在基督教国家,圣诞节同时兼具宗教节日与文化节庆的双重功能,除了参与教会仪式与活动外,家户、行号与街头上也可见相关布置,更是重要的商业活动时令;而过圣诞节的习惯,亦随着近代西方国家的影响力而扩展到全世界。
但在基督教并非主流的地区(如东亚),除了当地的教会团体外,圣诞节经常与消费活动挂钩,且如同西方国家的“圣诞及新年季”与公历新年结合,过节时间拉长到数周,成为全年重要的购物季之一。
https://www.whychristmas.com/
你想深入了解的,点开详情全都有。
英国
英国人在圣诞节是最注重吃的,食品中包括烧猪、火鸡、圣诞布丁、圣诞碎肉饼等。每一个家人都有礼物,仆人也有份,所有的礼物是在圣诞节的早晨派送。有的唱圣诞歌者沿门逐户唱歌报佳音,他们会被主人请进屋内,用茶点招待,或者赠小礼物。
Most villages, towns and cities are decorated with Christmas lights over Christmas. Often a famous person switches them on. The most famous Christmas lights in the UK are in Oxford Street in London. Every year they get bigger and better. Thousands of people go to watch the big 'switch on' around the beginning of November.
美国
因为美国是由许多民族组成的国家,所以美国人庆祝圣诞的情形也最为复杂,从各国来的移民仍多依照他们祖国的风俗。不过,在圣诞时期,美国人的门外挂着花环以及其它别致的布置则是一样的。
Many Americans, especially Christians will go to Church to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Many churches have special Christmas Carol services and events where the story of Christmas is told.
Americans also send out Christmas Cards, like Carol singing and there's the unusual custom of the Christmas Pickle!
People in America like to decorate the outsides of their houses with lights and sometimes even statues of Santa Claus, Snowmen and Reindeer. Some cookies and glass of milk are often left out as a snack for Santa on Christmas Eve!
中国
虽然圣诞节是从西方传入的节日,但圣诞节在中国的火爆程度绝不亚于其他国家。 在中国,有在圣诞前夜平安夜给亲朋好友送苹果的习俗,而且这个习俗其实是中国人开创的。苹果的“苹”与平安的“平”同音,于是就有了平安夜送苹果的习俗。连外国人都对中国人的脑洞佩服的五体投地。
In China, only about one percent of people are Christians, so most people only know a few things about Christmas. Because of this, Christmas is only often celebrated in major cities. In these big cities there are Christmas Trees, lights and other decorations on the streets and in department stores. Santa Claus is called 'Shen Dan Lao Ren' and has grottos in shops like in Europe and America. The post men might dress up as Santa when delivering letters before Christmas!
法国
法国的一般成年人,在圣诞前夕差不多都要到教会参加子夜弥撒。在完毕后,家人同去最年老的已婚的哥哥或姊姊的家里,团聚吃饭。这个集会,讨论家中要事,但遇有家人不和睦的,在此后也前嫌冰释,大家要和好如初了,所以圣诞在法国是一个仁慈的日子。
In French Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Joyeux No?l'. In Breton (spoken by some people in Brittany, Northern France) it's 'Nedeleg Laouen', in Corsican it's 'Bon Natale' and in Alsatian (spoken by some people in Alsace, in Eastern France) it's 'E güeti W?nachte'. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.
One of the biggest Christmas markets in Europe is held in Strasbourg, in North Eastern France. In the Alsatian language it's called the "Christkindelsmarik".
西班牙的儿童会放鞋子在门外或窗外,接收圣诞礼物。在许多城市里有礼物给最美丽的子女。牛在那天也能得到很好的待遇。据说在耶稣诞生时,曾有一头牛向他吐气来使到他得到温暖。
Most people in Spain go to Midnight Mass or 'La Misa Del Gallo' (The Mass of the Rooster). It is called this because a rooster is supposed to have crowed the night that Jesus was born. Christmas Eve is known as Nochebuena. In the days before Nochebuena, children might take part in 'piden el aguinaldo' where they go and sing carols around their neighbors hoping to get some money!
意大利
每一个意大利的家庭,都放有耶稣诞生故事的模型景物。在圣诞前夕,家人团聚吃大餐,到午夜时参加圣诞弥撒。完毕之后,便去访问亲友,只有小孩和年老的人得到礼物。在圣诞节,意大利人有一种很好的风俗,儿童们作文或撰诗歌,表示感谢他们的父母在这年来给他们的教养。他们的作品,在未吃圣诞大餐之前,被暗藏在餐巾里、碟子的下面或是桌布里,父母装作看不见。在他们吃完大餐之后,便把它取回,向大家朗读。
Most people in Spain go to Midnight Mass or 'La Misa Del Gallo' (The Mass of the Rooster). It is called this because a rooster is supposed to have crowed the night that Jesus was born. Christmas Eve is known as Nochebuena. In the days before Nochebuena, children might take part in 'piden el aguinaldo' where they go and sing carols around their neighbors hoping to get some money!
