北美之前，數世紀以來，整個美洲的原住民一直都在組織安排豐收節慶典、儀式舞蹈和其他感謝慶典，其中包括普韋布洛人、切羅基族人、克里克人和其他族人。

歷史學家還記錄了北美的歐洲移民中的其他感謝慶典，包括弗吉尼亞的伯克利種植園里的英國殖民地居民。

1619年12月，查爾斯河附近某處，一群由約翰·伍德利夫船長帶領的英國殖民者，為他們能在橫跨大西洋的漫長航行后平安到達此地，而跪下祈禱，并向上帝獻上“感恩”。一些學者和作家認為，這一盛事是留有記錄的歐洲殖民者官方的第一個感恩節。

無論是在普利茅斯、伯克利種植園，還是整個美洲，隨著時間的推移，感謝慶典已承載起偉大的意義和重要性。感謝的傳承，特別是饗宴，正因為全美國人和家人、朋友齊聚一堂，并準備豐盛的食物，以共進一年一度的感恩節大餐，才得以傳承數世紀。

面對種種傷害，我們要做的更多是感恩，而不僅僅是承受。感謝那些傷害你的事，忘記那些傷害你的人，傷害常常是無意的，成長卻是必須的。

英國獵狐活動

Fox Hunting

In Great Britain fox hunting is permitted.But many British people think it is cruel to hunt foxes.They want a law to stop fox hunting.In some states of the U.S.A.fox hunting is still permitted.

There are different types of foxes.The most popular is the red fox.It lives in Europe.The San Joaquin kit fox lives in the North American deserts.In the Arctic we find the white Arctic fox.The Fennec fox is very small and it has big ears.Today people want to help and protect animals,especially young animals.The WWF（World Wildlife Fund）defends animals all over the world.

The controversy around hunting led to the passing of the Hunting Act 2004 in November of that year,after a free vote in the House of Commons,which made hunting with hounds（in the traditional style）in England and Wales from February 18,2005.An amendment which allowed licensed[1] hunting under stricter conditions,advocated by the then Prime Minister Tony Blair and some members of the government's independent inquiry on fox hunting（including its chairman Lord Burns）,was voted down.The passing of the Hunting Act was also notable in that it was implemented through the use of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 after the House of Lords refused to pass the legislation,despite the Commons passing it by a majority of 356 to 166.Scotland,which has its own Parliament,restricted fox hunting in 2002,more than two years before the ban in England and Wales.Fox hunting is legal in Northern Ireland.

After the ban on fox hunting,hunts follow artificially[2] laid trails,or use exemptions laid out in the Act,although the League Against Cruel Sports has alleged that breaches of law may be taking place by some hunts.Supporters of fox hunting claim that the number of foxes killed has increased since the Hunting Act came into force,both by the hunts（through legal methods）and landowners,and that hunts have reported an increase in membership and that around 320000 people（their highest recorded number）turned up to meets on Boxing Day 2006.The Master of Foxhounds Association[3] lists 179 active hunts as of February 2013.The Federation of Welsh Packs lists 56 member hunts,while the Central Committee of Fell Packs lists 6 member hunts（which hunt on foot in the Lake District and the surrounding region）.

Things in contrast are more tasteful in the world.

文化小課堂

獵狐活動在英國已有300年歷史，是英國王室貴族最熱衷的一項運動。獵狐起源于老百姓消滅狐貍保護莊稼，在斯圖亞特王朝時期開始流行于王公貴族之間，他們通過這項“為人民服務”的活動來炫耀地位與財富，展示優越感。獵狐需要名貴的駿馬、血統純正的獵犬、自己領地內的獵場，以及復雜的禮儀和游戲規則，一般的億萬富翁在這些硬件條件面前也不得不望而卻步。

在英國，獵狐活動并不違法。但仍有許多英國人認為這種做法太過殘忍，于是他們希望通過制定法律來制止獵狐活動。不過，在美國的一些州，獵狐活動依然合法。

狐貍有許多不同的種類。最為人熟知的要數紅狐了。紅狐生活在歐洲，圣華金狐貍生活在北美的沙漠。此外，我們還在北極發現了北極白狐。另外，還有身小耳大的耳廓狐。如今，人們希望能夠幫助和保護動物，尤其是年幼的動物。WWF（世界野生動物基金會）是負責保護全世界動物的機構。

針對圍繞獵狐行為的爭議，下議院采用自由投票的形式于2004年11月通過一項狩獵法，法規規定，從2005年2月18日開始，在英格蘭和威爾士用獵狗狩獵是犯法行為。當時的總理托尼·布萊爾和政府中負責獵狐事務的獨立調查成員（其中包括其領頭人洛德·彭斯），提出了修正案提議，表明在嚴格限制的條件下可批準狩獵，這一提議遭到人民的投票否決。此外，狩獵法的通過之所以引人注意，還因為該法的實施是在1911年和1949年的國會法案運行期間，在此之前，盡管下議院以356:166的票數通過這項法律，可是，上議院仍然拒絕通過。而自身擁有國會的蘇格蘭在2002年開始限制狩獵，比英國和威爾士禁狩令還早兩年。此外，獵狐活動在北愛爾蘭是合法的。

在法律明令禁止獵狐活動之后，雖然反殘酷運動聯盟宣稱有一部分獵人也許會觸犯法律，但獵人仍能人為另辟途徑，或是利用法案中的豁免權。一些支持獵狐行為的人說，自從狩獵法出臺后，被獵人（通過合法途徑）和地主獵殺的狐貍數量反而增長了，而且據報導，獵人的人數也有所增加，在2006年節禮日相聚一堂的獵狐隊伍人數已增長到大約32萬人（這是隊伍人數的最高紀錄）。2013年2月，獵狐犬大師協會的獵人名單中，有179名活躍獵人。此外，威爾士包裝聯合會有56名，中央捕獵委員會有6名（他們在湖區及其周圍徒步打獵）。

世界上的許多東西，在對比中更顯得回味無窮。

注釋

[1]licensed[?la?snst] a.得到許可的；領有執照的；獲準擁有的

[2]artificially[?ɑ:t?'f???l?] ad.人工地；人為地；不自然地

[3]association[??s????'e??n] n.協會，聯盟，社團；聯合；聯想

圣誕節

Christmas Day

The name Christmas is short for “Christ's Mass”.A Mass is a kind of Church service.Christmas is a religious festival.It is the day we celebrate as the birthday of Jesus.There are special Christmas services in Christian churches all over the world.But many of the festivities of Christmas do not have anything to do with religion.Exchanging gifts and sending Christmas cards are the modern ways of celebrating the Christmas in the world.

For some,that means digging out those old lights and ornaments out of the closet to hang on the Christmas tree.Although it is generally agreed that the Christmas tree in its current form came from Germany in the early 19th century,the tradition of decorating a tree to mark winter celebrations dates back hundreds of years to Roman times,when they used to decorate evergreen trees with small pieces of metal to celebrate Saturnalia.

In medieval times the “Paradise Play” was performed every year on 24 December.This depicted the creation of Man and the fall of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and always included an evergreen hung with apples which represented the apple tree of temptation.In the late 16th century,Martin Luther（the founder of the Protestant religion）was the first to decorate an indoor tree with candles when he attempted to recreate the stars shining over a forest of evergreens.The first mention of decorated trees being taken indoors came in 1605 in Germany—a country with a long Christmas tree history!The trees were initially decorated with fruit and sweets together with hand-made objects such as quilled snowflakes and stars.German Christmas Markets began to sell shaped gingerbreads and wax ornaments which people bought as souvenirs of the fair and took home to hang on their trees.

