12月25日,是基督教徒纪念耶稣诞生的日子,称为圣诞节。
从12月24日于翌年1月6日为圣诞节节期。节日期间,各国基督教徒都举行隆重的纪念仪式。圣诞节本来是基督教徒的节日,由于人们格外重视,它便成为一个全民性的节日,是西方国家一年中最盛大的节日,可以和新年相提并论,类似我国过春节。
西方人以红、绿、白三色为圣诞色,圣诞节来临时家家户户都要用圣诞色来装饰。红色的有圣诞花和圣诞蜡烛。绿色的是圣诞树。它是圣诞节的主要装饰品,用砍伐来的杉、柏一类呈塔形的常青树装饰而成。上面悬挂着五颜六色的彩灯、礼物和纸花,还点燃着圣诞蜡烛。红色与白色相映成趣的是圣诞老人,他是圣诞节活动中最受欢迎的人物。西方儿童在圣诞夜临睡之前,要在壁炉前或枕头旁放上一只袜子,等候圣诞老人在他们入睡后把礼物放在袜子内。在西方,扮演圣诞老人也是一种习俗。
Christmas, annual Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Most members of the Roman Catholic Church and followers of Protestantism celebrate Christmas on December 25, and many celebrate on the evening of December 24 as well. Members of the Eastern Orthodox Church usually delay their most important seasonal ceremonies until January 6, when they celebrate Epiphany, a commemoration of the baptism of Jesus. Epiphany also traditionally commemorates the arrival of the Three Wise Men of the East in Bethlehem (near Jerusalem, Israel), where they adored the infant Jesus and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The official Christmas season, popularly known as either Christmastide or the Twelve Days of Christmas, extends from the anniversary of Christ’s birth on December 25 to the feast of Epiphany on January 6.
Christmas is based on the story of Jesus’ birth as described in the Gospel according to Matthew (see Matthew 1:18-2:12) and the Gospel according to Luke (see Luke 1:26-56). Roman Catholics first celebrated Christmas, then known as the Feast of the Nativity, as early as 336 ad. The word Christmas entered the English language sometime around 1050 as the Old English phrase Christes maesse, meaning “festival of Christ.” Scholars believe the frequently used shortened form of Christmas—Xmas—may have come into use in the 13th century. The X stands for the Greek letter chi, an abbreviation of Khristos (Christ), and also represents the cross on which
圣诞节祝福语英文版外的版本——日文版
祝我最爱的人身体健康,每一年的圣诞节都能开开心心的度过。
祝你圣诞吉祥,新年如意。想念你的我在这佳节十分为你带来最美好的祝福。
あなたのクリスマスの吉祥如意、新年。あなたの私にこの佳節非常にあなたをもたらす最もすばらしい祝福。
祝我最好的朋友圣诞快乐!希望你的烦恼随着新年来临,全部烟消云散。
私の良い友達にクリスマスの楽しみを祈ります!あなたの悩みの新年が近づいてきて、全部消えて。
愿你尽情享受圣诞节的狂欢,希望我们的友谊天长地久!
.我最深长的祝福,给我最爱的妻子,你永远是我珍贵的圣诞礼物,也是我的所有。 私の最も深な祝福、私に最愛の妻、あなたは永遠に私に貴重なクリスマスプレゼントも、すべて私の。