生活是一本精深的书，别人的注释代替不了自己的理解。愿你有所发现，有所创造。
Christmas Day 圣诞节
◎Anonymous
As winter rolls around again this year and the days become chillier,millions of people around the world will break out their winter coats and look forward with anticipation to the approaching holiday season.That's right,Christmas is upon us again.
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.
冬去冬又回，今年也已入冬，天气越来越寒冷，全世界数百万人猛地搬出一大堆冬衣，满心期待即将来临的年度大假。没错，圣诞节又来了！圣诞节的英文原名Christmas是Christ's Mass的缩写，意思是“基督的弥撒”。弥撒是一种教堂礼拜仪式，圣诞节则是一个宗教节日，我们在这一天庆祝耶稣的诞生。圣诞节到来之际，世界各地的基督教教会都会举行特殊的礼拜仪式。但是，现在的很多圣诞节欢庆活动已经和宗教毫无关系。直到近些年来，圣诞节交换礼物和送圣诞卡这两种大众庆祝方式才开始兴起。对一些人而言，这意味着又要翻箱倒柜找出往年的装饰灯、装饰品，将它们挂到圣诞树上了。众所周知，现在这种圣诞树源自19世纪初的德国，但是，通过装饰树木作为冬季佳节来临的标志这一传统，却可以追溯到几百年前的古罗马时代。那时的人们就已经开始使用金属亮片装饰常青树，以庆祝农神节的到来了。中世纪时期，每年的12月24日都会上演一出《天堂剧》。这出剧主要描绘的是人类创造之初，以及亚当、夏娃从伊甸园堕入人间的故事，剧中常常出现一颗挂满苹果的常青树，象征着引诱他们堕落的苹果树。16世纪末，新教创始人马丁·路德是第一个用蜡烛装饰室内树木的人，而他当时的真正目的，只是想再现群星照耀万年青树林的一幕。1605年，德国人最先将装饰好的树木移到室内，而圣诞树在德国可是有着相当悠久的历史！圣诞树上的装饰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，德国的圣诞集市上开始出售形状各异的姜饼和蜡质饰品。人们把这些买回家挂在树上，当作赶集的纪念品。对孩子们来说，圣诞节可是圣诞老人的大舞台，这个神神秘秘、乐乐呵呵、爱爬烟囱的老头，会驾着他那魔幻般的雪橇滑过天际，将礼物撒向乖孩子，而将煤球留给淘气鬼。大多数庆祝圣诞节的人都很熟悉圣诞老人的形象，但圣诞老人的来历以及那错综复杂的发展史，几乎没几个人能说清楚。事实上，圣诞老人的形象出处相当多，源自于许多不同的传统。随着时间的推移，不同传统中的文化元素逐渐融为一体，最终形成了我们今日熟悉的圣诞老人形象，其主要灵感来源于4世纪迈拉的基督教主教圣·尼古拉斯。迈拉是他的居住地，位于小亚细亚拜占庭的古利西亚小镇。他在很小的时候就是基督教徒，毕生都献身于基督教事业，并因好善济施而出名。关于他有一个广为流传的故事：曾有一名虔诚的基督徒，膝下有三个穷得叮当响的女儿，在圣尼古拉斯的资助下，才得以置办嫁妆而不至于沦为娼妓。今天，人们继续使用圣·尼古拉斯（或简称圣·尼克）作为圣诞老人的别称。文化小课堂西方人将红、绿、白三色定为圣诞色，在圣诞节来临之际，都会将整个家用圣诞色装饰一新。红色的代表物是圣诞花和圣诞蜡烛，绿色的代表物则是圣诞树，红色与白色相映成趣的就是圣诞老人了。
The Historical First Thanksgiving Day 历史上第一个感恩节
◎Kathleen Curtin
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.
文化小课堂
感恩节是美国和加拿大共有的节日，由美国人民独创，原意是为了感谢上天赐予的好收成。美国每年11月的第四个星期四为感恩节，加拿大则是10月第二个星期一。正如中国的春节，这一天不管多忙，人们都要和自己的家人团聚。
1621年，普利茅斯殖民地居民和万帕诺亚格印第安人所共赴的秋收宴，即为现在公认的部落里的第一个感恩节庆祝仪式。这种丰收盛宴已成为英国殖民地和美洲原住民之间合作和互动的标志。尽管很多人认为这一飨宴就是第一次感恩节的庆祝仪式，但实际上，飨宴沿袭了庆祝和感谢农作物丰收的悠久传统。在欧洲人抵达北美之前，数世纪以来，整个美洲的原住民一直都在组织安排丰收节庆典、仪式舞蹈和其他的感谢庆典，其中包括普韦布洛人、彻罗基族人、克里克人和其他族人。历史学家还记录了北美的欧洲移民中的其他感谢庆典，包括弗吉尼亚的伯克利种植园里的英国殖民地居民。1619年12月，查尔斯河附近某处，一群由约翰•伍德利夫船长带领的英国殖民者，为他们能在横跨大西洋的漫长航行后平安到达此地，而跪下祈祷并向上帝献上“感恩”。一些学者和作家认为，这一盛事是留有记录的欧洲殖民者官方的第一个感恩节。无论是在普利茅斯、伯克利种植园，还是整个美洲，随着时间的推移，感谢庆典已承载起伟大的意义和重要性。感谢的传承，特别是飨宴，正因为全美国人和家人、朋友齐聚一堂，并准备丰盛的食物以共进一年一度的感恩节大餐，才得以传承数世纪。
美丽语录
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.面对种种伤害，我们要做的更多是感恩，而不仅仅是承受。感谢那些伤害你的事情，忘记那些伤害你的人，伤害也许是无意的，成长却是必须的。
The Differences of Tips Between UK and US 英美消费大不同
◎Anonymous
"Tipping","gratuity"or"service"is handled very differently in the UK and America.It's important to get this right when you visit each place as it can affect whether the staff in bars,cafe,restaurant,hotels,hairdressers,and the drivers of taxis or buses think that you are lovely,rude,strange,or whether they chase you down the street!