For many children,Christmas is the season of Santa Claus,that mysterious and jolly invader of chimneys,soaring through the sky on his magical sled,bearing gifts for the nice and coal for the naughty.Most people who celebrate Christmas are familiar with the figure of Santa Claus.However,few know the details of his origins or the fairly complex history of his development.

The figure of Santa Claus actually has many different origins and is derived from a variety of traditions.Elements from these different traditions became incorporated together with time and produced the Santa Claus that we know today.The primary inspiration for Santa Claus is the 4th century Christian bishop Saint Nicholas of Myra.Nicholas resided in the ancient Lycian town of Myra,located in Byzantine Anatolia.Having devoted his entire life to Christianity at a young age,Nicholas became known for his generous gifts to the poor.One famous story tells of how he presented three impoverished daughters of a faithful Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes.Today,we continue to use Saint Nicholas（or Saint Nick）as a pseudonym for Santa Claus.

文化小課堂

西方人將紅、綠、白三色定為圣誕色，在圣誕節來臨之際，都會將整個家用圣誕色裝飾一新。紅色的代表物是圣誕花和圣誕蠟燭，綠色的代表物則是圣誕樹，紅色與白色相映成趣的就是圣誕老人了。

圣誕節的英文原名Christmas是Christ's Mass的縮寫，意思是“基督的彌撒”。彌撒是一種教堂禮拜儀式，圣誕節則是一個宗教節日，我們在這一天慶祝耶穌的誕生。圣誕節到來之際，世界各地的基督教教會都會舉行特殊的禮拜儀式。但是，現在的很多圣誕節歡慶活動已經和宗教毫無關系。直到近些年來，圣誕節交換禮物和送圣誕卡這兩種大眾慶祝方式才開始興起。

對一些人而言，這意味著又要翻箱倒柜找出往年的裝飾燈、裝飾品，將它們掛到圣誕樹上了。眾所周知，現在這種圣誕樹源自19世紀初的德國，但是，通過裝飾樹木作為冬季佳節來臨的標志這一傳統，卻可以追溯到幾百年前的古羅馬時代。那時的人們就已經開始使用金屬亮片裝飾常青樹，以慶祝農神節的到來了。

中世紀時期，每年的12月24日都會上演一出《天堂劇》。這出劇主要描繪的是人類創造之初以及亞當、夏娃從伊甸園墮入人間的故事，劇中常常出現一棵掛滿蘋果的常青樹，象征著引誘他們墮落的蘋果樹。

16世紀末，新教創始人馬丁·路德是第一個用蠟燭裝飾室內樹木的人，而他當時的真正目的，只是想再現群星照耀萬年青樹林的一幕。1605年，德國人最先將裝飾好的樹木移到室內，而圣誕樹在德國可是有著相當悠久的歷史！圣誕樹上的裝飾物最初只有水果和糖果，以及用羽毛手工制作的雪花和星星。但慢慢地，德國的圣誕集市上開始出售形狀各異的姜餅和蠟質飾品。人們把這些買回家掛在樹上，當作趕集的紀念品。

對孩子們來說，圣誕節可是圣誕老人的大舞臺，這個神神秘秘、樂樂呵呵、愛爬煙囪的老頭，會駕著他那魔幻般的雪橇滑過天際，將禮物撒向乖孩子，而將煤球留給淘氣鬼。大多數慶祝圣誕節的人都很熟悉圣誕老人的形象，但圣誕老人的來歷以及那錯綜復雜的發展史，幾乎沒幾個人能說清楚。

事實上，圣誕老人的形象出處相當多，源自于許多不同的傳統。隨著時間的推移，不同傳統中的文化元素逐漸融為一體，最終形成了我們今日熟悉的圣誕老人形象，其主要靈感來源于4世紀邁拉的基督教主教圣·尼古拉斯。邁拉是他的居住地，位于小亞細亞拜占庭的古利西亞小鎮。他在很小的時候就是基督徒，畢生都獻身于基督教事業，并因好善濟施而出名。關于他有一個廣為流傳的故事：曾有一名虔誠的基督徒，膝下有3個窮得叮當響的女兒，在圣尼古拉斯的資助下，才得以置辦嫁妝而不至于淪為娼妓。今天，人們繼續使用圣·尼古拉斯（或簡稱圣·尼克）作為圣誕老人的別稱。

蓋伊·?？怂怪?

Guy Fawkes'Night

The fifth of November is Guy Fawkes'Night or Bonfire[1]Night.This is a British festivity.

The story of Guy Fawkes goes back to the early 1600's.During this period there were religious problems between Protestants Catholics in Britain.King James I was a Protestant and he passed severe laws against Catholics.They were not permitted to have religious services.

A group of 12 Catholics decided to kill King James I and destroy the Parliament Building!They planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5 November 1605,when the King was present.This was called the Gunpowder Plot[2].

The leader of the plot was Robert Catesby.The plotters put 30 barrels of explosives in the cellars under the Parliament Building.Guy Fawkes was an expert with explosives.His responsibility was to guard the barrels of explosives and light the fuse on November.The King's soldiers discovered the plot!Guy Fawkes was immediately arrested and tortured.The other plotters were found three days later.Guy Fawkes and the others were hanged.

On the night of 5 November 1605 many people in London were happy because the plot was discovered.To celebrate they started bonfires in the street.Someone made an effigy[3] of Guy Fawkes and burned it.

Ever since that day the British have celebrated Guy Fawkes'Night.

Today young people in Britain make a Guy with old clothes and fill him with newspaper.Then they go around the streets with the Guy and ask for “a penny for the Guy?” With this money they buy fireworks.

On the night of 5 November there are fireworks and big bonfires to burn the Guy.Some people have bonfires in their back gardens.Young people love the noise,excitement and colourful fireworks.

On this night they eat toffee apples.

In Lewes,Sussex,there is a big public festival on Guy Fawkes’ Night.People dress in historic costumes.The Guy is burned on top of a hill on an enormous bonfire.There are also brilliant fireworks.

Here is a rhyme[4] about Guy Fawkes:

Remember,remember

The fifth of November

Gunpowder,treason and plot.

