美国传统节日

1、美国传统节日一览表西方风情,异域风情,西方文化,英美文化背景,1月1日新年（NewYearsDay）2月12日林肯纪念日（LincolnsBirthday）2月14日圣瓦伦丁节（情人节）（St.ValentinesDay）2月18日华盛顿诞辰日（WashingtonsBirthday）3月17日圣帕特里克节（St.PatricksDay）4月1日愚人节（AllFoolsDay/AprilFoolsDay）4月*日复活节（Easter）（一般指3月21日或其后第一个星期日）5月*日植树节（ArborDay）（五月的第二个星期五,各州不一）5月*日母亲节（MothersDay）（五月的第二个星期日

2、）5月*日阵亡将士纪念日（MemorialDay）（五月的最后一个星期一）6月14日国旗日（FlagDay）6月*日父亲节（FathersDay）（六月的第三个星期日）7月4日独立日（IndependenceDay）9月*日劳动节（LaborDay）（九月的第一个星期一）10月12日哥伦布日（ColumbusDay）10月*日退伍军人节（VeteransDay）（十月的第四个星期一）11月1日万圣节（Halloween）11月*日感恩节（ThanksgivingDay）（十一月的最后一个星期四）12月25日圣诞节（Christmas）,Halloween西方风情,异域风情,西方文化,英美文化背

3、景,HalloweenOnOctober31st,dozensofchildrendressedincostumes（节日服装）knockontheirneighborsdoorsandyellTrickorTreatwhenthedooropens.Piratesandprincesses,ghostsandpopularheroesofthedayallholdbagsopentocatchthecandyorothergoodiesthattheneighborsdropin.Astheygiveeachchildatreattheneighborsexclaimoverthecostu

4、mesandtrytoguesswhoisunderthemasks.Sincethe800sNovember1stisareligiousholidayknownasAllSaintsDay（万圣节).TheMassthatwassaidonthisdaywascalledAllhallowmas.TheeveningbeforebecameknownasAllHakkiween,orHalloween.LikesomeotherAmericancelebrations,itsoriginslieinbothpre-ChristianandChristiancustoms.October31

5、stwastheeveoftheCeltic（凯尔特人的）newyear.TheCeltsweretheancestorsofthepresent-dayIrish,WelshandScottishpeople.Onthisdayghostswalkedandmingledwiththeliving,orsotheCeltsthought.Thetownspeoplebakedfoodallthatdayandwhennightfelltheydressedupandtriedtoresemblethesoulsofthedead.Hopingthattheghostswouldleavepe

6、acefullybeforemidnightofthenewyear.Muchlater,whenChristianityspreadthroughoutIrelandandOctober31wasnolongerthelastdayoftheyear,Halloweenbecameacelebrationmostlyforchildren.Ghostswentfromdoortodooraskingfortreats,orelseatrickwouldbeplayedontheownersofthehouse.WhenmillionsofIrishpeopleimmigratedtotheU

7、nitedStatesinthe1840sthetraditioncamewiththem.Todayschooldancesandneighborhoodpartiescalledblockpartiesarepopularamongyoungandoldalike.MoreandmoreadultscelebrateHalloween.Theydressuplikehistoricalorpoliticalfiguresandgotomasqueradeparties（化妆舞会).Inlargercities,costumedchildrenandtheirparentsgatherats

8、hoppingmallsearlyintheevening.Storesandbusinessesgivepartieswithgamesandtreatsforthechildren.Teenagersenjoycostumedancesattheirschoolsandthemoreoutrageousthecostumethebetter!Certainpranks（恶作剧）suchassoapingcarwindowsandtippingovergarbagecansareexpected.ButpartyingandpranksarenottheonlythingsthatHallo

9、weenersenjoydoing.Somecollectmoneytobuyfoodandmedicineforneedychildrenaroundtheworld.,SymbolsofHalloweenHalloweenoriginatedasacelebrationconnectedwithevilspirits.Witchesflyingonbroomstickswithblackcats,ghosts,goblins（小精灵）andskeletonshaveallevolvedassymbolsofHalloween.Theyarepopulartrick-or-treatcost