In the UK...
In the UK the reason for tipping is to show that you really liked the service.In the UK we have a high minimum wage,and no-one can be paid below this amount for any work,so when you tip,it is mainly showing politeness to the service person,and to acknowledge that they did an excellent job.
You can tip more or less depending on how good you thought the service was,and the average tip is around 10～20%.So if you loved your new 50 pound haircut,you should add another 5～10 pounds onto your bill,and this will go directly to the hairdresser!If you didn't like the service,don't tip!This is the case even if"service"has been added to your bill.If you didn't like the service,you can always refuse to pay.Or if you are a student,traveller on a budget,or simply can't afford to,it's also ok not to spend the extra money.
In the US...
In the US,you will often hear"tips"called"service".It is essential to tip in the US,because the waitresses,bar staff,maitre'd's in these industries are paid a low wage which they cannot afford to live on,and therefore your tip is much needed by them.
It is actually part of the payment that you make and very often is not optional!Especially in restaurants,if you do not pay the service,you have not paid your entire bill,so watch out!
在英国和美国，处理“小费”、“赏钱”或“服务费”的方式大不相同。当你到访这两个国家时，付对小费是非常重要的，因为这会让酒吧、咖啡馆、餐厅、酒店的员工、美发师、出租车或公车司机用两种态度对待你，要么认为你可爱、粗俗、奇怪，要么在街上追着你要钱！在英国在英国，给小费是为了表示你确实很满意这个服务。英国的最低工资很高，无论什么工作都不能支付低于这个标准的酬劳，因此，你给小费主要是向提供服务的人显示你的彬彬有礼，同时承认他们的工作完成得很好。你付的小费多少取决于你对服务认可的程度，小费平均在10～20%左右。因此，如果你喜爱花费50英镑的新发型，就应该再加5～10英镑，这可是直接给美发师的钱！如果你不喜欢这个服务，就不用付小费！即使“小费”已经加到账单上，你也可以不付。如果你不喜欢这个服务，你总是可以拒绝付小费的。又如果你是学生、想省钱的游客，或只是单纯地付不起，不花这额外的钱也是可以的。在美国在美国，你会常常听到人们把“小费”叫做“服务费”。付小费在美国非常重要，因为服务生、酒吧员工和这些行业的总管，他们的酬劳都很低，生存很艰难，因此他们十分需要你的小费。实际上，这部分你需要付的钱通常不是可付可不付的！特别是在餐厅，如果你不付服务费，你就没有付完全款，所以要注意哦！
文化小课堂
不同的国家有不同的付小费习惯，小费及其数目是一种社会习俗，依据文化背景和行业的不同各异。当然，法律并没有规定必须付小费，小费的数目也是完全由顾客做主。
The Round Table Knights 圆桌骑士
◎Anonymous
The Round Table Knights were a group of greatest knights who had the honor to sit at the Round Table at King Arthur's court.According to a story,Arthur had a carpenter build the Round Table to show that no knight,not even Arthur himself was"head of the table".All were equal and the king was just"first among equals".The table was so large that it had enough seats for 150 men and yet could be folded up and carried on horseback.According to another source...Merlin the magician had the table built for Uther,Arthur's father.Uther gave the table to King Leodegan.Later,Leodegan gave the table to Arthur after Arthur married Guenevere,Leodegan's daughter.Still another story says that the Round Table had 12 seats around it,like the table at the Last Supper,with an empty place representing Judas's seat.This seat was called the Siege Perilous,and was reserved for the knight so pure in heart that he would someday find the Holy Grail,the cup or dish used by Jesus at the Last Supper.Any other knight who sat in the seat would die.One day,Sir Galahad's name appeared on the seat.From then on,he occupied the Siege Perilous.Later,as expected,he found the Holy Grail with the other two knights.
Knights considered it a great honor to have a seat at the Round Table.Brave men came to Arthur's court from many countries hoping to become a Round Table Knight.Many stories describe the heroic deeds of various Knights of the Round Table.Several tell of the adventures of Sir Tristram and Sir Gawin.Other famous Round Table Knights included Lancelot,Bedevere,Bors,Galahad,Perceval and Modred...
The greatest adventure of the Round Table was the search for the Holy Grail.However,only the three knights—Bors,Galahad and Perceval were pure enough to be able to find the Grail.All the others had various moral defects.This fact damaged the reputation of the Round Table.To make things worse,a love affair developed between Queen Guenevere and Sir Lancelot,who was perhaps the greatest of the Round Table knights.This scandal destroyed the bonds of respect and friendship that had united all the knights.
The mortal blow to the Round Table was given by Sir Modred,who tried to seize Arthur's power.In a battle between the forces of the two men,Arthur killed Modred but he himself was seriously wounded and soon died.The Round Table broke up following the death of Arthur.
