介绍:
首先我们看圣诞这个词Christmas是来自old english "Cristes Masse", 意思就是the mass of Christ（基督弥撒）.
那跟圣诞有关的几个日子
首先圣诞节是12月25日
Christmas Day is on December 25,
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the son of God. His birth date is unknown because there is little information about his early life.
圣诞节是12月25日，在基督教国家呢，是庆祝上帝之子耶稣诞生的日子，其实呢耶稣诞生是2000年前的事情，没有人明确知道他具体是哪天出生的，所以在公元354年的时候罗马主教选择12月25日这一天为耶稣基督的生日
圣诞的前一天晚上是圣诞前夜 Christmas Eve, 也叫平安夜Silent night
圣诞的后一天12月26日叫节礼日Dec 26 is called Boxing Day（节礼日，往往在这一日大家互赠礼物）in the UK, which means everyone opens their box of presents, it is the most joyful day for the children.
圣诞节是美国最大的一个节日，也是很多国家最受欢迎的基督教节日
圣诞节的最核心的部分是庆祝家庭,爱,感恩他人和送礼物表达感谢朋友和所爱的人。
Christmas Day is the biggest and best-loved holiday in the United States.It is one of the most festive Christian holidays in many countries around the world. The spirit of Christmas at its heart is a festival to celebrate family, love, gratitude to others and giving presents to show appreciation to friends and loved ones.
前面我们说到耶稣的诞辰之日已经无从考证，那圣诞节究竟是否是耶稣诞辰之日对于现代人来说已经不那么重要，它就像我们的春节一样，大家相聚一堂，交换礼物，寄圣诞卡，吃火鸡大餐，圣诞节是一个普天同庆的日子。
那我们看看圣诞节人们都做什么
首先在圣诞节前，People decorate their homes with ornaments and mistletoe. 人们用装饰品和槲寄生来装饰家里。
说到槲寄生mistletoe, By tradition, people who meet under a hanging mistletoe are obliged to kiss. 按照传统，在槲寄生下相遇的人必须要接吻，是不是很浪漫？kiss under the mistletoe.
这是一个家庭团聚的日子this is a perfect time for family reunion.
family and friends gather together , on Dec 24, for a big turkey dinner, completed with Christmas pudding. Everyone shares their stories of the year or brings a newsletter to read out for what has happened during the past year. Games are played after the dinner.
children in many countries around the world hang their Christmas stockings (or pillow cases), hoping for a present to arrive from Santa Claus on Christmas Day.
exchange presents, sing Christmas songs, Christmas carols
各国又有自己特殊的习俗，比如法国的小朋友就会把鞋子放在壁炉旁
Children in France set out their shoes near a fireplace on Christmas Eve because they believe that Father Christmas (Santa Claus), will arrive before dawn and fill them with toys, nuts and sweets.
而英国，在圣诞节当天无论年龄老幼，所有人都会在头上戴一顶彩色纸做成的纸帽子。paper hats所有的英国家庭至少都会准备一盒拉炮留到圣诞节时来拉响。 cracker
互道祝福的话 Christmas greetings
我们最熟悉的应该是
Merry Christmas and happy New Year!
圣诞快乐，恭贺新禧！