I see no reason

Why gunpowder and treason

Should ever be forgot

文化小課堂

蓋伊·?？怂怪挂卜Q“篝火節之夜”，在英國已有400多年歷史，是英國的一個政治性節日。最初的慶祝是為了維護對國家和宗教的忠誠，如今在節日當天分外熱鬧，天空焰火紛飛，地上篝火熊熊，以紀念歷史事件“火藥陰謀”。

11月5日是“蓋伊·?？怂怪埂?，或稱為“焰火之夜”，是英國的一個節日。

有關蓋伊·?？怂沟墓适?，要追溯至17世紀早期。在這一時期內，英國新教徒之間出現了宗教問題。國王詹姆斯一世是一名新教徒，他頒發了十分嚴苛的法律來針對天主教徒，不允許他們開展宗教儀式。

于是，一支由12個天主教徒組成的小隊決定殺死詹姆斯一世，并摧毀國會大廈！他們計劃于1605年11月5日炸毀國會，當時國王就在里面。這就是所謂的“火藥陰謀”。

這場陰謀的領導者是羅伯特·蓋茨比。謀劃者們將30筒炸藥放進國會大廈的地窖里。蓋伊·?？怂故潜茖＜遥撠熅淠切┱ㄋ幫?，并于11月點燃導火線。然而，國王的士兵發現了這場陰謀！于是蓋伊·?？怂巩敿幢徊?，還遭受了嚴刑拷問。三天后，其余的密謀者也被查出。蓋伊·?？怂购瓦@些密謀者最終都被絞死。

1605年11月5日晚上，許多倫敦人都因這場陰謀暴露而非常開心。為了表示慶祝，他們在街道上生起篝火；還有人做了蓋伊·?？怂沟牡裣?，并將其當場燒毀。

從此以后，英國人便有了“蓋伊·?？怂怪埂边@樣的節日。

如今，英國的年輕人會做一個穿著舊衣服的蓋伊像，然后在里面塞滿報紙。之后，他們會帶著蓋伊走到街上，請求別人“給蓋伊一便士吧？”最后，他們就用得來的錢買煙花。

每到11月5日夜晚，人們就會放煙花，還會點燃大型篝火燒蓋伊。有些人會在他們的后院里燃放煙花。年輕人喜歡熱鬧、刺激和五顏六色的煙花。

此外，他們還會在當天晚上吃拔絲蘋果。

在劉易斯和蘇塞克斯，“蓋伊·?？怂怪埂边€會有一個大型的公共宴會。人們身著傳統服裝，將蓋伊像放在山頂上，擱在一簇大型的篝火上點燃。同時還會燃放絢爛的煙花。

以下是一首關于蓋伊·?？怂沟亩淘姡?

記住了，記住了

11月5日

爆炸，謀反與陰謀

無法理解

為什么爆炸和叛亂

要被遺忘

注釋

[1]bonfire[?b?nfa??] n.營火，篝火

[2]plot[pl?t] n.陰謀；密謀；地基，基址圖；（戲劇、小說等的）情節；一塊地

[3]effigy['ef?d?i] n.（人的）雕像；模擬像，肖像

[4]rhyme[ra?m] n.押韻短詩；韻腳；韻文

情人節緣何而來

Why We Have the Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day,14 February,is dedicated to people in love!

On 14 February sweethearts celebrate Valentine's Day with cards and presents.Cards can be funny,romantic or poetic[1].

Presents can be a box of chocolates,flowers or jewellery.

When and where did this festivity start?

The custom of celebrating Valentine's Day probably began with the Roman festival of Lupercalia on 15 February.During Lupercalia there were games and dancing.Every young man took the name of a young lady from an urn.The lady was the young man's sweetheart for one year.

With the beginning of Christianity pagan customs were not permitted,but the festival continued.In the 7th century this festival was called St.Valentine's Day.

The origin of the name is still a mystery.Some historians say that the festival took its name from a Christian martyr[2] named Valentine.He died on 14 February in the year 270.Others say Valentine was put in prison by Emperor Claudius because he secretly married young couples.The Emperor did not like these secret marriages.

Some say that Valentine comes from the French word “galantine”（agallant or beau）.

A legend says that birds begin to mate on 14 February!

The Roman conquerors brought the celebration to England.In England the pagan and Christian customs combined to form the Valentine festivity.

The Valentine tradition was popular in Shakespeare's time.Shakespeare's characters Romeo and Juliet are the eternal[3] symbol of love.In the play Hamlet Ophelia sang this song:

Tomorrow is St.Valentine's Day

All in the morning be time,

And I a maid at your window

To be your Valentine.

In 17th century London,sweethearts exchanged presents on 14 February.The English settlers took this romantic tradition to the New World.

Some settlers made beautiful Valentine's cards by hand.They painted butterflies,flowers,cupids and hearts on the cards,and then wrote original verses.

In the 1800's few people had time to make Valentine's cards.American manufacturers[4] printed millions of romantic cards.The most popular cards had moving parts:windows that opened and showed a romantic poem,and little birds that seemed to fly.

After the romantic Valentine,the comic Valentine became popular.It had funny cartoons or grotesque[5] pictures with comic messages.

Today there are all types of Valentine's cards:romantic,poetic,comic,grotesque,artistic and handmade!

In 1947 the town of Loveland in Colorado,USA,became Cupid's residence!In Loveland something very unusual happens about two weeks before Valentine's Day.The Loveland Post Office receives more than 300000 Valentine's cards from all over the world.

The Loveland Post Office cancels these cards with the Loveland,Colorado cancellation.A picture of Cupid and romantic verses are stamped on the envelope.Then the Valentine's cards are sent to the addressee.

These are two examples of the Loveland verses:

Across the land

We send hugs and kisses.

From the Sweetheart City

Come Valentine wishes.

Hope this special day

Will make you smile

And the love sent from love land

Will shorten each mile.

In Great Britain it is customary to send an anonymous Valentine's card or present to the person you like or love.The person must guess who wrote it.

Today in the United States Valentine's Day has a bigger meaning.On this day you can send a card or a present to a parent,grandparent,relative or a friend.Valentine's Day is an occasion to express love or affection to anyone.

In elementary school American boys and girls write cards to their favourite classmates.Then they put them into a big box in the school hall.In the afternoon there is a Valentine's Day party.The teacher takes the cards out of the box and gives them to the children.This is always an exciting moment!

Children like counting their cards.Most children sign their Valentine's card,but some remain anonymous or write “From a Secret Admirer”.

In American high schools and universities,there is a “Sweethearts' Ball” on the evening of 14 February.For the “Sweethearts’ Ball” the hall is decorated with red hearts and cupids!Some people have parties at home to celebrate this day dedicated to love.

In the USA,the top of the Empire State Building in New York City is illuminated[6] with red lights to celebrate Valentine's Day.

In love folly is always sweet.

文化小課堂

情人節又叫圣瓦倫丁節或圣華倫泰節，即每年的2月14日，是西方的傳統節日之一。公元270年2月14日，羅馬圣教徒瓦倫丁被處死，后來為了紀念他為正義、為純潔的愛而犧牲自己，將臨刑的這一天定為“情人節”。

2月14日情人節，一個獻給戀人們的節日。

在那天，戀人們用卡片和禮物來慶祝情人節?？ㄆ梢宰龅糜腥?、浪漫，而且富有詩意。

至于禮物，可以是一盒巧克力，一束鮮花，或者一件飾物。

那么，這個節日起源于何時何地呢？

慶祝情人節的風俗大概是從羅馬的2月15日牧神節開始的。牧神節期間有各種游戲和舞蹈，其中有一項活動是，每一位男子都會從甕中抽取一名女子的名字，而被抽到名字的女子就要當男子的女朋友，期限為一年。

基督教剛開始盛行時，異教習俗是不被允許的，但這個節日并沒有終止。在7世紀時，這個節日名叫圣情人節。

不過，這個名字的起源仍是未解之謎。一些歷史學家說，該節日的名稱取自一位名叫瓦倫丁的基督教殉道者。他死于270年2月14日。還有人說，因為瓦倫丁秘密幫助年輕男女主持婚禮，而被克勞狄斯大帝關進了監獄。因為大帝不喜歡他們的秘密婚姻。