10、umesanddecorationsforgreetingcardsandwindows.BlackisoneofthetraditionalHalloweencolors,probablybecauseHalloweenfestivalsandtraditionstookplaceatnight.IntheweeksbeforeOctober31,Americansdecoratewindowsofhousesandschoolswithsilhouettes（轮廓）ofwitchesandblackcats.PumpkinsarealsoasymbolofHalloween.Thepump

11、kinisanorange-coloredsquash,andorangehasbecometheothertraditionalHalloweencolor.Carvingpumpkinsintojack-o-lanternsisaHalloweencustomalsodatingbacktoIreland.AlegendgrewupaboutamannamedJackwhowassostingy（吝啬的）thathewasnotallowedintoheavenwhenhedied,becausehewasamiser（吝啬鬼).Hecouldntenterhelleitherbecaus

12、ehehadplayedjokesonthedevil.Asaresult,JackhadtowalktheearthwithhislanternuntilJudgementDay（审判日).TheIrishpeoplecarvedscaryfacesoutofturnips（芜菁根),beets（甜菜根）orpotatoesrepresentingJackoftheLantern,orJack-o-lantern.WhentheIrishbroughttheircustomstotheUnitedStates,theycarvedfacesonpumpkinsbecauseintheautu

13、mntheyweremoreplentifulthanturnips.Todayjack-o-lanternsinthewindowsofahouseonHalloweennightletcostumedchildrenknowthattherearegoodies（糖果）waitingiftheyknockandsayTrickorTreat!,HalloweenTreatsDriedPumpkinSeedsAftercarvingyourpumpkin,separatethepulpfromtheseeds.Rinse（冲洗）theseedsandspreadthemouttodry.Th

14、enextday,addenoughmeltedbutterormargarine（人造黄油）tocoateachseed.Spreadtheseedsontoacookiesheet（甜酥饼干）andbakefor20minutesina300degreeovenfor20minutesoruntiltheyareslightlybrown.CaramelApplesTakethepaperwrappingoffabout100caramels（饴糖）andputtheminasaucepan(炖锅).Putthesaucepanoverapanofboilingwater.Boilthew

15、ateruntilthecaramelsmelt.Putawoodenstickintothetopofeachapple,diptheappleintothecaramel.Letthemcoolonwaxpaperandenjoy!ScaryStoriesNoHalloweenpartyiscompletewithoutatleastonescarystory.Usuallyonepersontalksinalowvoicewhileeveryoneelsecrowdstogetheronthefloororaroundafire.Thefollowingisaretellingofata

16、letoldinBritainandinNorthCarolinaandVirginia.WhatDoYouComeFor?Therewasanoldwomanwholivedallbyherself,andshewasverylonely.Sittinginthekitchenonenight,shesaid,Oh,IwishIhadsomecompany.Nosoonerhadshespokenthandownthechimneytumbledtwofeetfromwhichthefleshhadrotted.Theoldwomanseyesbulgedwithterror.Thentwo

17、legsdroppedtothehearthandattachedthemselvestothefeet.Thenabodytumbleddown,thentwoarms,andamanshead.Astheoldwomanwatched,thepartscametogetherintoagreat,tallman.Themandancedaroundandaroundtheroom.Fasterandfasterhewent.Thenhestopped,andhelookedintohereyes.Whatdoyoucomefor?Sheaskedinasmallvoicethatshive

18、redandshook.WhatdoIcomefor?hesaid.IcomeforYOU!Thenarratorshoutsandjumpsatthepersonnearhim!,复活节的来历,EasteristheChristiancommemorationoftheresurrectionofJesusasareligiousholiday.Overthepastyearthespringequinox,thefirstfullmoonofthefirstSundayafterEaster.ChurchofChristintheearlyyearsofthedateofEaster,th

19、erehavebeencontroversial,causingmomentaryconfusion,until325AD,thepriestsoftheChurchofthemeetingbeforedecidingonadaytocelebratetheunificationoftheEaster.TherearealotofthetraditionalEastercelebration,Eastereggisasymbolofthemosttypical.Inancienttimestheeggsareoftenseenasmorechildrenandgrandchildrenanda

