英语沙龙：希腊新年

Greek New Year's Day

The people of Greece hail September １as their New Year's Day because it marks the start of the Greek sowing season，a time of hope and promise．

To start things off right，farmers' families take plates of seeds to church for the priest to bless．On the island of Kos，people fashion first－of－the－year wreaths of pomegranates，grapes，quinces，garlic bulbs，and plane－tree leaves－－all of which are traditional symbols of abundance．Just before dawn on September １，island children carry their house－holds' wreaths down to the shore，the old year's wreaths and the new ones，and they throw the old ones out to sea．They briefly¹ immerse the new ones，for luck．Then they carry sea－water and pebbles² home in a jar，to serve，along with the new wreath，as protective devices．Tradition calls for exactly forty pebbles and water collected from the tops of exactly forty waves．This is also a time of trepidation³．One old folk belief is that on this day the Angel of Death writes down the names of all those unfortunates destined⁴ to die within the coming year．

希腊新年

希腊人在９月１日欢庆新年，因为这一天标志着希腊播种季节的开始，这是一个充满希望和期待的季节。

为了有个好的开端，农家把种子放在盘子里拿到教堂接受牧师的祝福。在科斯岛上，人们流行用石榴、葡萄、蒜头、悬铃树的树叶等编织新年花环。所有这些都是传统上丰裕的象征。９月１日黎明前，岛上的孩子们把家里的新旧花环都拿到海边。他们把旧花环抛到海里，把新的花环在海水里迅速浸泡一下以求好运。之后，他们用罐子装上海水和小鹅卵石带回家，海水和小鹅卵石连同新花环能帮助他们驱魔避邪。传统上要求要捡正好４０块小鹅卵石和正好从４０朵浪花上汲取的海水。这一天同时又是令人惶恐不安的日子。有一个古老的民俗认为，在９月１日，死亡天使会写下来年里将死去的所有不幸的人的名字。

1 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

2 pebbles   

[复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pebbles of the drive crunched under his feet. 汽车道上的小石子在他脚底下喀嚓作响。
• Line the pots with pebbles to ensure good drainage. 在罐子里铺一层鹅卵石，以确保排水良好。

3 trepidation   

n.惊恐，惶恐

参考例句：

• The men set off in fear and trepidation.这群人惊慌失措地出发了。
• The threat of an epidemic caused great alarm and trepidation.流行病猖獗因而人心惶惶。

4 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。