還有一些人說，“Valentine”源自法語詞“galantine”（情人、情郎）。

另外有傳說稱，鳥兒在2月14日開始交配！

羅馬征服者們將這項慶典帶到了英格蘭。而異教風俗與基督風俗相結合，就形成了情人節。

此外，情人節風俗在莎士比亞時期非常盛行。莎士比亞劇中的角色羅密歐和朱麗葉，就是愛情的永恒象征。另外，在《哈姆雷特》中，奧菲莉婭還唱道：

明天就是情人節

整個早上

我這個少女，都在你的窗前

等著做你的情人。

17世紀的倫敦，戀人們會在2月14日這一天交換禮物。英國殖民者將這個浪漫的傳統帶到了新世界。

一些殖民者還親手制作漂亮的情人節卡片。他們將蝴蝶、鮮花、丘比特和愛心畫在卡片上，然后寫上獨創的詩歌。

到了19世紀，大部分人都沒時間制作情人節卡片。于是，美國制造商們就印制了上百萬張浪漫的賀卡。其中，最流行的卡片上有可以移動的畫面：敞開的窗戶里寫著一首浪漫的詩，幾只鳥兒在窗間展翅欲飛。

繼浪漫的情人節賀卡之后，幽默的情人節賀卡又開始盛行。卡片上印著有趣的卡通圖案和怪誕的圖畫，還寫著滑稽的詞句。

如今已有了各種各樣的情人節卡片：浪漫的、詩意的、滑稽的、怪誕的、藝術的，還有手工的。

1947年，美國科羅拉多州的拉夫蘭鎮成了丘比特的駐扎地！情人節前大約兩周，拉夫蘭發生了一件非常奇怪的事：拉夫蘭郵局收到了來自世界各地的30多萬張情人節賀卡。

拉夫蘭郵局用科羅拉多拉夫蘭鎮的郵票蓋銷章注銷了這些賀卡，然后將丘比特的圖案和浪漫的詩句印在信封上，再送到收件人的手里。

這里有兩個版本的拉夫蘭詩句：

我們將擁抱和親吻

送往整個大地

從戀人的城市

飛來情人的祝愿

希望這特別的日子

能讓你展開笑顏

愛之域送來的溫情

讓相距的每一英里都好似縮短

英國有一種習俗，就是給你喜歡或深愛的人匿名送情人節賀卡或禮物，而收到賀卡或禮物的人必須猜出是誰送的。

如今，在美國，情人節有著更為廣泛的意義。情人節這天，你還可以送賀卡或禮物給父母、祖父母、親戚或朋友。情人節就是對他人表達愛意和傾慕的時刻。

在小學，男孩女孩們寫卡片送給他們最喜歡的同學，他們把寫好的卡片放進學校大廳的一個大盒子里。當天下午，還會舉行情人節派對。在派對上，老師會拿出盒子里的卡片分給孩子們。這是一個多么激動人心的時刻！

孩子們喜歡數他們的卡片。大部分孩子在他們的卡片上做了標記，可還有一些卡片仍是不具名的，或是寫著“來自一個神秘的愛慕者”。

在美國的高中和大學，每逢2月14日的晚上就會舉行一場“戀人舞會”。舞會上裝扮有紅色的愛心和丘比特！而有些人則在家里舉行派對來慶祝這個獻給愛情的節日。

在美國，為了慶祝情人節，紐約帝國大廈的頂部還會裝飾著閃閃紅燈。

戀愛中，犯傻也甜美。

注釋

[1]poetic[p???et?k] a.詩的，韻文的；有詩意的；詩人的

[2]martyr['mɑ:t?（r）] n.烈士；殉道者；（因病等）長期受痛苦的

[3]eternal[i:'t?:nl] a.永恒的，永久的；沒完沒了的；不朽的

[4]manufacturers[?m?nju?f?kt??r?z] n.制造商，制造廠（manufacturer的名詞復數）

[5]grotesque[gr???tesk] a.怪誕的，荒誕不經的；奇形怪狀的

[6]illuminated[??lu:m?ne?t?d] v.使明亮（illuminate的過去式）；照亮；闡明，說明；啟發

母親節的歷史

History of Mother'sDay

◎ Lewis CarroII

The first celebrations in honor of mothers were held in the spring in ancient Greece.They paid tribute to Rhea,the Mother of the Gods.During the 17th century,England honored mothers on “Mothering Sunday,” celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

In the United States,Julia Ward Howe suggested the idea of Mother's Day in 1872.Howe,who wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic,saw Mother's Day as being dedicated to peace.

Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia is credited with bringing about the official observance of Mother's Day.Her campaign to establish such a holiday began as a remembrance of her mother,who died in 1905 and who had,in the late 19th century,tried to establish “Mother's Friendship Days” as a way to heal the scars of the Civil War.

Two years after her mother died,Jarvis held a ceremony in Grafton,W.Va.,to honor her.She was so moved by the proceedings that she began a massive campaign to adopt a formal holiday honoring mothers.In 1910,West Virginia became the first state to recognize Mother's Day.A year later,nearly every state officially marked the day.In 1914,President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed Mother's Day as a national holiday to be held on the second Sunday of May.

But Jarvis' accomplishment soon turned bitter for her.Enraged by the commercialization of the holiday,she filed a lawsuit to stop a 1923 Mother's Day festival and was even arrested for disturbing the peace at a war mothers' convention where women sold white carnations—Jarvis’ symbol for mothers—to raise money.“This is not what I intended,” Jarvis said,“I wanted it to be a day of sentiment,not profit!”

When she died in 1948,at age 84,Jarvis had become a woman of great ironies.Never a mother herself,her maternal fortune dissipated by her efforts to stop the commercialization of the holiday she had founded,Jarvis told a reporter shortly before her death that she was sorry she had ever started Mother's Day.She spoke these words in a nursing home where every Mother's Day her room had been filled with cards from all over the world.

Today,because and despite Jarvis’ efforts,many celebrations of Mother's Days are held throughout the world.Although they do not all fall at the same time,such countries as Denmark,Finland,Italy,Turkey,Australia and Belgium also celebrate Mother's Day on the same day as the United States.

Dear Mother,thank you for bringing me to this world to come up.There'd be no me without you,nor seasons of happiness and sadness.