20、symbolofresurrection,becauseitbreedsnewlife.Later,ChristiansalsogivesnewmeaningtotheeggthatitisasymbolofthetombofJesus,thelifeofthefutureisbornfromitandgetridof.EastereggsareoftendyedredtorepresentthecrucifixionofJesuswhenthebloodflow,butalsoasymbolofhappinessaftertheresurrection.Thereisanancientcus

21、tom,theeggiscookedtothestreetchildrenplay.Theireggsfromrollingdownthehillside:Whobrokethelastegg,willwin,allpropertyofallofhiseggs.WhiteHousetoplaythisgameeveryyear,butisrollingeggsonthelawnonly.RabbitisasymbolofEaster.NoweveryEaster,theUnitedStatesthetotalsizeofacandyshoptosellchocolatemadewiththeE

22、asterBunnyandeggs.Theseeggsandeggisalmostsmall,bigmelonbigsurprise,thechildreneatthemwithrelish.Totherelativesandfriends,butalsobeagoodgift.,愚人节的来历西方风情,异域风情,西方文化,英美文化背景,ThefirstofAprilisthedaywerememberwhatwearetheother364daysoftheyear.MarkTwainHowdoyouthinkAprilFoolsDayoriginated?Didsomejokerinbibl

23、icaltimesdecidetoswitchthefrankincenseandthemyrrh?Wasthereahistoricepidemicofspringfever-tomfooleryinatinyFinnishtownintheearly1800s?DidaNewYorkerin1910findacockroachinhiscoffeecupanddecidetorecreatetheexperienceforhisofficemate,therebysparkingafamousApril1lawsuit?Inaconvincingtestimonialtothesaying

24、thattruthisstrangerthanfiction,welltellyouthestory,oratleastpresentthemostviabletheory,ofhowAprilFoolsDaycametobe.Onceuponatime,backin16th-centuryFrance,beforecomputers,peoplecelebratedNewYearsDayonMarch25,theadventofspring.Itwasafestivetime.TheypartiedsteadilyuntilApril1.In1564,whenthecalendarrefor

25、medandbecameGregorian,KingCharlesIXproclaimed,perhapspompously,thatNewYearsDayshouldbecelebratedonJanuary1insteadofinthespring.Diehardconservativesresistedthechange(orperhapsdidnthearaboutitduetotheabsenceofe-mail)andcontinuedtocelebrateNewYearsfromMarch25toApril1.Duringthisperiodofspringfestivity,t

26、hemoreflexibleFrenchmockedtherigidrevelersbysendingthemfoolishgiftsandinvitationstonon-existentparties.ThevictimofanAprilFoolsDayprankwascalledapoissondavril,oranAprilfish,becauseatthattimeofyear,thesunwasleavingthezodiacalsignofPisces.AprilFoolsDayhititsstride(avoidingthebananapeel)inEnglandinthe18

27、thcentury,andwasbroughttocolonialAmericabytheEnglish,Scottish,andFrench.Nofooling.,AprilFoolsDay:AnUnsolvedHistoryThefirstofApril,somedosay,IssetapartforAllFoolsDay.Butwhythepeoplecallitso,NorI,northeythemselvesdoknow.ButonthisdayarepeoplesentOnpurposeforpuremerriment.PoorRobinsAlmanac(1790)OK,whost

28、artedit?DidthefirstFoolscomefromFrance,England,Mexico,SwedenorIndia?Thetruth,asinanygoodmystery,lieshiddenintheshadowsoftime.SomesaythatAprilFoolsDaybeganinmanypartsoftheworldatthesametime,incelebrationofthespringequinox.Prankswereabigpartofeventhemostboringequinoxparties,everywherefromSwedentoIndia

29、.OthersarguethatthemodernAprilFoolsDayfollowedtheadoptionofareformedcalendarinFrancecirca1564.Inmedievaltimes,theoctaveofNewYearsbeganonMarch25withtheeightdaysoffestivitiesendingonApril1.WiththereformofthecalendarunderCharlesIX,NewYearsDaywasmovedfromApril1toJanuary1.Duetotheslownessofsandal-netcomm

