芬兰的仲夏节

By George Dunford/陈传光（译）

◆语篇导读

春分一过，白昼渐长。芬兰人终于迎来了一年之中非常重要的节日——仲夏节。这一天也是他们的升旗日和重要的公共假期，整个国家都将开启休假模式。那么，芬兰的人们是如何庆祝这个节日的呢？让我们来了解一下吧！

The Midsummer Festival is the greatest summer holiday in Finland.Most Finns come together to celebrate it with family and friends.

Midsummer Bonfire

Burning bonfires to celebrate a great feast is an old tradition.Once large bonfires were built on hills and lakeshores in every village of eastern Finland.Everyone in the village come to watch the bonfire burn and to dance,sing and play games together.

Midsummer Pole

Like the maypoles raised in the continental Europe and Britain,the pole is decorated with green leaves,garlands,wreaths and flowers before raising.During the evening,traditional folk music is played with people dancing and playing around the pole.Some people may wear national costumes to highlight the celebration.

Midsummer Decorations

An old tradition is to decorate the house and yard with young trees.The cut trees were placed standing at either side of doorways,gates or doorsteps,and windows were bordered with branches.

In some parts of Finland,it was a custom for young men to build arbours on farm yards,using branches.Even cows were decorated with green leaves or lilies of the valley to ensure they would be milking properly.

Midsummer Night Magic

Midsummer is the turning point at which the days begin to shorten again,and darkness will slowly start increasing.In the old times,this raised fear and uncertainty about the future.Strangest things were known to happen on midsummer night,when evil spirits and witches were thought to be roaming around.

By performing magical rites people believed they could secure a better future for themselves,to ensure a good fortune for the household,rich crops and protect the animals from illnesses.

◆词语积淀

bonfire/'bɒnfaɪə(r)/n.篝火；营火

highlight/'haɪlaɪt/v.强调；突出

border/'bɔːdə(r)/v.给……镶边

arbour/'ɑːbə(r)/n.凉亭；藤架

ensure/ɪn'ʃʊə(r)/v.确保；保证

witch/wɪtʃ/n.女巫；巫婆

secure/sɪ'kjʊə(r)/v.获得；弄得

◆典句赏析

1.Burning bonfires to celebrate a great feast is an old tradition.点燃篝火来庆祝重大节日是一个悠久的传统。

该句是一个简单句。“Burning bonfires to celebrate a great feast”是动名词短语，作句子的主语。动名词（短语）作主语时，谓语动词用单数形式。

【即时尝试】我认为和你一起工作是一种乐趣。

2.By performing magical rites people believed they could secure a better future for themselves...通过表演魔法的仪式，人们相信他们能够拥有一个更好的未来……

by doing sth.是常见的搭配形式，意为“通过做某事”，by是介词，后接动名词形式；“they could secure a better future for themselves”是省略了连接词that的宾语从句。

【即时尝试】张华经常通过踢足球保持健康。

译文助读

仲夏节是芬兰最大的暑期节日。大多数的芬兰人会同家人和朋友们一起庆祝这个节日。

仲夏篝火

点燃篝火来庆祝重大节日是一个悠久的传统。从前，在芬兰东部每个村庄的山冈和湖岸都会燃起大堆的篝火。村庄里面的每个人都会来观看篝火，并聚在一起跳舞、唱歌和做游戏。

仲夏柱

像欧洲大陆和英国竖起的五月花柱一样，仲夏柱在竖起之前，要用绿叶、花环、花冠和鲜花来装饰。整个晚上，伴随着传统的民乐，人们绕着仲夏柱载歌载舞。有些人会穿着民族服饰来突出庆祝活动。

仲夏装饰

一个很古老的传统是用新生的树木来装饰房子和庭院。砍下的树木被放在出入口、大门或者门前台阶的两旁，而且窗户也用枝叶镶边。

在芬兰的一些地区有这样一个传统：年轻人在农家院里用树枝搭建凉亭。甚至自家的牛也会被树叶和铃兰来装饰一番，以确保顺利挤奶。

仲夏夜魔法

仲夏节是一个转折点，从此白天开始变短，夜晚慢慢开始变长。在古代，这使人们产生很多恐惧和对将来的迷茫。人们相信仲夏之夜来临时，很多奇怪的事情会发生，恶魔和巫婆会到处漫游。

通过表演魔法的仪式，人们相信他们能够拥有一个更好的未来，全家人都会好运，庄稼会大丰收，牲畜会远离疾病。