圆桌骑士是一群伟大的骑士，一群有权在亚瑟王宫廷的圆桌旁就座的骑士。据传，亚瑟王传唤木匠制造这一圆桌，正是为了表明众骑士一律平等，亚瑟本人也非“圆桌首席”，而是“众平等骑士之首”。圆桌非常大，可供150人就席，但也可以折叠起来用马驮走。另外，还有一种说法是：巫师默林为亚瑟的父亲尤瑟打造了这张桌子，尤瑟把桌子赠予利奥德根王，亚瑟迎娶其女桂妮薇亚后，利奥德根又将桌子转赠给亚瑟。还有一说是：圆桌与“最后的晚餐”中的圆桌相仿，同样设有12张座席，唯一的空座席是犹大的座位，被称作“危座”，是留给那个心灵最为纯净的骑士的，他终将找到耶稣与门徒共进最后的晚餐时所使用的圣杯或圣盘，而那些心灵不洁的骑士一坐上便会死去。一天，格拉海德爵士的名字出现在座位上，从此他便占据了“危座”。此后，正如所料，他和另两名骑士一起找到了圣杯。骑士们将拥有圆桌座席视作无上的荣耀，各国勇士们纷纷前来投奔亚瑟王宫廷，希望能成为一名圆桌骑士。关于圆桌骑士们英雄事迹的故事非常之多，其中广为流传的就数特里斯坦爵士和高汶爵士的历险故事了，其他著名的圆桌骑士还有兰斯洛特、贝德维尔、鲍斯、格拉海德、珀西瓦尔和莫德雷德等人。圆桌骑士最伟大的冒险故事莫过于寻找圣杯之旅了。然而，全部骑士中只有鲍斯、格拉海德和珀西瓦尔这三名心灵纯洁的骑士有资格找到圣杯，其他骑士的道德各有缺陷，这个事实玷污了圆桌骑士的英名。更糟的是，兰斯洛特爵士竟和王后桂妮薇亚私通，而他也许是最伟大的圆桌骑士。这一丑闻破坏了骑士们友爱互敬的盟约。之后，莫德雷德爵士企图推翻亚瑟谋权篡位，这对圆桌骑士联盟来说，可是致命的打击。这两个男人率军对战，最后亚瑟完胜，杀死了莫德雷德，但他自己也身负重伤，不久便过世了，圆桌骑士联盟也就此终结。
文化小课堂
圆桌骑士常出现在一些游戏和动漫中。事实上，圆桌骑士是中世纪传说亚瑟王宫廷中最高等的骑士，因他们聚会的桌子是个圆桌而得名。圆桌的本来含义是平等的世界。所有圆桌的骑士彼此平等，并且互为伙伴。
A History of Mother's Day 母亲节的历史
◎Holly Hildebrand
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.
文化小课堂
这个节日最早出现在古希腊，而现代的母亲节则起源于美国，为每年5月的第二个星期日。母亲们在这一天通常会收到礼物，人们将康乃馨献给母亲，而在中国，萱草花被视为母亲花，又叫忘忧草。
在古希腊的某个春天，人类举行了第一场纪念母亲的庆典，以此歌颂众神之母瑞亚。17世纪的英格兰，人们在每年大斋期的第四个周日——“拜望双亲日”都会向母亲致敬。在美国，《共和国赞歌》的作词人朱莉娅·沃德·荷，在1872年建议设立母亲节，以向和平献礼。不过，母亲节能正式成为法定节假日，还要归功于费城的安娜·贾维斯。她之所以游说人们设立节日，初衷只是为了纪念自己的母亲，因为她母亲在1905年去世之前，即19世纪末，一直致力于设立“母亲友谊日”，以抚慰南北战争带给人们的创伤。在母亲去世两年后，贾维斯在西弗吉尼亚州格拉夫顿为母亲举办了纪念仪式。这个仪式令她感动不已，因此，她至此开始举行大规模的活动，以促进母亲节成为正式节假日。1910年，西弗吉尼亚州成为确立母亲节的第一州。一年后，几乎每个州都正式确立了这个节日。1914年，伍德罗·威尔逊总统正式宣布，五月的第二个周日为法定节假日——母亲节。但是，贾维斯的成就很快就成为她的困扰。她对母亲节的商业化万分气愤，为此，她不仅为取缔1923年的母亲节庆典提起诉讼，还有一次蓄意扰乱战时的母亲大会，因为那些妇女为了集资而在大会上售卖她心目中象征母亲的白色康乃馨。因为这些事件，她最后竟落得锒铛入狱的下场。“这并不是我的本意，”贾维斯说，“我心中的母亲节是感谢日，而不是发财日！”贾维斯于1948年去世，享年84岁。她的一生颇具讽刺意味。她从没做过母亲，但却建立了母亲节，又千辛万苦地抵制母亲节的商业化。看来，她的“未为人之母”是命中注定的。贾维斯在逝世前不久曾对记者说，她很后悔当初建立了母亲节，说这番话的时候，她正在私人疗养院的房间里。尽管如此，每年母亲节的时候，她的房间仍会堆满来自全世界的卡片。今天，不论母亲节是否与贾维斯的努力有关，但现在全世界都在庆祝母亲节。尽管不同国家的母亲节的日期有所不同，但丹麦、芬兰、意大利、土耳其、澳大利亚、比利时的母亲节，都和美国是同一天。
美丽语录
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.Thank you again for every beautiful things in my life.
