北师大版初二英语第六单元 盘点世界各国千奇百怪的迎新年风俗.docxVIP

As the clock strikes 12 on Monday, millions will pop champagne corks and light fireworks while others indulge in quirkier New Years rituals like melting lead, leaping off chairs or gobbling grapes. 当时钟在周一午夜十二点敲响时，数百万人将开香槟放烟火庆祝新年，其他许多人则将举行 一些更为奇特的庆祝仪式，诸如熔铅、跳椅子或吃葡萄。 One of the worlds oldest shared traditions, New Years celebrations take many forms, but most cultures have one thing in common -- letting ones hair down after a long, hard year. 作为举世同庆的最古老的传统之一，新年的庆祝活动有多种形式，但大多数文化对新年的庆 祝都有个共同之处——就是在度过漫长、辛劳的一年之后好好放松一下。 For much of the globe this involves sipping bubbly with friends until the sun comes up, seeing out the old year with bonfires and flares and off-key renditions of Auld Lang Syne. 对于世界上许多人而言，庆祝新年就是和朋友一起彻夜不眠，喝着香槟酒，在篝火前哼着跑 调的《友谊天长地久》，欣赏着辞旧迎新的烟花，直到新年的太阳升起。 But others have rather more curious habits, often steeped in superstition. 但其他人则有着更为奇特的风俗习惯，这些风俗通常都和迷信密切相关。 In Finland, say tour guides, people pour molten lead into cold water to divine the year ahead from the shape the metal sets in. If the blob represents a ship it is said to foretell travel, if its a ball, good luck. 据导游说，在芬兰，人们会把熔化的液体铅倒进冷水里，通过铅在水中形成的形状来占卜新 的一年的命运。如果铅团的形状像船，这意味着新的一年将要去旅行，如果是一个球，就预示着好运。 In Denmark, people stand on chairs and jump off in unison as the clock strikes midnight, literally leaping into the new year. 在丹麦，人们站在椅子上，在午夜钟声敲响时一起跳下椅子，这象征着人们跨入了新的一年。 The Danes also throw plates at their friends homes during the night -- the more shards you find outside your door in the morning the more popular you are said to be. 丹麦人还会在除夕夜向朋友的家扔盘子，第二天清早你在门外发现的陶瓷碎片越多，就说明 你越受欢迎。 The Dutch build massive bonfires with their Christmas trees and eat sugary donuts -- one of many cultures to consume round New Years foods traditionally believed to represent good fortune. 荷兰人会用圣诞树点起巨大的篝火堆，在篝火前吃甜甜圈——许多文化都有这种在新年吃圆 形食物的传统，人们相信圆形食物代表着好运。 Spaniards, in turn, gobble a dozen grapes before the stroke of midnight, each fruit representing a month that will either be sweet or sour. 西班牙人则会在午夜钟声敲响前吃下十二颗葡萄，每一颗葡萄都代表新一年中的一个月，葡萄如果是甜