英语沙龙：星期一

Monday

Monday，the second day of the week，means literally“day of the moon”．Here in Britain，it’ s generally the least popular of days because for most people it means a return to work or school after the weekend break．Often，this prospect¹ is viewed with a lack of enthusiasm，a sad feeling that’s sometimes referred to as“Monday morning blues²．”

Sometimes the blues may be caused by too much weekend drinking；and formerly³ if workmen over－indulged and needed Monday as holiday，this was humorously known as“keeping St．Monday”，as Monday was hoped to be a saint‘s day to be observed．Someone who can’ t afford to keep St．Monday is the housewife，for traditionally Monday was――and to some extent still is――“wash day”，the proper day for doing the laundry．

However，the day is not all blues and work．It has some redeeming⁴ features――that is，if you can believe folk rhymes，it’ s a good day on which to be born．“Monday’ s child is fair a face，”says one traditional rhyme，while another promised optimistically that if you get married on Monday，you will be wealthy．

星期一

星期一，一周的第二天，其词面意思是“月亮之日”。在英国它一般被认为是最不受欢迎的一天，因为对大多数人来说，它意味着过完周末得回去上班或上课。对此，人们常感到缺乏热情，甚至感到悲哀，有时这种心情被称作是“周一早上的忧郁症”。

有时这种忧郁可能是由于周末纵酒所致。以前如果工人酗酒过度，需要星期一休息的话，人们便戏谑地称之为“过星期一圣徒节”，因为星期一原本希望是一圣徒节。无法过星期一圣徒节的人是家庭主妇们，因为星期一在以前的传统里———从某种程度上至今依然是———“洗衣日”，适合洗衣服的日子。

但星期一并不总与忧郁和工作相连。它还有一些补救性的特征。如果你相信民谣的话，它是个出生的良辰吉日。一首民谣中唱道“星期一出生的孩子有可爱的脸”，还有一首歌谣乐观地断言：如果你在星期一结婚，你会很富有。

1 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

2 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

3 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

4 redeeming   

补偿的，弥补的

参考例句：

• I found him thoroughly unpleasant, with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. 我觉得他一点也不讨人喜欢，没有任何可取之处。
• The sole redeeming feature of this job is the salary. 这份工作唯其薪水尚可弥补一切之不足。