文化小課堂

這個節日最早出現在古希臘，而現代的母親節則起源于美國，為每年5月的第二個星期日。母親們在這一天通常會收到禮物，人們將康乃馨獻給母親；而在中國，萱草花被視為母親花，又叫忘憂草。

在古希臘的某個春天，人類舉行了第一場紀念母親的慶典，以此歌頌眾神之母瑞亞。17世紀的英格蘭，人們在每年大齋期的第四個周日——“拜望雙親日”都會向母親致敬。

在美國，《共和國贊歌》的作詞人朱莉婭·沃德·荷，在1872年建議設立母親節，以向和平獻禮。

不過，母親節能正式成為法定節假日，還要歸功于費城的安娜·賈維斯。她之所以游說人們設立節日，初衷只是為了紀念自己的母親，因為她母親在1905年去世之前，即19世紀末，一直致力于設立“母親友誼日”，以撫慰南北戰爭帶給人們的創傷。

在母親去世兩年后，賈維斯在西弗吉尼亞州格拉夫頓為母親舉辦了紀念儀式。這個儀式令她感動不已，因此，她至此開始舉行大規模的活動，以促進母親節成為正式節假日。1910年，西弗吉尼亞州成為確立母親節的第一州。一年后，幾乎每個州都正式確立了這個節日。1914年，伍德羅·威爾遜總統正式宣布，5月的第二個周日為法定節假日——母親節。

但是，賈維斯的成就很快就成為她的困擾。她對母親節的商業化萬分氣憤，為此，她不僅為取締1923年的母親節慶典提起訴訟，還有一次蓄意擾亂戰時的母親大會，因為那些婦女為了集資，而在大會上售賣她心目中象征母親的白色康乃馨。因為這些事件，她最后竟落得鋃鐺入獄的下場?！斑@并不是我的本意，”賈維斯說，“我心中的母親節是感謝日，而不是發財日！”

賈維斯于1948年去世，享年84歲。她的一生頗具諷刺意味。她從沒做過母親，卻建立了母親節，又千辛萬苦地抵制母親節的商業化?？磥?，她的“未為人之母”是命中注定的。賈維斯在逝世前不久，曾對記者說，她很后悔當初建立了母親節，說這番話的時候，她正在私人療養院的房間里。盡管如此，每年母親節的時候，她的房間仍會堆滿來自全世界的卡片。

今天，不論母親節是否與賈維斯的努力有關，但現在全世界都在慶祝母親節。盡管不同國家的母親節的日期有所不同，但丹麥、芬蘭、意大利、土耳其、澳大利亞、比利時的母親節，都和美國是同一天。

親愛的母親，謝謝你給了我生命。若沒有你，就沒有我，也沒有我四季的悲歡。

復活節的象征：復活節兔

Rabbits:The Symbol of Easter

The Easter bunny has arrived,chocolate Easter eggs are in the shops,the daffodils are out,and the weather is getting better!

Easter is a great time of year,but what are its origins?

Originally Easter was called Pascha after the Hebrew word for Passover,a Jewish festival that happens at this time of year.It was replaced by Easter,a word which is believed to have evolved from Eostre,the name of the Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility[1] and springtime.

The date of Easter is determined by the lunar calendar[2].In 2008,the Easter weekend starts with Good Friday on 21st March and ends on Easter Monday,24 March.

There are many food traditions celebrated at this time of year.

Hot cross buns are a favourite for many in the United Kingdom,and are thought to have originated from the ancient Greeks and Egyptians who ate small cakes or buns in honour of the respective goddesses that they worshipped.Buns marked with a cross were eaten by the Saxons to honour a goddess.It is thought the bun represented the moon and the cross,its four quarters.To Christians,the cross symbolises the crucifixion[4].

In Scandinavia,Easter Pasha is eaten.This is a fluffy[5] creamy pudding,which is very light and sweet,and in Finland a strange mixture of molasses and rye flour is served at this time of year.It dates back to the sixteenth century and is called M?mmi.

Of course Easter wouldn't be Easter without eggs!The tradition of colouring eggs in bright colours goes back to the Middle Ages.It is said that this represents the sunlight of spring.In Germany it is traditional to paint eggs green,while in Greek and Slavic cultures eggs are dyed red as a symbol of the blood of Christ.

For many,Easter symbolises new life,and images of new born chicks,and rabbits（or bunnies）are to be seen everywhere,on television,Easter cards,and on eggs.

Time goes by so fast,people go in and out of your life.You must never miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean to you.

文化小課堂

復活節兔是復活節的象征之一。復活節時，會有使者裝扮成兔子給孩子們發送禮物。它源于西歐文化，通常由野兔而不是家兔的形象出現。兔子作為多產的動物，象征著春天的復蘇和新生命的誕生。兔子是愛神阿佛羅狄忒的寵物，也是日耳曼土地女神霍爾塔的持燭引路者。部分家庭參與這一慶祝活動并不是因為相信其存在，而是作為一種傳統，或者是覺得有趣。

復活節兔子來了，商店里開始賣巧克力復活節蛋，水仙花開了，天氣也變好了！

復活節是一年中的大時刻，可是它又源自何處呢？

最初的復活節叫做“Pascha”，是根據希伯來逾越節命名的，那是每年此時的一個猶太節日。后來，它被Easter（復活節）取代，而Easter又是從Eostre（厄俄斯特）一詞演變而來——厄俄斯特是司掌繁殖和春季的盎格魯—撒克遜女神的名字。

復活節的日期是依農歷而定的。2008年，復活節開始于3月21日耶穌受難日（復活節前的星期五），結束于3月24日復活節星期一。

每年的這個時候，都有許多關于食物傳統的慶祝。

在英國，最受歡迎的要數熱十字面包[3]，人們認為，它們源自古希臘和埃及人為了紀念崇敬的女神而吃的小蛋糕和小圓面包。為了紀念一位女神，撒克遜人會吃上面印有十字的小圓面包。他們認為小圓面包代表月亮，而十字就是月亮的四個方向。對于基督教徒來說，十字象征著受難。

在斯堪的納維亞，人們還會吃復活節帕沙。這是一種松軟的奶油布丁，味甜輕柔。在芬蘭，每年的這個時候，人們會吃一種蜜糖與黑麥粉的奇怪混合物。這要追溯至16世紀一種叫作“媽咪”的東西。

當然，復活節不可能是沒有蛋的復活節！鮮艷彩蛋的傳統要追溯至中世紀，據說這代表著春天的陽光。德國的傳統是畫綠色的蛋，而在希臘和斯拉夫的文化中，蛋被染成紅色，象征著耶穌的血。

在許多國家，復活節象征著新生命，電視、復活節卡片和彩蛋上，到處都可見初生的小雞和兔子。

時間飛逝，生命中人來人往。不要錯失機會，告訴這些人他們在你生命中的意義。

注釋

[1]fertility[f?'t?l?ti] n.（土地的）肥沃；肥力；豐產；<生>繁殖力

[2]lunar calendar農歷，陰歷。

[3]十字面包，復活節前星期五吃的一種食物。

[4]crucifixion[?kru:s??f?k?n] n.苦痛的考驗；受難；刑罰；被釘死在十字架

[5]fluffy['fl?fi] a.松軟的，毛茸茸的；輕柔的；無聊的，瑣碎的；膚淺的

世界各地的父親節

Different Father's Day

Father's Day in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

In the United Kingdom,Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June and is not a public holiday.In the United States,Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June.Its first celebration was in Spokane,Washington on June 19,1910.Other festivities honoring fathers had been held in Fairmont and in Creston,but the modern holiday did not emerge[1] from those.

Father's Day in the United States

Modern Father's Day was invented by Sonora Smart Dodd,born in Arkansas,who was also the driving force behind its establishment.Her father,the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart,was a single parent who reared his six children in Spokane,Washington.She was inspired by Anna Jarvis's efforts to establish[2]Mother's Day.Although she initially suggested June 5,her father's birthday,she did not provide the organizers with enough time to make arrangements,and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June.

Unofficial support from such figures as William Jennings Bryan was immediate and widespread.President Woodrow Wilson was personally feted by his family in 1916.President Calvin Coolidge recommended it as a national holiday in 1924.In 1966,President Lyndon B.Johnson made Father's Day a holiday to be celebrated on the third Sunday of June.The holiday was not officially recognized until 1972,during the presidency of Richard Nixon.

