庆祝传统圣诞节的7个简单方式

 　　The holidays are a time for embracing tradition. No matter what that means for your family and friends, here are some tips for celebrating a truly traditional Christmas.

　　假日是拥抱传统的时间。不论这对你的家人朋友意味着什么，这里都是一些能够欢度一个真正传统的圣诞节的建议。

　　1.Serve Home-Grown Food

　　提供一些土产食物

　　A thoughtful way to make your holiday dinner table more traditional is to serve a few homegrown foods. If you have done some canning or freezing this year, made homemade jams or jellies, or grown various types of vegetables, now is the time to serve them up at your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Or, if you have hunted and can provide meat for the table, this is a good time to enjoy it with your friends and family.

　　让你的假日餐桌更加传统的一种体贴方式就是提供一些土产食物。如果你今年已经做了一些罐装或冷冻食物，做了自制的果酱或果冻，果实种了许多种蔬菜，那么现在是时候把它们用于感恩节或是圣诞节晚餐上了。或者，如果你已经狩猎过了，并为饭桌提供了一些肉，那么你就可以和家人朋友好好享用了。

　　2.Do Some Baking

　　做一些烘培食物

　　Many people think of the holidays as a time to relax, eat and drink well, and enjoy the satisfaction of a few delicacies¹ in the sweets department.

　　You can get creative with the types of things you bake, such as cookies, pies, cakes, or candy. Do an online search for old-fashioned treats and see what you can come up with that might surprise and delight your dinner and house guests.

　　许多人认为假日是放松吃喝的时间，满足于甜食店的一些美食。你可以把你烤的东西，如饼干，馅饼，蛋糕或糖果加入一些创意。网上查一些老式的做法，看看你能想出什么能让客人惊喜高兴的东西。

　　3.Help Those In Need

　　帮助那些有需要的人

　　One holiday tradition is to make a little time to do something special for someone who needs a little extra help. Find an elderly person in your neighborhood and ask them what they need. Perhaps you can drive them to the store, or do some shopping for them. Ask your friends and family if they know anyone who could use some kind of help. Donate food to your local foodbank. Take the time to care about someone you don’t know, and give your time to helping² them. If you can make someone else a little happier, you will make their holiday better.

　　假期传统之一就是腾出一点儿时间为某个需要一点儿额外帮助的人做些特别的事情。找到附近的老人，问问他们需要什么。或许你可以开车送他们去商店，或是为他们购物。问问你的家人朋友他们是否知道有需要某种帮助的人。捐赠食物给你当地的食物银行。花时间关心一下你不认识的人，帮助他们。如果你能让别人更加快乐，那你就能够让他们的假日过的更好。

　　4.Make Home-Crafted Gifts

　　做手制的礼物

　　Spend some extra time this year planning a way to make something original for your family members. Consider all the many types of crafts you can work on that other people would enjoy. You could make some great handmade ornaments³ for the tree. Create a picture, make an afghan, crochet⁴ a scarf, or sew some pillow covers. Depending on how much time you have, set aside a little time for crafting. You can actually make all your Christmas gifts by hand, if you have a few good ideas. Some crafts require very little time to complete and most people love homemade gifts.

　　你可以今年多花一些时间计划为家人做一些原创的东西。考虑所有你能手工制作而其他人会喜欢的工艺品。你可以为树装饰一些很棒的手工制品。画张图片，编织一条阿富汗毛毯，钩织围巾，或缝一些枕套。取决于你有多少时间，留些时间来制作。你可以手工制作所有的圣坛节礼物，如果你有一些好主意的话。一些手工制品只需很少时间就能完成，而大多数人都喜欢手工礼物。

　　5.Avoid The Rush

　　避开高峰期

　　Instead of running around and facing all the crowded stores and last-minute shoppers, start your planning early. Don’t wait until 2 days before Christmas to get what you need. If you decide on gifts several weeks before the holiday, you will be more likely to sit back and enjoy the festivities when the time comes. You will also be more relaxed around your friends and family if you are better prepared for family gathering⁵. Last-minute shopping only serves to create stress and wear people out.

　　不要到处跑去面对一切拥挤的商店和最后时间才购物的购物者，尽早开始你的计划。不要等到圣诞节两天前才会购买你需要的东西。如果你决定假期前几周购买礼品，那你会更可能放松下来，在假期到来时享受这些时光。如果你能为家庭聚会做更万全的准备，那你还能在你朋友家人面前更加自如。最后时间才购物只会让你紧张、让人们疲惫。

　　6.Schedule Relaxation⁶

　　安排消遣时间

　　No matter how busy you are, it is a good idea to plan on setting time aside just to relax. You could schedule a massage⁷ on the weekend, or start going to a yoga class. Check out the spa at your nearest health club. Try using some aromatherapy products, or some of the specialty⁸ items like nature alarm clocks or tabletop water fountains that can help you relax because of the soothing⁹ sounds they make. You may even think about getting some stress-relief products for someone you know.

　　不管你多么忙，计划留一些时间做些消遣安排都是一个好主意。你可以在周末安排一次按摩，或者去上一个瑜伽课。查看一下你周围最近的健身俱乐部的水疗中心。试着用一些香薰产品，或一些如自然闹钟或桌面喷泉这样的专业项目，它们能以舒缓的声音帮助你放松下来。你甚至可能会考虑给你认识的人提供一些缓解压力的产品。

　　7.Decorate Like The Old Days

　　像老时候那样装饰

　　You can do research on the internet about the types of traditional styles of holiday decor that date back hundreds of years. Then, you can find ways to re-create olden-day decor in your living room this year. From wall hangings to table decor, you can find some unique ideas to dress up your home that you can probably make yourself. With the popularity of the DIY trend in home decorating, you should be able to find numerous ideas online or at your nearest craft store to help you create an old-fashioned look.

　　你可以在网上调查一些几百年前的传统节假日方式。然后，你可以今年设法在你的客厅里再创旧式的装饰风格。从墙上的挂件到桌上的装饰，你都可以找出一些独特的主意去装饰你的家，或许你自己就能做到。随着DIY在家庭装饰中的流行，你应该能够在网上或是附近的手工店中找到许多主意，帮助你创造一个老式的装饰。

 

1 delicacies   

n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到

参考例句：

• Its flesh has exceptional delicacies. 它的肉异常鲜美。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• After these delicacies, the trappers were ready for their feast. 在享用了这些美食之后，狩猎者开始其大餐。 来自英汉非文学 - 民俗

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 ornaments   

n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 crochet   

n.钩针织物；v.用钩针编制

参考例句：

• That's a black crochet waistcoat.那是一件用钩针编织的黑色马甲。
• She offered to teach me to crochet rugs.她提出要教我钩织小地毯。

5 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

6 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

7 massage   

n.按摩，揉；vt.按摩，揉，美化，奉承，篡改数据

参考例句：

• He is really quite skilled in doing massage.他的按摩技术确实不错。
• Massage helps relieve the tension in one's muscles.按摩可使僵硬的肌肉松弛。

8 specialty   

n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长

参考例句：

• Shell carvings are a specialty of the town.贝雕是该城的特产。
• His specialty is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。

9 soothing   

adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的

参考例句：

• Put on some nice soothing music.播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
• His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing.他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。