30、unicationbackthenandgeneralresistancetochange,theJanuary1datewasnotfullyacceptedforseveralyears.ThosetraditionalistswhoclungtoApril1asNewYearsDaywerescoffedatasfoolsandsentfakepartyinvitationsandprankgifts.WidespreadobservanceinEnglandbeganinthe18thcentury.TheEnglish,ScotchandFrenchintroducedthecust

31、omtotheircoloniesinAmerica.Oneofourforefathersfavoritejokeswastosendsomeoneonafoolserrand.Forexample,onemighthavebeenaskedtogooutandobtainacopyofTheHistoryofAdamsGrandfather,orbringbacksomesweetvinegar.InScotland,AprilFoolsDayis48hourslong.TheseconddayiscalledTailyDayandisdedicatedtopranksinvolvingt

32、hebuttocks.TailyDaysgifttoposteriorposterityisthestill-hilariousKickMesign.ThefoolishtraditioniscelebratedinMexico,too,butonadifferentdayandfordifferentreasons.ElDiadelosInocentes,whichisDecember28,wassetasideasadayforChristianstomournHerodsslaughterofinnocentchildren.Overtime,thetoneofthatunluckies

33、tofdayshasevolvedfromsadnesstogood-naturedtrickery.Eventhemediajointhefun,oftenrunningbogusnewsstoriesandradioreports.WemayneverlearnthetrueoriginofAprilFoolsDay.,However,thedeeperquestionfacingustodayis,WhatsthebestgagIcanpulloff?ItsAnotherNewYearbutforwhatreason?HappyNewYear!Thatgreetingwillbesaid

34、andheardforatleastthefirstcoupleofweeksasanewyeargetsunderway.ButthedaycelebratedasNewYearsDayinmodernAmericawasnotalwaysJanuary1.Thecelebrationofthenewyearistheoldestofallholidays.ItwasfirstobservedinancientBabylonabout4000yearsago.Intheyearsaround2000BC,Babylonianscelebratedthebeginningofanewyearo

35、nwhatisnowMarch23,althoughtheythemselveshadnowrittencalendar.LateMarchactuallyisalogicalchoiceforthebeginningofanewyear.Itisthetimeofyearthatspringbeginsandnewcropsareplanted.January1,ontheotherhand,hasnoastronomicalnoragriculturalsignificance.Itispurelyarbitrary.TheBabyloniannewyearcelebrationlaste

36、dforelevendays.Eachdayhaditsownparticularmodeofcelebration,butitissafetosaythatmodernNewYearsEvefestivitiespaleincomparison.TheRomanscontinuedtoobservethenewyearonMarch25,buttheircalendarwascontinuallytamperedwithbyvariousemperorssothatthecalendarsoonbecameoutofsynchronizationwiththesun.Inordertoset

37、thecalendarright,theRomansenate,in153BC,declaredJanuary1tobethebeginningofthenewyear.ButtamperingcontinueduntilJuliusCaesar,in46BC,establishedwhatwascometobeknownastheJulianCalendar.ItagainestablishedJanuary1asthenewyear.Butinordertosynchronizethecalendarwiththesun,Caesarhadtoletthepreviousyeardrago

38、nfor445days.AlthoughinthefirstcenturiesADtheRomanscontinuedcelebratingthenewyear,theearlyCatholicChurchcondemnedthefestivitiesaspaganism.ButasChristianitybecamemorewidespread,theearlychurchbeganhavingitsownreligiousobservancesconcurrentlywithmanyofthepagancelebrations,andNewYearsDaywasnodifferent.Ne

39、wYearsisstillobservedastheFeastofChristsCircumcisionbysomedenominations.,DuringtheMiddleAges,theChurchremainedopposedtocelebratingNewYears.January1hasbeencelebratedasaholidaybyWesternnationsforonlyaboutthepast400years.OthertraditionsoftheseasonincludethemakingofNewYearsresolutions.Thattraditionalsod