In recent years,retailers have adapted to the holiday by promoting greeting cards and traditionally male-oriented gifts such as electronics and tools.Schools and other children's programs commonly have activities to make Father's Day gifts.

More phone calls are made in the United States during Mother's Day than during Father's Day,but the percentage of collect calls on Father's Day is much higher,making it the busiest day of the year for collect calls.Also,calls during both Mother's Day and Father's Day tend to last longer.

Father's Day is accompanied by a smaller total number of phone calls,greeting cards and gifts than Mother's Day.It is speculated that this is due to the greater number of households with a mother than households with a father（due to single mothers）,to the greater role of mothers in unpaid household labor,and to different personal or societal expectations.

Father's Day in New Zealand

In New Zealand,Father's Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of September and is not a public holiday.

Father's Day in Canada

In Canada,Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June and is not a public holiday.Father's Day typically involves spending time with one's father or the father figures in one's life.Small celebrations and the giving of gifts may be part of the festivities organized for Father's Day.

Father's Day in Australia

In Australia,Father's Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of September and is not a public holiday.YMCA Victoria continues the tradition of honouring the role fathers,and father figures play in parenting through the annual awarding of Local Community Father of the Year in 32 municipalities[3] in Victoria.The Father's Day Council of Victoria annually recognise fathers in the Father of the Year Award.

A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up,brushes you off,and lets you try again.

文化小課堂

父親節是一年中特別感謝父親的節日，始于20世紀初，每個國家的父親節日期及慶祝方式都不盡相同。世界上第一個父親節于1910年誕生在美國，由美國華盛頓州斯波坎的布魯斯·多德夫人倡導。

大不列顛及北愛爾蘭聯合王國的“父親節”

在英國，父親節是6月的第三個星期天，這并不是一個公共節日。在美國，父親節也是6月的第三個星期天。第一個父親節慶祝于1910年6月19日，在華盛頓的斯波坎。在費爾蒙特和克雷斯頓還會紀念其他形式的父親節，可是，當代的父親節并不是由它們而來。

美國的“父親節”

當代的父親節是由生于阿肯色州的索諾拉·斯馬特·多德創建的，她是創建父親節的先導者。她的父親名叫威廉·杰克遜·斯馬特，是一名內戰老兵，曾在華盛頓的斯波坎市獨自撫養六個孩子。她是受到了安娜·賈維斯創立母親節的鼓舞。盡管最開始她是想用父親的生日，也就是6月5日作為父親節，可組織者們并沒有足夠的時間來安排，于是就推遲到6月的第三個星期天。

這立刻就得到了威廉·詹寧斯·布萊安等人的非正式支持，并且傳播開來。此外，伍德·威爾遜總統的家人于1916年為他慶祝了父親節。1924年，加爾文·庫利奇總統提議它作為國家節假日。1966年，林頓·B.約翰遜把父親節定在6月的第三個星期天。直到1972年，也就是在理查德·尼克松總統當政期間，該假日才被正式認可。

近些年來，零售商們為了適應父親節，還發明了問候卡和適合男性的傳統禮物，比如電子產品和工具。學校和其他兒童組織一般都有專門制作父親節禮物的活動。

在美國，母親節的電話要比父親節多，可是父親節的對方付費電話要比母親節多，于是這就成了一年之中付費電話最多的一天。同樣，母親節和父親節的電話通話都比較長。

父親節收到的電話、問候卡和禮物都比母親節少。據推測，這是由于有母親的家庭比有父親的家庭多（因為有不少單身母親），因為母親在無酬家務勞動中的作用更大，還出于不同的個人和社會期望的緣故。

新西蘭的父親節

在新西蘭，慶祝父親節是在9月的第一個星期天，它也不是一個公共節日。

加拿大的父親節

加拿大的父親節是在6月的第三個星期天，它并不是一個公共節日。父親節通常就是與父親和在生命中扮演父親角色的人一起度過的節日。小型的慶祝和送禮物也許是父親節的一部分。

澳大利亞的父親節

在澳大利亞，慶祝父親節是在9月的第一個星期天，這也不是一個公共節日?；浇糖嗄陼木S多利亞通過在維多利亞的32個自治區實行年度“當地社區父親”獎，延續了紀念父親，或者扮演父親角色的人的傳統。此外，維多利亞父親節委員會每年都會予以認可獲得年度獎的父親。

爸爸就是，在你跌倒之前想抓住你，跌倒之后不理你，卻會讓你再試一次的那個人。

注釋

[1]emerge[?'m?:d?] v.出現，浮現；暴露；擺脫

[2]establish[?'st?bl??] v.建立，創建；確立或使安全；使被安排好；使成為

[3]municipalities[mju?n?s??p?l?t?z] n.自治市，自治區，自治市或區的政府當局（municipality的名詞復數）

十條知識為萬圣節掃盲

Wipe out Illiteracy About Halloween

1.The Halloween celebration comes from All Hallows Day or All Saints Day,the 1st of November.This was originally a pagan festival of the dead,but later became a holiday to honor Christian saints.

2.The name Halloween comes from a contraction of All Hallows Eve（Evening）,the day before All Hallows Day.On this night it was believed that the spirits of the dead would try to come back to life!

3.Dressing up in costumes is one of the most popular Halloween customs,especially among children.According to tradition,people would dress up in costumes（wear special clothing,masks or disguises）to frighten the spirits away.

4.Popular Halloween costumes include vampires（creatures that drink blood）,ghosts（spirits of the dead）and werewolves[1]（people that turn into wolves when the moon is full）.

5.Trick or Treat is a modern Halloween custom where children go from house to house dressed in costume,asking for treats like candy or toys.If they don't get any treats,they might play a trick（mischief or prank）on the owners of the house.

6.The tradition of the Jack o' Lantern comes from a folktale about a man named Jack who tricked the devil and had to wander the Earth with a lantern.The Jack o' Lantern is made by placing a candle inside a hollowed-out pumpkin,which is carved to look like a face.

7.There are many other superstitions associated with Halloween.A superstition is an irrational[2] idea,like believing that the number 13 is unlucky!

8.Halloween is also associated with supernatural creatures like ghosts and vampires.These creatures are not part of the natural world.They don't really exist ...or do they?

9.Witches are popular Halloween characters that are thought to have magical powers.They usually wear pointed hats and fly around on broomsticks[3].

10.Bad omens are also part of Halloween celebrations.A bad omen is something that is believed to bring bad luck,like black cats,spiders or bats.

If youth be a defect,it is one that we outgrow only too soon.

