VOA标准英语2009年-New England Town Brings Rockwell's Chr

Every year around Christmas, Stockbridge, a small town in western Massachusetts, puts on a display unlike any other in the US. The celebrated¹ American artist Norman Rockwell, who passed away some 30 years ago, used the New England town as the setting for his painting of an idyllic² American Christmas.

Joseph Mok | Stockbridge, Massachusetts 24 December 2009

 
Photo: VOA Image
Each year, on the first Sunday of December, the Stockbridge Chamber³ of Commerce mobilizes the entire community to recreate the scene from "Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas," by painter Norman Rockwell

 

Each year, on the first Sunday of December, the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce mobilizes the entire community to recreate the scene from "Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas," one of the most renowned⁴ oil paintings by artist Norman Rockwell. Cory Kanzenberg is the curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge.

"The original idea for Stockbridge at Christmas was actually conceived in 1956, '57 when Hallmark card corresponds with Rockwell on the idea of an image of an American main street which will symbolize⁵ Christmas in America," he explained.

The Red Lion Inn was built in 1773 and is one of the oldest buildings on Stockbridge's Main Street. But there is one small difference between the inn now and how it appears in Rockwell's original painting. Michelle Kotek, the current innkeeper of the Red Lion Inn, explains. 

"When Norman Rockwell originally painted it, the Red Lion Inn was dark because it was only open seasonally⁶ in the summer, because it had no heat. But when the Fitzpatricks purchased it, they opened it year round. It is now filled with light and life all year round," he said.

Other buildings involved in the recreation include the Berkshire Bank, the Yankee Candle shop now housed in the former Town Hall, three variety stores, Rockwell's old studio, and the Stockbridge Library.

Antique cars are another prominent feature of the painting. Doug Goudey prepares the antique cars used in the recreation

"The picture contains cars from 1949 to 1957," he said.  "We invite local cars owners to come. [Their cars] do not have to be from that period but we try to get more cars of this period on this side. Not an exact creation but a more generalization⁷ of what you will see in the picture.  We do have a couple of cars that come here on a regular basis. One car is going to be a 1957, I believe. It parks in front of the Red Lion Inn. As in the original picture, there is a Christmas tree on the car as it is being delivered to a family. And that car will be parked in front of the Red Lion Inn with a Christmas tree on top."

The recreation of the Rockwell painting is the culmination⁸ of a whole weekend of holiday attractions and activities.

Visitors from around the country enjoy the holiday spirit.

TOM (TOURIST):  "We were here before a couple of times and I made the reservation at the Red Lion Inn about a year ago because I knew it would be very difficult this weekend when I heard about the festival. I made the reservation back then and then I thought it would be a good place to ask Nancy to marry me."

NANCY (TOURIST):  "So he did it! So he is not my boyfriend anymore!! He's my fiancé!"
 
RICHARD WILCOX: "If you look at the Norman Rockwell painting of Christmas, that's my memory. Growing up in Stockbridge was a Norman Rockwell kind of Christmas. There were happy times, kids and presents and all of the things that were in the painting."

MICHAEL JOHNSON: "I am a photographer. That's one of my hobbies. What better place to photograph good Christmas scenes than right here in Stockbridge?"

After the festivities, Stockbridge goes back to its daily routine. Until next year, when it will be again be transformed into a vision of an ideal American town at Christmas.
 

1 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。

2 idyllic   

adj.质朴宜人的，田园风光的

参考例句：

• These scenes had an idyllic air.这种情景多少有点田园气氛。
• Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。

3 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

4 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

5 symbolize   

vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表

参考例句：

• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
• Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。

6 seasonally   

参考例句：

• The price of vegetables fluctuates seasonally. 蔬菜的价格随季节变动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They moved seasonally among various vegetation types to feed on plants that were flourishing. 它们还随着季节的变化而在各种类型植物之间迁移，以便吃那些茂盛的植物。 来自辞典例句

7 generalization   

n.普遍性，一般性，概括

参考例句：

• This sweeping generalization is the law of conservation of energy.这一透彻的概括就是能量守恒定律。
• The evaluation of conduct involves some amount of generalization.对操行的评价会含有一些泛泛之论。

8 culmination   

n.顶点；最高潮

参考例句：

• The space race reached its culmination in the first moon walk.太空竞争以第一次在月球行走而达到顶峰。
• It may truly be regarded as the culmination of classical Greek geometry.这确实可以看成是古典希腊几何的登峰造级之作。