VOA慢速英語:夢想白色的圣誕

夢想白色的圣誕

A man walks past snow-covered Christmas decorations on apartments in Berea, Ohio, December 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

This is Steve Ember with a VOA Special English holiday program.

我是史蒂夫·艾姆博，這里是美國之音慢速英語假期特別節(jié)目。

Music fills the air. Colorful lights shine brightly in windows. Children and adults open gifts from loved ones and friends. These are all Christmas traditions.

空中彌漫著音樂。櫥窗里各種顏色的燈光閃爍。孩子和成人打開愛人和朋友送的禮物。這些都是圣誕的傳統。

Another tradition is snow. Christmas in the northern part of the world comes a few days after the start of winter. In many places, a blanket of clean white snow covers the ground on Christmas Day. This is what is meant by a “White Christmas.”

圣誕的另一個傳統是雪。進入冬天不久，世界的北方地區(qū)就迎來了圣誕。在很多地方，圣誕節(jié)當天，地面白雪覆蓋。這就是為什么叫做“白色圣誕節(jié)”。

Of course, many places do not get snow at Christmas. In fact, they may be very warm this time of year. People who like snow, but live where it is warm, can only dream of having a white Christmas.

當然，有很多地方，圣誕節(jié)并不會下雪。實際上，這時候甚至還很暖和。人們喜歡雪，但是他們住的地方很溫暖，只能夢想著有一個白色的圣誕節(jié)。

American songwriter Irving Berlin captured these feelings in his song “White Christmas.” It is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. The opening words explain why the singer is dreaming of a white Christmas. Most people never hear these words, so they never really understand the true meaning of the song. Here’s how it starts:

美國作曲家歐文·柏林在他的“白色圣誕”歌曲中表達了這些感覺。這是一首最受歡迎的歌曲之一。開場白解釋了一下為什么歌手夢想著白色圣誕節(jié)。很多人并沒有聽過這些句子，所以，他們也不明白歌詞的真意。下面是歌詞的開頭：

The sun is shining.

太陽照耀著大地

The grass is green.

草色青綠

The orange and palm trees sway.

橙子樹和棕櫚樹搖曳

I’ve never seen such a day in Beverly Hills, L.A.

在洛杉磯貝弗利山，從未見過這樣的一天

But it’s December the 24^th

因為是12月24號

And I’m longing to be up north.

我渴望能夠在北方

Up north, where it is cold and snowy.

北方、寒冷有白雪

Not south, where it is warm and sunny.

南方，溫暖有陽光

Over the years, hundreds of singers and musicians have recorded “White Christmas.” But the version most people still know best was sung by Bing Crosby.

多年來，很多歌手和音樂人都唱過“白色圣誕”歌曲，但是，大多數人知道最多的還是由賓·克洛斯演唱的那首歌。

Songwriter Irving Berlin was born in Russia in 1888. He did not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. He was Jewish.

歌手歐文·柏林于1888年出生于俄羅斯。他不把圣誕節(jié)當做宗教節(jié)日來慶祝，因為他是猶太人。

But his song celebrates an idea of peace and happiness that anyone, anywhere -- snowy or not -- can enjoy.

他的歌曲贊美和平和快樂——不管人們在哪兒，那里是否有下雪，都可以享受到這種和平和快樂。

To all of you, best wishes this holiday season from all of us in VOA Special English.

來自美國之音慢速英語的所有人員祝大家圣誕假期快樂！

This is Steve Ember.

我是史蒂夫·艾姆博。