英语沙龙：母亲节和父亲节

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day

People in the United States honor their parents with two special days：Mother’s Day，on the second Sunday in May，and Father’s Day，on the third Sunday in June．

Mother’s Day was proclaimed¹ a day for national observance by President Wood row Wilson in 1915．Ann Jarvis from Grafton，West Virginia，had started the idea to have a d ay to honor mothers．She was the one who chose the second Sunday in May and also began the custom of wearing a carnation²．

In 1909，Mrs．Dodd from Spokane，Washington，thought of the idea of a day to honor fathers．She wanted to honor her own father，William Smart．After her mother died，he had the responsibility of raising a family of five sons and a daughter．In 1910，the first Father’s Day was observed in Spokane．Senator³ Margaret Chase Smith helped to establish Father’s Day as a national commemorative day，in 1972．

These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents．They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens．They give love and care．

These two special days are celebrated⁴ in many different ways．On Mother’s Day people wear carnations⁵．A red one symbolizes⁶ a living mother．A white one shows that the mother is dead．Many people attend religious services to honor parents．It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery⁷．On these days families get together at home，as well as in restaurants．They often have outdoor barbecues for Father’s Day．These are days of fun and good feelings and memories．

Another tradition is to give cards an d gifts．Children make them in school．Many people make their own presents．These are valued more than the ones bought in stores．It is not the value of the gift that is important，but it is “the thought that counts”．Greeting card stores，florists，candy makers，bakeries，telephone companies，and other stores do a lot of business during these holidays．

母亲节和父亲节

美国人民以两个特殊的日子向父母表示敬意：这便是每年五月第二个星期日的母亲节和六月第三个星期日的父亲节。

母亲节作为一个全国性节日是伍德罗·威尔逊总统于１９１５年宣布的。西弗吉尼亚州格拉弗顿区的安·贾维斯女士首先想到应有一个特殊的日子向母亲致意。是她选择了五月的第二个星期日，也是她开始了佩戴康乃馨的习俗。

１９０９年，华盛顿州斯波肯区的多德夫人想到应为父亲设一个特殊日子以示敬意。她想向自己的父亲---威廉姆·斯马特表示感激之情。她母亲去世后，是父亲担起了养活五子一女的责任。１９１０年，第一个父亲节在斯波肯区诞生。参议员玛格丽特·切斯·史密斯于１９７２年帮助把父亲节推广成为全国性节日。

这两天是儿女向父母表示一片爱心和敬重之情的日子。父母们把孩子们带大，教育他们成为有责任感的公民，并给予他们爱心和关怀。

人们用各种形式来庆贺这两个特殊的日子。在母亲节那天，人们佩戴康乃馨。佩戴红色康乃馨表示母亲依然健在，佩戴白色康乃馨则表示母亲已经去世。许多人参加宗教仪式以向父母致意，或去公墓缅怀逝去的父母。在这两天，家家都会聚在餐馆或家中。人们也常在父亲节那天举办露天烧烤聚会。这是充满欢歌笑语、美好情感和无限深情的日子。

另一传统习俗是赠送卡片和礼物。孩子们在学校亲手制作，许多成年人也自制礼物。这些亲手制作的礼物比那些花钱买来的更有价值。礼物的贵贱并不重要，“重要的是对父母的拳拳之心”。贺卡屋、花店、糖果店、面包房、电话公司，还有许多其他商店在节日里会大做生意。

1 proclaimed   

v.正式宣布( proclaim的过去式和过去分词 )；显示

参考例句：

• The president proclaimed a state of emergency. 总统宣布了紧急状态。
• The ringing bells proclaimed the birth of the prince. 响亮的钟声宣布王子的诞生。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 carnation   

n.康乃馨（一种花）

参考例句：

• He had a white carnation in his buttonhole.他在纽扣孔上佩了朵白色康乃馨。
• He was wearing a carnation in his lapel.他的翻领里别着一枝康乃馨。

3 senator   

n.参议员，评议员

参考例句：

• The senator urged against the adoption of the measure.那参议员极力反对采取这项措施。
• The senator's speech hit at government spending.参议员的讲话批评了政府的开支。

4 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

5 carnations   

n.麝香石竹，康乃馨( carnation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You should also include some carnations to emphasize your underlying meaning.\" 另外要配上石竹花来加重这涵意的力量。” 来自汉英文学 - 围城
• Five men per ha. were required for rose production, 6 or 7 men for carnations. 种植玫瑰每公顷需5个男劳力，香石竹需6、7个男劳力。 来自辞典例句

6 symbolizes   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The use of light and dark symbolizes good and evil. 用光明与黑暗来象征善与恶。
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace. 她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。