亲爱的母亲，谢谢你给了我生命。若没有你，就没有我，也没有我四季的悲欢。谢谢你给了我生命中美好的一切。
The Different Ages of Man 人类的各个时代
◎Anonymous
In the Age of Gold,the world was first furnished with inhabitants.This was an age of innocence and happiness.Truth and right prevailed,thought not enforced by law,no was there any in authority to threaten or to punish.The earth brought forth all things necessary for man,without his labor in plowing or sowing.Perpetual spring reigned,flowers sprang up without seed,the rivers flowed with milk and wine,and yellow honey distilled from the oaks.
The Silver Age came next,inferior to the golden.Jupiter shortened the spring,and divided the year into seasons.Then,first,men suffered the extremes of heat and cold,and houses became necessary.Crops would no longer grow without planting.This was a race of manly men,but insolent and impious.
Next to the Age of Silver came that of brass,more savage of temper and readier for the strife of arms,yet not altogether wicked.
Last came the hardest age and worst,—of iron.Crime burst in like a flood;modesty,truth,and honor fled.The gifts of the earth were put only to nefarious uses.Fraud,violence,war at home and abroad were rife.
Jupiter,observing the condition of things,burned with anger.He summoned the gods to council.Jupiter set forth to the assembly the frightful condition of the earth,and announced his intention of destroying its inhabitants,and providing a new race,unlike the present,which should be worthier of life and more reverent toward the gods.Fearing lest a conflagration might set Heaven itself on fire,he proceeded to drown the world.Speedily the race of men and their possessions were swept away by the deluge.
Parnassus alone,of the mountains,overtopped the waves,and there Deucalion,son the Prometheus,and his wife Pyrrha,daughter of Epimetheus,found refuge—he a just man and she a faithful worshiper of the gods.Jupiter,remembering the harmless lives and pious demeanor of this pair,caused the waters to recede.Then Deucalion and Pyrrha,entering a temple defaced with slime,approached the enkindled altar and,falling prostrate,prayed for guidance and aid.The oracle answered,"Depart from the temple with head veiled and garments unbound,and cast behind you the bones of your mother."They heard the words with astonishment.Pyrrha first broke silence:"We cannot obey;we dare not profane the remains of our parents."They sought the woods.and revolved the oracle in their minds.At last Deucalion spoke:"Either my wit fails me or the command is one we may obey without impiety.The earth is the great parent of all;the stones are her bones;these we may cast behind us;this,I think,the oracle means.They veiled their faces,unbound their garments,and,picking up stones,cast them behind them.The stones began to grow soft and to assume shape.By degrees they put on a rude resemblance to the human form.Those thrown by Deucalion became men;those by Pyrrha,women.
黄金时代，地球首次迎来居民。这是一个快乐无邪的年代：真理与正义主宰天下，思想无需法律的约束和制裁，行为也无需强权的危言和惩戒；人类的一切所需尽由土地供给，无需劳力耕地播种。大地春永在，无种花自开；奶酒入江河，蜜糖出橡树。紧随其后的是白银时代，其繁荣程度不及黄金时代。朱庇特缩短了春季，将一年分成四季之后，人类首次经历了酷热和严寒，房子变得重要起来，农作物必须经过播种才会生长。这一代人类虽然极具男子气概，却狂妄无礼、骄横不虔。白银时代之后是青铜时代，人类的禀性更为野蛮，动辄暴力相向，却也不全是邪恶之辈。最后到来的是最艰难、最糟糕的时代——黑铁时代。罪恶如洪水泛滥，谦逊、真理、荣誉却消失殆尽。大地的馈赠都被用于作奸犯科，家园内外满是欺骗、暴力和战争。眼见着事态不断恶化，朱庇特不禁怒火中烧。他传召众神集会，向诸神阐述了目前大地上可怕的现状，宣布他准备毁灭现有居民的想法，并以全新一代人类取而代之，新人类将更具生存价值，也更敬畏天神。朱庇特害怕火烧会殃及天国，于是选择水淹大地，卑鄙的人类和他们的财产瞬间就被洪水冲走了。群山之中，只有帕那塞斯山未被洪水完全淹没，普罗米修斯之子丢卡利翁和妻子皮拉——厄庇墨透斯之女在山上避难，这是一个正直不阿的男人和一个虔诚信神的女人。朱庇特想起这对男女本是无辜的生命，再加上他们敬神有加，便让洪水退去了。之后，丢卡利翁和皮拉走进一所到处都是烂泥的神殿，点燃香火，在祭坛边跪倒，恳求神的指引和帮助。神谕指示他们：“蒙住头，松开衣带，离开神坛，将你们母亲的尸骨抛至身后。”听到这些话，他们惊讶万分。皮拉最先打破沉默：“我们不能遵从这个神谕，亵渎祖先的遗骸可是大逆不道的啊。”他们走进一片森林，反复想着神谕。最后，丢卡利翁说话了：“要么，以我的智慧还不足以理解这个神谕；要么，可以在不违背天理的情况下遵从神谕。地球是万物之母，石头是她的尸骨，而这些，我们都可以往身后扔。我觉得，这就是神谕的意思。”他们蒙住头，松开衣带，捡起石头，扔向身后。石头开始变软，逐渐显现出人形。丢卡利翁扔的那些石头变成了男人，皮拉扔的石头则变成了女人。
Wedding Customs Around the World 全世界奇特的婚礼习俗
◎Anonymous
Early African American:Jumping the Broom.In the times of slavery in this country,African American couples were not allowed to formally marry and live together.To make a public declaration of their love and commitment,a man and woman jumped over a broom into matrimony,to the beat of drums.(The broom has long held significant meaning for the various Africans,symbolizing,the start of home-making for the newlywed couple.In Southern Africa,the day after the wedding,the bride assisted the other women in the family in sweeping the courtyard,indicating her dutiful willingness to help her in-laws with housework till the newlyweds could move to their new home.)Some African-American couples today are choosing to include this symbolic rite in their wedding ceremony.