文化小課堂

萬圣節是每年的10月31日，源于古代凱爾特民族的新年節慶，他們相信這是夏天的終結、冬天的開始。這是一年中最重要的節日之一，被稱為“死人之日”或“鬼節”。萬圣節通常與靈異的事物聯系起來，歐洲傳統則認為，萬圣節晚上是鬼怪世界最接近人間的時間，與東亞的中元節、盂蘭節及日本的百鬼夜行類似。

1.慶祝萬圣節的習俗來源于11月1日基督教萬圣節，又叫全圣節。該節日最初是一種悼念死者的異教徒節日，而之后成為紀念基督圣徒的節日。

2.萬圣節一詞簡寫自萬圣節之夜（夜晚），也就是萬圣節的前一天。人們認為，在這天晚上，死者的鬼魂會回到人間！

3.喬裝打扮是萬圣節最為流行的風俗，在孩子中更是如此。按照傳統，人們會穿上戲服（奇怪的服裝、面具或化妝）將鬼魂嚇走。

4.流行的萬圣節服裝包括吸血鬼（吸血的生物）、鬼魂（死者的鬼魂）和狼人（在滿月時會變成狼的人）。

5.“不給糖就搗蛋”是現代萬圣節的風俗，孩子們裝扮好自己后，會挨家挨戶去要糖果和玩具等。要是不給他們好處，他們就會在主人家惡作劇（調皮搗蛋）。

6.放南瓜燈的習俗來自于一個民間故事，故事是關于一個名叫杰克的人，他欺騙了魔鬼，所以不得不乘一個南瓜燈漂流世界。制作南瓜燈，就是在挖空的南瓜里放進一根蠟燭，而且南瓜要被雕刻成人臉的樣子。

7.與萬圣節有關的還有許多其他的迷信風俗。這里的迷信就是指荒謬的想法，比如認為13是個不吉利的數字。

8.萬圣節還與一些超自然生物有關，比如鬼魂和吸血鬼。這些生物并不屬于自然界。他們并不是真的存在……或者他們存在嗎？

9.女巫是萬圣節最時興的裝扮，人們認為女巫很有魔力。她們經常戴著尖頂帽，坐在掃帚上飛來飛去。

10.噩兆也是慶祝萬圣節的一部分。噩兆就是那些會招致霉運的東西，比如黑貓、蜘蛛和蝙蝠。

假如青春也是一種缺憾，那就是它逝去得太快。

注釋

[1]werewolves['wi?wulvz] n.（故事中）變成狼的人，狼人（werewolf的名詞復數）

[2]irrational[?'r???nl] a.不合理的，荒謬的；無理性的

[3]broomsticks[?bru:mst?ks] n.（童話中女巫常騎于空中的帶柄的）掃帚（broomstick的名詞復數）

歷史上十大經典愚人節玩笑

The Classical Jokes on April Fool's Day

1.The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest

Spaghetti harvest 1957:The respected BBC news show Panorama announced that thanks to a very mild winter and the virtual elimination of the dreaded spaghetti weevil,Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper spaghetti crop.It accompanied this announcement with footage of Swiss peasants pulling strands of spaghetti down from trees.Huge numbers of viewers were taken in.Many called the BBC wanting to know how they could grow their own spaghetti tree.To this the BBC diplomatically[1] replied,“place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.”

2.Sidd Finch

Sidd Finch 1985:Sports Illustrated published a story about a new rookie pitcher who planned to play for the Mets.His name was Sidd Finch,and he could reportedly throw a baseball at 168 mph with pinpoint accuracy.This was 65 mph faster than the previous record.Surprisingly,Sidd Finch had never even played the game before.Instead,he had mastered the “art of the pitch” in a Tibetan monastery under the guidance of the “great poet-saint Lama Milaraspa”.Mets fans celebrated their teams’ amazing luck at having found such a gifted player,and Sports Illustrated was flooded with requests for more information.In reality this legendary player only existed in the imagination of the author of the article,George Plimpton.

3.Instant Color TV

Image 1962:In 1962 there was only one TV channel in Sweden,and it broadcasting black and white.The station's technical expert,Kjell Stensson,appeared on the news to announce that,thanks to a new technology,viewers could convert their existing sets to display color reception.All they had to do was pull a nylon stocking over their TV screen.Stensson proceeded to demonstrate the process.Thousands of people were taken in.Regular color broadcasts only commenced in Sweden on April 1,1970.

4.The Taco Liberty Bell

Taco Liberty Bell 1996:The Taco Bell Corporation announced it had bought the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell.Hundreds of outraged citizens called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell was housed to express their anger.Their nerves were only calmed when Taco Bell revealed,a few hours later,that it was all a practical joke.The best line of the day came when White House press secretary Mike McCurry was asked about the sale.Thinking on his feet,he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold.It would now be known,he said,as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial.

5.San Serriffe

Image 1977:The British newspaper The Guardian published a special seven-page supplement devoted to San Serriffe,a small republic said to consist of several semi-colon-shaped islands located in the Indian Ocean.A series of articles affectionately described the geography and culture of this obscure nation.Its two main islands were named Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse.Its capital was Bodoni,and its leader was General Pica.The Guardian's phones rang all day as readers sought more information about the idyllic[2] holiday spot.Only a few noticed that everything about the island was named after printer's terminology.

6.Nixon for President

1992:National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation program announced that Richard Nixon,in a surprise move,was running for President again.His new campaign slogan was,“I didn't do anything wrong,and I won't do it again.” Accompanying this announcement were audio clips of Nixon delivering his candidacy speech.Listeners responded viscerally to the announcement,flooding the show with calls expressing shock and outrage.Only during the second half of the show did the host John Hockenberry reveal that the announcement was a practical joke.Nixon's voice was impersonated by comedian Rich Little.

7.Alabama Changes the Value of Pi

1998:The April 1998 issue of the New Mexicans for Science and Reason newsletter contained an article claiming that the Alabama state legislature had voted to change the value of the mathematical constant pi from 3.14159 to the “Biblical value” of 3.0.Soon the article made its way onto the internet,and then it rapidly spread around the world,forwarded by email.It only became apparent how far the article had spread when the Alabama legislature began receiving hundreds of calls from people protesting the legislation.The original article,which was intended as a parody of legislative attempts to circumscribe the teaching of evolution,was written by physicist Mark Boslough.

8.The Left-Handed Whopper

1998:Burger King published a full page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of a new item to their menu:a “Left-Handed Whopper” specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans.According to the advertisement,the new whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper（lettuce,tomato,hamburger,patty,etc.）,but all the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of their left-handed customers.The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing that although the Left-Handed Whopper was a hoax,thousands of customers had gone into restaurants to request the new sandwich.Simultaneously,according to the press release,“many others requested their own ‘right handed’ version.”

9.Hotheaded Naked Ice Borers

Hotheaded Naked Ice Borer 1995:Discover Magazine reported that the highly respected wildlife biologist Dr.Aprile Pazzo had found a new species in Antarctica:the hotheaded naked ice borer.These fascinating creatures had bony plates on their heads that,fed by numerous blood vessels,could become burning hot,allowing the animals to bore through ice at high speeds.They used this ability to hunt penguins,melting the ice beneath the penguins and causing them to sink downwards into the resulting slush where the hotheads consumed them.After much research,Dr.Pazzo theorized that the hotheads might have been responsible for the mysterious disappearance of noted Antarctic explorer Philippe Poisson in 1837.“To the ice borers,he would have looked like a penguin,” the article quoted her as saying.Discover received more mail in response to this article than they had received for any other article in their history.

10.Planetary Alignment Decreases Gravity

1976:The British astronomer Patrick Moore announced on BBC Radio 2 that at 9:47 AM a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical[3] event was going to occur that listeners could experience in their very own homes.The planet Pluto would pass behind Jupiter,temporarily causing a gravitational alignment that would counteract and lessen the Earth's own gravity.Moore told his listeners that if they jumped in the air at the exact moment that this planetary alignment occurred,they would experience a strange floating sensation.When 9:47 AM arrived,BBC 2 began to receive hundreds of phone calls from listeners claiming to have felt the sensation.One woman even reported that she and her eleven friends had risen from their chairs and floated around the room.