瑞典
瑞典人是很好客的,圣诞节时,更有明显的表现,每一个家庭,不论贫富,都欢迎朋友,甚至陌生人也可以去,各种食品摆在桌上,任人来吃。
Around Christmas time in Sweden, one of the biggest celebrations is St. Lucia's Day (or St. Lucy's Day) on December 13th. The celebration comes from stories that were told by Monks who first brought Christianity to Sweden.
瑞士
瑞士的圣诞老人是穿白色的长袍,戴上假面具的。他们都是由贫苦人所扮,结队向人讨取食品和礼物。在收队后,他们就平分所得的东西。
Christmas in Switzerland shares many of the customs from its neighbors Germany and Austria. But it has many traditions of its own!
Christmas markets are very popular in towns and cities where you can buy all kinds of Christmas foods and decorations. There are big light displays and you can enjoy some more hot Glühwein!
丹麦
丹麦是最初推出圣诞邮票和称防痨邮票的,这种邮票发出来筹款作防痨经费。在丹麦人寄出的圣诞邮件上没有不贴上这种邮票的。收接邮件的人,看见贴有愈多圣诞邮票的,会觉得更喜欢哩。
In Denmark most people go to a Church Service on Christmas Eve about 4.00pm to hear the Christmas sermon or talk. It's also an old, traditional custom to give animals a treat on Christmas Eve, so some people go for a walk in the park or woods and they might take some food to give the animals and birds. You might also go for a walk to give you an appetite for the Christmas meal!
智利
智利人庆祝圣诞节,必有一种名叫【猴子尾巴】的冷饮品,是用咖啡、牛乳、鸡蛋、酒和发酵的葡萄合制而成。
Christmas in Chile is very warm as it's in the middle of summer! However, it shares many of the same Christmas customs as the USA.
In Chile, Santa is called 'Viejito Pascuero' (Old Man Christmas) or sometimes 'Papa Noel' (Father Christmas)
挪威
挪威人在圣诞前夕临睡前,家里各人都把自己所穿的一双鞋子,由大至小排成一列,是各人轮流唱出他最喜欢的圣诞歌或圣诗一首。
Maybe the most famous custom about Christmas in Norway is the big Christmas Tree that Norway gives to the UK every year. The tree is given as a present to say 'thank you' for the help that the people of the UK gave to Norway during World War II. The tree stands in Trafalgar Square in the middle of London and often thousands of people come to watch when the lights are turned on.
爱尔兰
爱尔兰的每一个家庭,在圣诞节前夕,都放有一枝洋烛或灯在窗门架,表示欢迎救世主降生。
In Ireland, people celebrate Christmas in much the same way as people in the UK and the USA, but they also have many of their own Christmas traditions and customs.
荷兰
荷兰人的圣诞礼物,往往是出乎一般人所意料的,有时会被藏在布丁羊肠里面。
For most children in The Netherlands, the most important day during December is 5th December, when Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) brings them their presents!
Sinterklass travels with his servants called 'Zwarte Pieten' ('Black Peters'). When Sinterklaas and the Black Peters come ashore from the steam boat, all of the local church bells ring in celebration. Sinterklaas, dressed in his red robes, leads a procession through the town, riding a white horse. Every town in The Netherlands has a few Sinterklaas helpers, dressed the same as Sinterklaas who help give the presents out. (And sometimes you might one see one or more Zwarte Pieten with Sinterklaas!)
德国
德国的每一信奉耶稣教的家庭,都有一株圣诞树,圣诞树是在德国最先有的。德国人对于制圣诞节饼是很讲究的。饼有很多款式,在亲友之间,彼此均有赠送。
Germany is well known for its Christmas Markets where all sorts of Christmas foods and decorations are sold. Perhaps the most famous German decorations are glass ornaments. The glass ornaments were originally hand blown glass and were imported in the USA in 1880s by the Woolworth stores. The legend of the glass 'Christmas Pickle' is famous in the USA, but it's that, a legend. Most people in Germany have never heard of the Christmas Pickle!
问题来了,
圣诞节你会送给她什么礼物呢?