Armenia:Two white doves may be released to signify love and happiness.The bride may dress in red silk and may wear cardboard wings with feathers on her head.Small coins may be thrown at her.
Belgium:The bride may still embroider her name on her handkerchief,carry it on the wedding day,then frame it and keep it until the next family bride marries.
Bermuda:Islanders top their tiered wedding cakes with a tiny sapling.The newlyweds plant the tree at their home,where they can watch it grow,as their marriage grows.
Bohemia:The groom gives the bride a rosary,a prayer book,a girdle with three keys(to guard her virtue),a fur cap,and a silver wedding ring.The bride gives the groom a shirt sewn with gold thread blended with colored silks and a wedding ring.Before the ceremony,the groomsman wraps the groom in the bride's cloak to keep evil spirits from creeping in and dividing their two hearts.
Caribbean:A rich black cake baked with dried fruits and rum is especially popular on the islands of Barbados,Grenada and St.Lucia.The recipe,handed down from mother to daughter,is embellished by each.It is considered a"pound"cake—with the recipe calling for a pound each of flour,dark brown sugar,butter,glace cherries,raisins,prunes,currants,plus a dozen eggs and flavorings.The dried fruits are soaked in rum and kept in a crock anywhere from two weeks to six months.
Croatia:Married female relatives remove the bride's veil and replace it with a kerchief and apron,symbols of her new married status.She is then serenaded by all the married women.Following the wedding ceremony,those assembled walk three times around the well(symbolizing the Holy Trinity,)and throw apples into it(symbolizing fertility).
The Czech Republic:Friends would sneak into the bride's yard to plant a tree,then decorate it with ribbons and painted eggshells.Legend said she would live as long as the tree.Brides in the countryside carry on the very old custom of wearing a wreath of rosemary,which symbolizes remembrance.The wreath is woven for each bride on her wedding eve by her friends as a wish for wisdom,love,and loyalty.
Egypt:Families,rather than grooms,propose to the bride.In Egypt,many marriages are arranged.The zaffa,or wedding march,is a musical procession of drums,bagpipes,horns,belly dancers,and men carrying flaming swords;it announces that the marriage is about to begin.
England:Traditionally,the village bride and her wedding party always walk together to the church.Leading the procession:a small girl strewing blossoms along the road,so the bride's path through life will always be happy and laden with flowers.
Finland:Brides wear golden crowns.After the wedding,unmarried women dance in a circle around the blindfolded bride,waiting for her to place her crown on someone's head.It is thought that whoever she crowns will be the next to wed.The bride and groom have seats of honor at the reception.The bride holds a sieve covered with a silk shawl;when the guests slip money into the sieve,their names and the amounts given are announced to those assembled by a groomsman.
Greece:The koumbaros,traditionally the groom's godfather,is an honored guest who participates in the wedding ceremony.Today,the koumbaros is very often the best man,who assists in the crowning of the couple(with white or gold crown,or with crowns made of everlasting flowers,or of twigs of love and vine wrapped in silver and gold paper),and in the circling of the altar three times.Other attendants may read Scripture,hold candles,pack the crowns in a special box after the ceremony.To be sure of a"sweet life",a Greek bride may carry a lump of sugar in her glove on wedding day.
Korea:Ducks are included in the wedding procession because ducks mate for life.The groom once traveled to the bride's house on a white pony,bearing fidelity symbols—a gray goose and gander.
Malaysia:The groom's gifts to the bride are delivered to her home by costumed children in a noisy procession,carrying lavish trays of food and currency folded into animal or flower shapes.Each wedding guest is given a beautifully decorated hard-boiled egg,a symbol of fertility.
Mexico:A"lasso"a very large rosary,is wound around the couple's shoulders and hands during the ceremony to show the union and protection of marriage.Guests at many Mexican weddings gather around the couple in a heart-shaped ring at the reception,perhaps before the first dance.
