节礼日

湖北省武汉市 杨淑媛 供稿

节礼日

湖北省武汉市 杨淑媛 供稿

In Britain, Boxing Day is usually celebrated on December 26th,which is the following day after Christmas Day.However,strictly speaking,Boxing Day isthe first weekday after Christmas.Like Christmas Day,Boxing Day is a public holiday.This means it’s a non working day in the whole of Britain.When Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday,the following Monday is the public holiday.

在英国，节礼日通常是在12月26日庆祝，这一天是圣诞节后的第一天。然而，严格来说，节礼日是圣诞节后的第一个工作日。像圣诞节一样，节礼日是一个公共假日。这意味着这是全英国的非工作日。当节礼日刚好是星期六或星期日的时候，那么接下来的星期一就是公众假期。

The exactorigin1ofthe holiday is unclear.One of the thoughts is that during the Middle Ages,when great sailing ships were setting off to discover new land,a Christmas Box was placed by apriest2on each ship.Those sailors who wanted to make sure a safe return would drop money into the box.It wasseale3up and kept on board until the ship came home safely.Then the box was handed over to the priest in the exchange for the saying of a Mass of thanks for the success of the sailing.The priest wouldn’t open it to share the contents with the poor until Christmas.

这个节日确切的起源并不明确。其中一个说法是，在中世纪，当大帆船启程去探索新陆地的时候，牧师会在每艘船上放置一个圣诞箱。那些想确保自己能安全返回的水手会把钱放到箱子里。这个箱子被密封起来并放置在船上，直到船安全地返回。然后箱子会交给牧师，作为在弥撒仪式上，对牧师的航行成功的话语的感谢。牧师直到圣诞节才会打开箱子和贫苦的人们分享其中的资金。

One more thoughts is about the“Alms Box”placed in every church on Christmas Day.Worshippers4put gifts for the poor into it.These boxes were always opened the day after Christmas,that is why that day became known as Boxing Day.

另外一种说法同在圣诞节那天在每一个教堂里放置的“施舍箱”有关。做礼拜的人把礼物放在箱内送给穷人。这些箱子总是在圣诞节后的第二天被打开，这就是为什么这一天被称为节礼日。

Today,many businesses,organizations5and families try to keep the traditional spirit of BoxingDayaliveby donating theirtime,servicesand money to help Food Banks,providing gifts for the poor,or helping families in need.Besides,spending time with family and shopping are popular Boxing Day activities now.

今天，许多企业、组织和家庭尝试通过捐赠他们的时间、服务和资金来援助食品银行、为穷人提供礼物或帮助需要帮助的家庭来保持节礼日的传统精神不灭。此外，花时间陪伴家人和购物都是现在流行的节礼日活动。

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