里昂夜讀英語美文[342]:盤點那些千奇百怪的國慶節(jié)
The Most Ancient
最歷史久遠(yuǎn)的國慶
San Marino set September 3 as its national day as early as the year 301.
早在公元301年建國時，圣馬力諾就把9月3日定為自己的國慶節(jié)，至今已有漫長的歷史。
The Republic of San Marino was established that day and it is located to the northeast of Apennines Peninsula in South Europe, bounded by Italy.
圣馬力諾共和國位于南歐亞平寧半島東北部，四周與意大利領(lǐng)土接壤。
Since the statutes of the republic were enacted in 1263, San Marino is considered as the oldest republic in Europe.
該國1263年制定共和國法規(guī)，是歐洲最古老的共和國。
Business, industry and agriculture there have all been developed while tourism and stamps are the major financial industries of the nation.
圣馬力諾商工農(nóng)三業(yè)并舉發(fā)展，旅游和郵票收入是國家經(jīng)濟的重要來源。
San Marino shares a mild climate with beautiful scenery and historical places,
該國氣候溫和，風(fēng)景優(yōu)美，名勝古跡引人入勝，
and receives more than 2.5 million visitors from all over the world.
每年接待世界各地的游客250多萬人。
The Most Agonizing
最糾結(jié)萬分的國慶
The Day of German Unity is the national day of Germany, celebrated on October 3 as a public holiday.
1990年10月3日東德、西德合并，德國作為一個統(tǒng)一國家正式成立。
It commemorates the anniversary of German reunification in 1990.
于是，每年的10月3日都被稱為德國統(tǒng)一日，也就是德國的國慶節(jié)。
An alternative choice would have been the day the Berlin Wall came down —November 9,1989,
然而，德國人原先確定的國慶日期其實是11月9日，因為這一天蘊含了太多的歷史涵義：
which coincided with the anniversary of the November Revolution in 1918 and the defeat of Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch in 1923.
1989年11月9日柏林墻倒塌，1918年11月9日德國十一月革命爆發(fā)，1923年11月9日希特勒"啤酒館政變"失敗。
However, November 9 was also the anniversary of the first large-scale Nazi-led action against Jews in 1938,
不過令人扼腕的是，這一天恰好也是納粹1938年對猶太人開始進(jìn)行大規(guī)模屠殺的日子，
so the day was considered inappropriate as a national holiday.
在這個背景下，還將11月9日定為國慶節(jié)顯然很不合適。
Therefore, October 3,1990, the day of the formal reunification, was chosen instead.
因此德國才最終將國慶節(jié)改為10月3日，作為該國完成統(tǒng)一的紀(jì)念。
The Most Elusive
最捉摸不定的國慶
The date of the UK's national day is uncertain, partly because of the UK's fickle weather.
由于英國天氣變化無常，其國慶日期也一度無法確定。
According to the historical convention,
按照歷史慣例，
the birthday of the reigning king or queen is set as the national day and Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21.
在位君主的生日即為英國國慶日，現(xiàn)英國女王伊麗莎白二世的生日為4月21日。
However, the climate in London in April is unpleasant, so the kingdom chooses the 2nd Saturday of June instead to be the Queen's official birthday
但由于4月的倫敦天氣往往欠佳，所以英政府特意將"女王官方誕辰日"指定為每年6月的第2個星期六，
in order to get better weather for the event.
以促成更為宜人的天氣條件。
The national day of the UK at times seems more like a personal affair for the royal family and it is typically a low-profile celebration.
和大多數(shù)國家的國慶日相比，英國國慶不免有王室一己之私的意味，該國的國慶慶祝也顯得異常低調(diào)。
Saturday is not a working day in the UK and the national day is not recognized as an official holiday.
此外，周六在英國本來就非工作日，因此這一天并不屬國家法定節(jié)假期。