早期非裔美国人：跳扫帚。黑奴时代的美国尚不允许黑人夫妻正式结婚及共同生活。为了向世人宣告他们的爱情和承诺，夫妻双方会应着鼓点跳过一把扫帚，以此缔结婚约。长久以来，扫帚对于各种非裔人的意义都十分重大，因为这象征着新婚夫妇组建新家的开端。在非洲南部，新娘会在婚礼的第二天帮助家族里的其他女人打扫院子，表明在移居到新家之前，愿意尽职尽责帮助夫家做家务。直到今天，一些美国黑人夫妻仍会选择将这个象征性仪式加入自己的婚礼。亚美尼亚：放飞两只白鸽，预示爱情和幸福。新娘身着红色丝绸装，头戴饰有羽毛的纸翼。也许人们还会向她扔小硬币。比利时：婚礼当天，新娘会随身携带绣有自己名字的手帕。婚后，手帕会镶上边框，一直保存到家族中下一个女子成婚。百慕大群岛：新婚夫妇将一株树苗插在他们多层结婚蛋糕的顶层，婚礼结束后种到自家后院，这样，他们就可以在漫漫婚姻路上亲眼看着这棵树开枝散叶。波西米亚：新郎赠给新娘一串念珠、一本祈祷书，一根串有3把钥匙用以守卫新娘美德的腰带、一顶皮帽和一枚银婚戒；新娘赠给新郎的则是一件用彩绸和金线缝制的衬衣，以及一枚婚戒。在婚礼前，伴郎用新娘的斗篷裹住新郎，防止恶魔侵入并离间两颗相爱的心。加勒比海：在巴巴多斯岛、格林纳达岛和圣卢西亚岛，特别流行一种使用干果和朗姆酒烘焙的、味道浓郁的黑蛋糕，其制作方法由母亲传给女儿，但在传承中会加上各自的特别修饰。这种蛋糕俗称“一磅”蛋糕，因为制作时需要面粉、红糖、黄油、糖渍樱桃、葡萄、西梅、红醋栗各一磅，再加上一打鸡蛋和调味品。干果需要浸泡在朗姆酒中，并放置在瓦罐里保存2周至6个月不等。克罗地亚：已婚女性亲戚摘下新娘的面纱，为她换上象征新婚身份的手帕和围裙，然后所有的已婚女性都要为新娘唱小夜曲。婚礼之后，所有来宾围着象征三位一体的水井转三圈，并往井里投掷苹果，寓意多子多福。捷克共和国：朋友们偷偷溜进新娘的院子种一棵树，并用丝带和彩蛋进行装饰，传说这样新娘就会和树一样长寿。乡村的新娘为纪念往事，还保留着佩戴迷迭香花环的古老传统，而这花环是新娘的好友在新婚前夜为她编织的，祝福她永葆聪慧、爱情甜蜜、婚姻忠贞。埃及：向新娘求婚的不是新郎自己，而是新郎的家人。在埃及，包办婚姻很常见。Zaffa，即婚礼进行曲，除了鼓、风笛、喇叭的乐器演奏，还有跳肚皮舞的女子和手持火焰剑的男子助阵。这个仪式正是在宣布：婚礼即将开始。英格兰：按照传统，乡村新娘和婚礼来宾总是一起步入教堂。队伍最前面的小女孩沿路撒花，预示新娘的人生也会一路幸福、鲜花遍地。芬兰：新娘头戴金冠。婚礼后，未婚女子环绕蒙住眼睛的新娘跳舞，等待新娘将金冠戴到其中一人的头上。据说，获得金冠的女子就是下一个要结婚的人。新娘和新郎坐在婚宴的贵宾席上，新娘手捧盖有丝绸披巾的筛子。当客人将礼钱放在披巾上，钱就会顺势滑入筛子，来宾的名字和礼钱的金额，则会由伴郎向众人宣布。希腊：Koumbaros是指参加婚礼的特殊嘉宾，按照传统，往往是新郎的教父。但今天，Koumbaros也可以是伴郎，负责协助新婚夫妇佩戴头冠，并围绕圣坛转三圈。头冠可以是白冠或金冠，或用永不凋落的干花制成，也可以用金银纸包住象征爱情的枝条和藤蔓制成。婚礼其他来宾则阅读《圣经》，手持蜡烛，并在婚礼结束后将头冠装入一个特殊的盒子里。为确保婚后生活甜蜜幸福，希腊新娘会在婚礼当天往手套里放一块糖。韩国：鸳鸯总是成双成对，因此被纳入婚礼队伍中。过去，新郎骑着白马，带着一对象征忠诚的雌雄灰鹅拜访新娘家。马来西亚：新郎赠给新娘的礼物，由一群穿着奇装异服的孩子排成队热热闹闹地送到新娘家，他们还端着盛有丰盛食物和纸币折成的动物或花形的托盘。每个参加婚礼的来宾都会获赠一颗装饰精美的水煮蛋，象征着早生贵子。墨西哥：在婚礼上，夫妻的肩上和手上会缠绕一条巨大的念珠，即“套索”，表示永结同心、婚姻美满。在许多墨西哥人的婚礼上，在第一支舞以前，来宾都会环绕新婚夫妇站成心形的圈。
美丽语录
Marriage is not a ritual or an end.It is a long,intricate,intimate dance together and nothing matters more than your own sense of balance and your choice of partner.
婚姻不是仪式也不是终点，而是一场漫长的高难度亲密共舞，最重要的就是你自己的平衡感和你所选择的舞伴。
Pop Culture 流行文化
◎Andrew Ross
When you think of American culture,what first comes to your mind?McDonald's?Coca Cola?Levi's?Disneyland?Michael Jordan?Julia Roberts?Many people imagine American culture is a collection of popular symbols like these.Actually,these symbols are only one small part of American culture—"pop culture".
What is pop culture?Well,pop is short for popular.The origins of pop culture can often be traced to popular movies,television shows,music stars and sports figures.Pop culture is also promoted by business and advertising.The most common examples of American pop culture appear among high school and college students.Trends set by famous personalities quickly become part of young people's lifestyles.
American pop culture has spread around the world.One major reason for its popularity is that English is a universal language.English is the language of diplomacy,international business and transportation.Since language and culture go together,learning English means becoming aware of English-speaking cultures.Also,America is a world leader in movies,music and magazines.The kind of American culture communicated in those media is pop culture.Finally,pop culture is easy to package and to export.For that reason,it is easy to"sell"to the world.
(At a cafe in Paris,France)
Pierre:I just saw an advertisement for that recent American movie"The Pelican Brief".Sounds interesting.Want to go see it with me?
Jean:I don't think so.I've got too much to do.Besides,all of this American influence really bothers me.Everybody's going to see American movies,listening to American rock music and eating American fast food.
Pierre:Oh,come on.Don't be such a grouch.People just want to find out what America is all about.The movies I've seen make American lifestyles seem exciting.Maybe we could learn a few things from them.