40、atesbacktotheearlyBabylonians.Popularmodernresolutionsmightincludethepromisetoloseweightorquitsmoking.TheearlyBabyloniansmostpopularresolutionwastoreturnborrowedfarmequipment.TheTournamentofRosesParadedatesbackto1886.Inthatyear,membersoftheValleyHuntClubdecoratedtheircarriageswithflowers.Itcelebrate

41、dtheripeningoftheorangecropinCalifornia.AlthoughtheRoseBowlfootballgamewasfirstplayedasapartoftheTournamentofRosesin1902,itwasreplacedbyRomanchariotracesthefollowingyear.In1916,thefootballgamereturnedasthesportscenterpieceofthefestival.ThetraditionofusingababytosignifythenewyearwasbeguninGreecearoun

42、d600BC.Itwastheirtraditionatthattimetocelebratetheirgodofwine,Dionysus,byparadingababyinabasket,representingtheannualrebirthofthatgodasthespiritoffertility.EarlyEgyptiansalsousedababyasasymbolofrebirth.AlthoughtheearlyChristiansdenouncedthepracticeaspagan,thepopularityofthebabyasasymbolofrebirthforc

43、edtheChurchtoreevaluateitsposition.TheChurchfinallyalloweditsmemberstocelebratethenewyearwithababy,whichwastosymbolizethebirthofthebabyJesus.TheuseofanimageofababywithaNewYearsbannerasasymbolicrepresentationofthenewyearwasbroughttoearlyAmericabytheGermans.Theyhadusedtheeffigysincethefourteenthcentur

44、y.,美国的婚姻西方风情,异域风情,西方文化,英美文化背景,1Ido.ToAmericansthosetwowordscarrygreatmeaning.Theycanevenchangeyourlife.Especiallyifyousaythematyourownwedding.Makingweddingvowsislikesigningacontract.NowAmericansdontreallythinkmarriageisabusinessdeal.Butmarriageisseriousbusiness.2Itallbeginswithengagement.Traditional

45、ly,ayoungmanasksthefatherofhissweetheartforpermissiontomarryher.Ifthefatheragrees,themanlaterproposestoher.Oftenhetriestosurpriseherbypoppingthequestioninaromanticway.Sometimesthecouplejustdecidestogetherthatthetimeisrighttogetmarried.Themanusuallygiveshisfianceadiamondringasasymboloftheirengagement

46、.Theymaybeengagedforweeks,monthsorevenyears.Asthebigdayapproaches,bridalshowersandbachelorspartiesprovidemanyusefulgifts.Todaymanycouplesalsoreceivecounselingduringengagement.Thispreparesthemforthechallengesofmarriedlife.3Atlastitstimeforthewedding.Althoughmostweddingsfollowlong-heldtraditions,there

47、sstillroomforAmericanindividualism.Forexample,theusualplaceforaweddingisinachurch.Butsomepeoplegetmarriedoutdoorsinascenicspot.Afewevenhavetheceremonywhilesky-divingorridingonhorseback!Thecouplemayinvitehundredsofpeopleorjustafewclosefriends.Theychoosetheirownstyleofcolors,decorationsandmusicduringt

48、heceremony.Butsomethingsrarelychange.Thebrideusuallywearsabeautiful,longwhiteweddingdress.Shetraditionallywearssomethingold,somethingnew,somethingborrowedandsomethingblue.Thegroomwearsaformalsuitortuxedo.Severalclosefriendsparticipateintheceremonyasattendants,includingthebestmanandthemaidofhonor,4As

49、theceremonybegins,thegroomandhisattendantsstandwiththeminister,facingtheaudience.Musicsignalstheentranceofthebridesattendants,followedbythebeautifulbride.Nervously,theyoungcouplerepeatstheirvows.Traditionally,theypromisetoloveeachotherforbetter,forworse,forricher,forpoorer,insicknessandinhealth.Buts

50、ometimesthecouplehascomposedtheirownvows.Theygiveeachotheragoldringtosymbolizetheirmarriagecommitment.Finallytheministerannouncesthebigmoment:Inowpronounceyoumanandwife.Youmaykissyourbride!5Attheweddingreception,thebrideandgroomgreettheirguests.Thentheycuttheweddingcakeandfeedeachotherabite.Guestsmi