名人語庫

It is the ability to take a joke,not make one,which proves you have a sense of humor.

～Max Eastman

經得起玩笑是一種能力，代表你有幽默感，而開別人玩笑則不是。

——馬科斯·伊斯曼

1.瑞士面條樹豐收

1957年面條樹豐收：廣受關注的BBC新聞上，帕諾拉瑪宣稱，幸虧去年冬天氣候溫暖，加上那吃意大利面的可怕的象鼻蟲被有效消滅，瑞士農民們才得以享受意大利面條大豐收。此外，新聞上還伴隨著這樣的鏡頭：瑞士農民正在從樹上拉下一股又一股意大利面條，還有大量觀眾圍觀。許多人還特意打電話來問BBC，怎樣種植意大利面樹。而BBC則就此對外回答：“把面條枝插在一罐番茄醬里，然后乖乖等著?！?

2.西德·芬奇

1985年西德·芬奇：《體育畫報》刊登了一則關于新人投手的故事，他的名字叫西德·芬奇，代表“大都會”隊參加比賽，據說他能準確地投出時速168英里的球，比之前的記錄還要快65mph（英里每小時）。令人驚訝的是，西德·芬奇之前從沒玩過棒球。他不過曾在一位名號“大詩圣米萊爾斯巴喇嘛”的手下學習“投球的藝術”?！按蠖紩标牭那蛎詡円蛩麄冎С值那蜿犛行艺业揭晃蝗绱颂熨x的球員而歡慶，而《體育畫報》也被纏著追問更多關于此事的消息。事實上，這位傳奇球員只是存在于文章作者喬治·普林頓的想象中。

3.即時彩色電視

1962年畫面：1962年，瑞典只有一個電視頻道，而且只能播放黑白電視。該電臺的技術專家謝爾·斯坦森出現在新聞上，宣稱多虧了一項新技術，觀眾們可以將現有的電臺轉換成彩色接收。他們只需要拿一雙尼龍襪，蓋在電視屏幕上。接下來，斯坦森還演示了這個過程。有成千上萬的人上當受騙。事實上，在瑞典，日常的彩色電視到1970年4月1日才開始播出。

4.塔可自由鐘

1996年塔可自由鐘：塔可鐘公司宣稱他們引進了自由鐘，并且將其重命名為塔可自由鐘。千百名義憤填膺的市民打電話給自由鐘所在的費城國家歷史公園，表達他們的憤怒。直到幾小時后，塔可鐘公司透露，這只是一場惡作劇，他們的神經才得以安靜下來。當天最精彩的環節，就數他們針對塔可鐘出售的事去咨詢白宮的新聞秘書了。這位秘書站著想了想，回答說，林肯紀念館也在出售。他說，那就是如今著名的福特林肯水星汽車紀念碑。

5.圣·澤里弗

1977年：英國《衛報》發表了一篇長達7頁的特別副刊，講述了印度洋海上一個由7個分號形狀的島嶼組成的小共和國——圣·澤里弗。一些文章還親切地描述了這個隱蔽國家的地理和文化。該國內的兩大島嶼分別是上卡西和下卡西，首都是波多尼，主席是皮卡將軍。讀者們想知道更多關于這田園般的度假區的消息，于是《衛報》所在部門的電話響了一整天。只有少部分人注意到，有關該島的一切事物都是由印刷術語命名的。

6.尼克松當總統

1992年：美國國家公共電臺的談話節目宣稱，理查德·尼克松會來一次驚人的舉動——再次競選總統。他的新運動的口號是：“我之前從沒做過錯事，將來也不會?！卑殡S著此番宣言，還有尼克松的候選演講視頻。觀眾們都很認真地回應此番宣告，聽眾們還不斷打電話表示震驚和宣泄憤怒。當節目進行到第二階段時，主持人約翰·霍肯伯里才透露，這只是一場惡作劇。尼克松的聲音是由喜劇演員里奇·利特模仿的。

7.阿拉巴馬州更改π值

1998年：1998年4月，新墨西哥人科學與推理組織發表的通訊上說，阿拉巴馬州議會已經投票決定將數學常數π（圓周率）的值從3.14159改為“圣經值”3.0。不久，這條消息就傳到網上，并且很快在世界范圍內傳播開來，還通過郵件轉發。之后，阿拉巴馬立法機構收到了立法捍衛者們打進的成百上千個電話，由此可以清楚地看出這篇文章傳播得有多遠。最初，文章是由物理學家馬克思·波斯羅寫的，他當時只是打算將其作為一次限制進化論講授的惡作劇。

8.左手漢堡

1998年：漢堡王在《今日美國》上發布了一整頁廣告，聲稱他們的菜單上增添了一個新的項目：專為3200萬左撇子美國人設計的“左手漢堡”。據廣告上說，新的漢堡包括了以前漢堡的原料（生菜、土豆、漢堡、小餡餅等），可是所有的作料都特意為他們的左撇子顧客旋轉了180°。第二天，漢堡王接著又發布一條消息，透露說盡管左手漢堡只是一次惡作劇，但仍然有上千顧客去到他們店里要新品三明治。據新聞稿所言，與此同時，“還有許多客人要點他們的‘右手’漢堡。”

9.熱裸體鉆冰蟲

1995年熱裸體鉆冰蟲：據《發現》雜志報導，享譽甚高的野生動物生物學家阿普里勒·帕索在南極洲發現了一個新的物種：熱裸體鉆冰蟲。這種頭上有硬骨的迷人生物，由大量血管喂食后，就會變得滾燙，因而能快速蛀穿冰塊。它們利用這種能力捕食企鵝，融掉企鵝腳下的冰塊，使它們沉入雪漿里，然后那些“燙頭”就會鉆進里面將它們吃掉。經過多番研究，帕索博士認為，知名南極探險家菲利普·帕伊森1837年的神秘失蹤可能與那些“燙頭”有關。“對于那些蛀冰蟲來說，他或許就像一只企鵝。”文章引用了她的話。就這篇文章，《發現》雜志收到的回復，比歷史上任何一篇文章的回復都高。

10.行星相遇降低引力

1976年：英國天文學家帕特里克·摩爾于上午9點47分在BBC第二廣播上宣布，將會發生一場千載難逢的天文事件，觀眾們可以在自己的家里見證。冥王星將會從木星旁邊行過，造成暫時的引力疊加，而這將會中和或減少地球自身的萬有引力。摩爾告訴觀眾們，如果人們剛好在這個引力疊加的時刻跳起來，那么他們將會體驗一回神奇的懸浮感。9點47分時，BBC 2開始接到聽眾們打來的上百個電話，說他們的確體驗到了這種感受。一位女性甚至說她和她的11位朋友從椅子上飛了起來，在房間里四處飄蕩。

注釋

[1]diplomatically[?d?pl?'m?t?kl?] ad.外交上，外交地

[2]idyllic[?'d?l?k] a.田園詩般的；牧歌的；質樸宜人的；平和歡暢的

[3]astronomical[??str??n?m?kl] a.天文學的；極大的