Winter Celebrations|冬天的庆祝活动

The winter is not just about Christmas.

Regardless of where you live, holidays are a time for family get-togethers and celebrations. _(1)_ In other societies, there are traditions in December that many hold dear, but few know their exact origins.

In years past, gathering for the winter holiday wasn't for celebrating the birth of Jesus. _(2)_ At the time, during the cold, dark months of the year, people feared being alone and out at night. People would gather together and hold noisy celebrations. _(3)_ During the winter solstice, these evil forces came out in even greater numbers. It wasn't until many years later that this gathering would coincide with the celebration of Christmas.

In the UK, one of the most popular holiday foods is Christmas pudding. In the past, it was believed that everyone in the household had to take part in the preparation of this dish. Part of this custom was that everyone, even the youngest family members, was supposed to mix the pudding at least three times. _(4)_ Doing this together was meant to bring prosperity to the household. If an unmarried girl in the house didn't take part in the stirring of the pudding, it was bad luck. _(5)_ Holiday traditions change and grow with each society. What are the traditions of your favorite holiday?

(A) These parties were loud so as to keep demons, ghosts, and other scary spirits away.

(B) She would have to give up all hope of finding a husband in the upcoming year.

(C) Instead, it was for the winter solstice, which usually falls on December 21 in the northern hemisphere.

(D) In the West, Christmas is not only the biggest holiday but one that millions of people anticipate on a yearly basis.

(E) While stirring, they had to see the bottom of the pot.

冬天的庆祝活动

冬天不单单只有圣诞节。

　　不管你住在何处，节日就是让家人齐聚一堂共同庆祝的时光。在西方世界，圣诞节不只是最盛大，也是好几百万人每年都引颈期盼的节日。而在其他社会中，12月也有不少人钟爱的传统，但很少人知道它们的确切由来。

　　从前，在这个冬季节日中齐聚一堂并非为了庆祝耶稣诞生，而是为了冬至日，在北半球，冬至通常落在 12 月 21 日。当时，在一年中寒冷且黑暗的月份里，人们不敢夜晚独自在外逗留。人们会聚在一起，举办一些热闹的庆祝活动。在这些派对上喧嚣吵闹是为了将恶魔、幽灵和其他恐怖的鬼魂驱离。冬至期间，牛鬼蛇神出没的数量甚至更加庞大。但一直要到很多年后，这项聚会才跟圣诞节的庆祝活动合而为一。

　　在英国，圣诞布丁是最受欢迎的圣诞节食物之一。在过去，大家相信家族里的每个人都要一同准备这道餐点。这项习俗还规定每个人，甚至是家庭成员中年纪最小的，都必须搅动布丁至少 3 下。在搅拌的同时，他们还得看到锅底才行。这项团结之举是为了给家族带来繁荣兴旺。如果家里有未婚的女孩不参加搅拌布丁的仪式，则会招来恶运。这名女子将会丧失来年找到夫婿的一切希望。节日传统随着社会而变迁成长。你喜欢的节日有哪些传统呢？

答案：  1. (D)2. (C)3. (A)4. (E)5. (B)

中国 1年 24 个节气中最重要的一个节气。冬至的日期约在每年 12 月 22 日前后。冬至这天，太阳直射南回归线，所以北半球白天最短，黑夜最长。

在冬至，中国北方有冬至日吃饺子的习俗，南方某些地方有冬至日吃汤圆等甜食的习俗。江浙一带在冬至吃汤圆外，还要吃桂花酒酿并祭祖，苏州还有桂花冬酿酒，只在此时节上市。大汤圆有馅的『粉团』是用于晚上祭祖，而无馅较小的汤圆用于早上拜神。祭祖之后还有将汤圆粘在门窗上，称为『冬节圆』，等干燥以后再给孩子们吃，有保佑健康成长之用。（数据源：维基百科）