51、nglewhileenjoyingcake,punchandothertreats.Laterthebridethrowsherbouquetofflowerstoagroupofsinglegirls.Traditionsaysthattheonewhocatchesthebouquetwillbethenexttomarry.Duringthereception,playfulfriendsdecoratethecouplescarwithtissuepaper,tincansandaJustMarriedsign.Whenthereceptionisover,thenewlywedsru

52、ntotheirdecoratedcarandspeedoff.Manycouplestakeahoneymoon,aone-totwo-weekvacationtrip,tocelebratetheirnewmarriage.6Almosteveryculturehasritualstosignalachangeinoneslife.Marriageisoneofthemostbasiclifechangesforpeopleofallcultures.SoitsnosurprisetofindmanytraditionsaboutgettingmarriedeveninAmerica.Ye

53、teachcouplefollowsthetraditionsinawaythatisuniquelytheirown.,圣诞节的来历西方风情,异域风情,西方文化,英美文化背景,OriginofChristmasThenameChristmasisshortforChristsMass.AMassisakindofChurchservice.Christmasisareligiousfestival.ItisthedaywecelebrateasthebirthdayofJesus.TherearespecialChristmasservicesinChristianchurchesallov

54、ertheworld.ButmanyofthefestivitiesofChristmasdonothaveanythingtodowithreligion.ExchanginggiftsandsendingChristmascardsarethemodernwaysofcelebratingtheChristmasintheworld.ThebirthofJesushadastory:InNazareth,acityofGalilee.ThevirginsnamewasMarywasbetrothedtoJoseph.Beforetheycametogether,shewasfoundwit

55、hchildoftheHolySpirit.Josephherhusbandwasmindedtoputherawaysecretly.Whilehethoughtaboutthesethings,Gabriel,anangeloftheLordappearedtohiminadreamandtoldhimdidnotbeafraidtotakeMaryaswife.AndMarywillbringforthaSon,andheshallcallhisname,Jesus,forhewillsavehispeoplefromtheirsins.BeforeJesusbirths,Josepha

56、ndMarycametoQuintuswasgoverningSyria.Soallwenttoberegistered,everyonetohisowncity.JosephalsowentupoutofGalilee,outofthecityofNazareth,intoJudea,tothecityofDavid,whichiscalledBethlehem,becausehewasofthehouseandofthelineageofDavid,toberegisteredwithMary,hisbetrothedwife,whowaswithchild.Soitwasthatwhil

57、etheywerethere,thedayswerecompletedforhertobedelivered.AndshebroughtforthherfirstbornSon,andwrappedhiminswaddlingcloths,andlaidhiminamanger,becausetherewasnoroomforthemintheinn.Andthat,ChristmasisthefeastofthenativityofJesus,ison25th,Decembereveryyear.ButnobodyknowtheactualbirthdayofJesus.AndtheChri

58、stmashasbecomepopularwhenChristmascardsappearedin1846andtheconceptofajollySantaClauswasfirstmadepopularinnineteenthCentury.,美式待客之道西方风情,异域风情,西方文化,英美文化背景,Hospitality美式待客之道AnAmericanfriendhasinvitedyoutovisithisfamily.YouveneverbeentoanAmericanshomebefore,andyourenotsurewhattodo.Shouldyoutakeagift?Hows

59、houldyoudress?Whattimeshouldyouarrive?Whatshouldyoudowhenyougetthere?Gladyouasked.Whenyouretheguest,youshouldjustmakeyourselfathome.Thatswhathospitalityisallabout:makingpeoplefeelathomewhentheyrenot.一位美国朋友邀请你去他家。你以前从未去过美国人的家，你不确定该怎么做。该带一个礼物吗？该怎么穿？该几点到？到了那里该做什么？很高兴你发问。你若是客人，只要使自己感到自在就好了。待客之道就是这样：虽然不是在家里，却使客人有实至如归之感。Thequestionofwhetherornottobringagiftoftenmakesguestssquirm.Givingyourhostagiftisnotjustasocialnic