Jean:Learn a few things!Yeah,sure.We'll learn how to be American and forget how to be French.If we follow American ways,it's going to change our own culture.Americans will be the winners,and we'll be the losers.
Pierre:Now,wait a minute.You're forgetting that we have a global economy now.If we want to do business with Americans,we have to understand their culture.
Jean:If American culture is Michael Jackson,Mickey Mouse and McDonald's,I don't want to understand it.
Many people assume that American pop culture is what America is all about.Does pop culture reflect the true culture of America?Yes and no.Pop culture does represent a portion of American society—especially urban young people that are tuned in to the media.But American pop culture is faddish and ever—changing.It is an artificial and superficial picture of America.If you want to learn about real American culture,you'll have to go a little farther than McDonald's.
谈到美国文化时，你首先想到的是什么？麦当劳？可口可乐？李维斯牛仔裤？迪斯尼乐园？迈克尔·乔丹？还是茱莉亚·罗伯茨？许多人将美国文化想象成类似这些流行符号的集合。实际上，这些符号只是美国文化中的一小部分——“流行文化”。什么是流行文化？其实，“流行”就是“大众流行”的简写。流行文化的起源总是可以追溯到流行电影、电视节目、歌星和体育明星，商业和广告也能带动流行文化。美国流行文化最寻常的典范就是高中生和大学生，由名人引领的潮流很快成为年轻一族的部分生活方式。美国流行文化在全世界蔓延开来。美国文化之所以流行，首先因为英语是一门全球性语言，还是外交语言、国际贸易语言和运输语言。既然语言和文化一直如影随形，学英语就意味着了解英语国家的文化。其次，美国是全球的电影、音乐、杂志先锋，在这些媒介中传播的美国文化就是流行文化。最后，流行文化很容易打包输出，因此，也很容易“贩卖”至全世界。（在法国巴黎的咖啡馆里）皮埃尔：我刚看到最新美国大片《塘鹅暗杀令》的宣传广告，好像很有意思，我们一起去看吧？珍：我觉得没什么意思。我还有很多事情要做。另外，所有这些美国流行元素实在让我很烦。每个人都在看美国电影，听美国摇滚音乐，吃美国快餐。皮埃尔：噢，别这样，别这么牢骚满腹嘛。人们只是想多了解美国一些。我看过的电影都让我觉得美国人的生活方式很带劲，也许我们应该向他们学一点。珍：学一点！是啊，当然。我们要学怎么做一个美国人，反倒忘记怎么做一个法国人了。如果我们学美国人的样子，美国文化肯定会改变我们自己的文化。最后，美国人成了赢家，我们成了输家。皮埃尔：既然说到这里了，等一下。你好像忘记了我们现在是全球经济体了吧，如果我们想和美国人做生意，就必须了解他们的文化。珍：如果美国文化就是迈克尔·杰克逊、米奇老鼠和麦当劳，我才不想去了解呢。许多人认为美国流行文化就是美国的一切。流行文化确实能反映美国的真实文化吗？既是，也不是。流行文化确实代表了美国社会的部分群体，特别是关注媒体的都市年轻人。但是，美国流行文化稍纵即逝，瞬息万变，它是美国文化中人为且肤浅的一面。如果你想了解真正的美国文化，就必须了解更深层次的内容，至少比麦当劳深一些。
Customs of Dental Transition Around the World 世界各地换牙习俗
◎Akiko.Tsuji-San
Japan
If it is a lower baby tooth,throw it up onto the roof;and if it is an upper tooth,throw it underneath the"en-no-shita"(the lower portion below the floor of a Japanese house).It is done so that the upper tooth grows healthy downwards,while the lower tooth upwards.
Vietnam
Both the upper and lower teeth are thrown up over the house.
Korea
The same method as that of Japan。
USA
A child puts the baby tooth under his pillow before going to bed.A tooth fairy comes during the night and takes the tooth with her.The next morning,the child would find money underneath the pillow.
France
Like the American version,the child puts his baby tooth under the pillow when he goes to bed.The fairy takes it while he is asleep,and replaces it with a present instead of money.
Mexico
It is the same as the American and the French version,so the child goes to bed with the baby tooth under the pillow.A mouse,not a fairy,takes it during the night.It leaves some money,too.
Mongolia
In Mongolia,they put the baby tooth in the meat and feed it to the young dog.Because the dog is respected and is considered a guardian angel.When the guardian angel eats it,it is said,that a strong tooth will grow.
United Kingdom
Like the American version,the child puts his baby tooth under the pillow.The fairy takes it and replaces it with a coin.
Spain
In Spain,a mouse replaces the baby tooth under the pillow with a coin during the night.
Slovenia
In Slovenia,a mouse replaces the baby tooth under the pillow with a candy during the night.
