初阶文化|第28集：你知道澳大利亚是在夏天过圣诞节吗？

音频一：

M: Christmas is around the corner. And I’m looking for a gift for my girlfriend. Any suggestions?

W: Well you have to tell me something about your girlfriend first. Also, what’s your budget?

音频二：

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.　

音频三：

W: Airports are sad places.

M: Sometimes, I guess. But we’ll keep in touch. And I will fly over to see you at Christmas.

重点词汇：

1, around the corner adv. 在拐角处；即将来临

2, budget /'bʌdʒɪt/ n. 预算

the family/household budget 家庭预算

a tight budget 预算很紧

3, religious /rɪ'lɪdʒəs/ adj. 宗教的

religion /rɪ'lɪdʒən/ n. 宗教；宗教信仰

4, Jesus /'dʒizəs/ n. 耶稣，耶稣基督

5, Christian /'krɪstʃən/ n. 基督徒 adj. 基督教的

Christ /kraɪst/ n.基督

6, festivity /fe'stɪvɪtɪ/ n. 庆祝活动，庆典[【一般用复数】

7, exchange /ɪks'tʃeɪndʒ/ n. 交换，互换

跟读训练：

一、

M: Christmas is around the corner. And I’m looking for a gift for my girlfriend. Any suggestions?

圣诞节就要到了。我想给我女朋友买个礼物。有什么建议吗?

W: Well you have to tell me something about your girlfriend first. Also, what’s your budget?

你得先告诉我你女朋友的一些情况。另外，你的预算是多少?

二、

Christmas is a religious festival. It is the day we celebrate as the birthday of Jesus.　　

圣诞节是一个宗教节日。这是我们庆祝耶稣生日的日子。　　

There are special Christmas services in Christian churches all over the world.

世界各地的基督教会都有特别的圣诞节礼拜活动。

But many of the festivities of Christmas do not have anything to do with religion.

但许多圣诞节的庆祝活动与宗教无关。

Exchanging gifts and sending Christmas cards are the modern ways of celebrating the Christmas in the world.　　

交换礼物和寄送圣诞卡是世界上庆祝圣诞节的现代方式。

三、

W: Airports are sad places.

机场是令人悲伤的地方。

M: Sometimes, I guess. But we’ll keep in touch. And I will fly over to see you at Christmas.

我想有时候是吧。但我们会保持联系的。我会在圣诞节飞过去看你。

背景拓展：

听完了，咱们来讲讲圣诞节，很多人脑海中的画面可能是圣诞老人Santa Claus驾着驯鹿雪橇Reindeer sleigh，但你知道吗？澳大利亚的圣诞节与众不同，他们是在夏季庆祝这个节日。圣诞季期间，澳大利亚人民在烛光晚会唱圣诞歌Christmas carol。装扮圣诞树和悬挂圣诞灯在全国非常普遍，每家门前都挂上花环Christmas wreath 也是非常常见的一种装饰。

到了第二天的节礼日Boxing Day（12月26日），许多澳大利亚人会与亲朋好友相聚海滩，一起烧烤、游泳、尽享阳光下的快乐。

对了，据说，当圣诞老人来到澳大利亚时，因为是夏天，所以他将他的驯鹿换成了六只袋鼠 kangaroos，还将自己的衣服扔到一边，换上了更适合海滩的服装。 

歌曲：

1 All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey 

2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas by Enya