日本如果是下乳牙，就扔到屋顶上；如果是上乳牙，就扔到"en-no-shita"（日本房屋地板下面较低的地方）底下。这么做之后，上牙就能健康地向下生长，而下牙也能健康地向上生长。越南上牙和下牙都向上扔过房子。韩国方法与日本一样。美国小孩子在睡前把乳牙放到枕头下面。牙仙子就会在夜间过来取走牙齿。第二天早上，小孩子会在枕头下找到钱。法国类似美国的版本，小孩子睡觉时把乳牙放在枕头下面。仙子在他沉睡时取走牙齿，同时留下一个礼物，而不是钱。墨西哥类似美国和法国的版本，小孩子把乳牙放在枕头下面睡觉。不是仙子，而是一只老鼠会在夜间取走牙齿。它也会留下钱。蒙古在蒙古，人们把乳牙放在肉里喂小狗。因为狗受人尊敬，是公认的保护神。据说，当守护天使吃掉牙齿时，就会长出强壮的牙齿。英国类似美国的版本，小孩子把乳牙放在枕头下。仙子取走乳牙，并用一枚硬币替换之。西班牙在西班牙，老鼠在夜间用一枚硬币替换枕头下的乳牙。斯诺文尼亚在斯诺文尼亚，老鼠在夜间用一颗糖替换枕头下的乳牙。
阅读小课堂
English Allusions That You Don't Know
你所不知道的一些英语典故
Cleopatra（克娄巴特拉）
后人所称的“埃及艳后”，指绝代佳人。这是莎士比亚戏剧《安东尼和克娄巴特拉》中的人物。
Shylock（夏洛克）
指贪婪、残忍、追求钱财、不择手段的守财奴。莎士比亚戏剧《威尼斯商人》中的人物。
Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde（吉基尔医生和海德先生）
指有双重性格的人。一方面善良、温和（吉基尔医生），另一方面凶恶、残暴（海德先生）。这是史蒂文生的小说《吉基尔医生和海德先生奇案》（又名《化身博士》）中的人物。
Frankenstein（弗兰肯斯坦）
人们常说“制造一个弗兰肯斯坦”，指杀伤原制造者的怪物或东西，也指制造这种东西的人以及可怕的怪物。这是玛丽·雪莱的小说《弗兰肯斯坦》（又译《科学怪人》）中的人物。这本书的主人公是医学院的学生，他把尸体中的骨头取来，制造了一个似人的怪物弗兰肯斯坦，最后自己被这个怪物杀害。
Sherlock Holmes（夏洛克·福尔摩斯）
指有非凡才能的侦探或敏锐精明的人，这种人善于通过仔细观察、科学分析和逻辑推理，进行追捕或解决疑难问题。夏洛克·福尔摩斯是阿瑟·柯南道尔著名侦探小说中的主人公。
Uncle Tom（汤姆叔叔）
指逆来顺受的人，尤其是黑人，这种人情愿忍受侮辱和痛苦，在思想上和行动上绝不反抗。这个词有贬义，来自哈利特·斯托的小说《汤姆叔叔的小屋》中的主人公。
Horatio Alger story（霍雷肖·阿尔杰式的故事）
指一种神话般的“飞黄腾达”的经历，往往描写穷小子艰苦奋斗往上爬，最后功成业就，成为富裕的社会名流的故事。因霍雷肖·阿尔杰写的小说情节几乎全部如此而得名。他最著名的作品是《衣衫褴褛的狄克》（Ragged Dick）系列小说和《衣衫褴褛的汤姆》（Tattered Tom）系列小说。
catch-22 situation（第二十二条军规式的处境）
指不可摆脱的困境：各种因素相互依存，A决定于B，而B又决定于A，所以是一种无出路的连锁性绝境。这一用语出自美国作家约瑟夫·海勒写的《第二十二条军规》。
Herculean task（艰苦的任务）
指需要巨大的体力或智力才能完成的任务。海格立斯是希腊神话中身材魁梧、力大无穷的英雄。他曾被罚去完成12项极为艰巨的任务，成功后被封为神。如：It was a Herculean task,but he managed to do it.
Achilles heel（唯一致命的弱点）
指一个人（组织、国家等）的弱点。故事是这样的：在荷马史诗《伊利亚特》中有一位希腊英雄阿基里斯（Achilles），出生后被他的母亲倒提着在冥河中浸过，以便使之刀枪不入。阿基里斯全身浸入水中，唯独脚跟抓在他母亲手里未湿，所以脚跟成了唯一的弱点。最后，阿基里斯在战斗中恰恰因脚跟受伤而死。
Pandora's box（潘多拉之盒——灾难、麻烦、祸害的根源）
指看上去有用却引起祸害的礼物或其他物品。在希腊神话中第一个妇女潘多拉因受惩罚，被众神谪下凡间。宙斯给她一个盒子，让她带给娶她的男人。当盒子最后打开时，所有的罪恶、不幸、灾难等都跑了出来，从此给人类带来无穷的祸害。
to be down and out（被困难压倒，完全失败）
原指在拳击运动中被击倒而不能继续比赛，转义为虽经过努力挣扎，但已处于绝望境地而彻底垮台。
Rambo（兰博）
兰博是80年代中期美国电影中的一个著名人物。他是在侵越战争中为美军卖过命的汉子，足智多谋沉默寡言，性情孤僻，行为有点古怪。在电影中，他历尽艰险并经常使用暴力，又奇迹般地死里逃生。他用射击、刀砍、轰炸及火烧杀出一条活路，虽然这些情节令人难以置信，他的某些暴力行动也使人反感，但他却是许多美国男孩和青年心目中的当代英雄。
as American as apple pie（像苹果馅饼一样典型的美国式）
苹果馅饼是美国人喜欢的甜食之一，常常配着冰淇淋一起吃。有人说苹果馅饼是美国人发明的，也有人说它是在美国最先流行起来的。这一短语用来强调某种东西是真正美国式的。
That's something for Ripley（那简直是里普利的奇闻）
美国有许多家报纸刊登里普利写的“信不信由你”这一专栏，所报导的都是一些稀奇古怪或匪夷所思的事，却都是真实的、经过核实的。因为这些事太古怪，非同一般，人们常觉得难以相信。这一短语一般指令人难以置信而又很可能是事实的事。
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