VOA慢速英语2019 世界各地的传统情人节

Valentine's Traditions: Korea, Wales, Argentina and the US

The United States celebrates Valentine's Day each year on February 14. Images of hearts are everywhere, as are red roses and boxes of chocolates to give to that special person. You could say that "love is in the air."

美国每年在2月14日庆祝情人节。随处可见心形图案，以及送给那个特别的人的红玫瑰和巧克力。你可以说“空气中都弥漫着爱意。”

Many other countries celebrate Valentine's Day, too, each in their own way. Here is a look at four countries' Valentine's Day traditions.

很多其它国家也都以各自的方式庆祝情人节。以下是4个国家的情人节传统。

South Korea: three is a charm¹

韩国：梅开三度

For South Koreans, Valentine's Day happens in three parts: February 14, March 14 and April 14.

对韩国人来说，情人节分为3部分：2月14日，3月14日和4月14。

On February 14, women traditionally give men gifts of chocolate to show their affection². One month later, on a holiday known as White Day, men show their thanks by giving women a sweet gift. The name "White Day" comes from the mostly outdated³ custom of giving white-colored gifts.

2月14日，女人一般会给男人送巧克力表达她们的爱意。一个月之后，在那个被称为白色情人节的节日，男人给女人送上一份甜蜜的礼物表示感谢。白色情人节这个名称出自于送白色礼物这个已经很过时的习俗。

And, let's not forget Black Day on April 14. Single people who did not get gifts on February 14 or March 14 often gather on Black Day to eat Jjajyangmyeon noodles with black bean sauce.

我们也不要忘了4月14日这个黑色情人节。在2月14日和3月14日没有收到礼物的单身人士通常会在黑色情人节这天聚在一起吃炸酱面。.

Wales: land o' love spoons

威尔士：爱之匙

Unlike many European countries, Wales does not celebrate Saint⁴ Valentine. It has its own Saint of Love. Her name is Saint Dwynwen. The Welsh holiday is called St. Dwynwen's Day and takes place on January 25.

与许多欧洲国家不同，威尔士不庆祝圣瓦伦丁。它有自己的爱圣。她的名字是圣德温。这个威尔士节日被称为圣德温节，时间是1月25日。

The traditional romantic gift on this day is a love spoon. Beginning in the 17th century, Welsh men carved beautiful wooden spoons as a representation⁵ of their love for that special person in their lives. Each pattern has a different meaning. For example, horseshoes mean good luck; keys represent the key to a man's heart; and wheels are a sign of support.

这天的传统浪漫礼物是爱之匙。从17世纪开始，威尔士男人会雕刻精美的木汤匙，以此表达他们对生命中最特殊的那个人的爱。每种图案代表不同的含义。例如，马蹄环代表好运，钥匙代表男人的心之匙，而车轮代表着支持。

Today in Wales, love spoons are also given at weddings, births and other celebrations.

如今在威尔士，婚礼、分娩和其它庆祝活动上也会送出爱之匙。

Argentina: a week of sweets

阿根廷：甜蜜周

Argentina celebrates Valentine's Day in February, but also gives a whole other week to love in July. They call it Sweetness Week. If you kiss someone, they have to give you a sugary treat.

阿根廷在2月庆祝情人节，但是也会在7月花一整周时间去示爱。他们称之为甜蜜周。如果你亲吻某人，他们必须送你糖果。

Sweetness Week started in 1989 with a candy company called Arcor. They made an advertisement called "Candy for a Kiss." The idea was to give the company's chocolates and other candies in exchange for a sweet kiss on the cheek. The campaign had a stronger effect than the company expected -- it led to a new holiday!

甜蜜周是一家名为Arcor的糖果公司在1989年创设的。他们做了一个名为“亲一下就送糖”的广告。构思是用该公司的巧克力和其它糖果换一下亲吻脸颊。该活动产生的效果超过了该公司的预期，直接导致了一个新的假期。

Every July, couples who take part give each other candies and kisses all week long.

每年7月，参加活动的情侣整个礼拜都会互送糖果和亲吻。

United States: female⁶ friends

美国：闺密

Finally, we turn to the United States.

最后我们来说说美国。

Galentine's Day, February 13, began as a made-up holiday on an American television show, Parks and Recreation. In one part of the show in 2010, the show's main character, Leslie Knope, said Galentine's Day is about "ladies celebrating ladies." So, the day is a celebration of friendship between women.

2月13日的闺蜜节是 美剧《公园与游憩》杜撰出来的一个节日。 剧中主角莱斯利·诺普在2010年的剧情中称，闺密节是“女人们的节日。”因此这一天是为了庆祝闺密间的情谊。

Today, women use the holiday as a time to go out and have fun with female friends, co-workers or family members, or to show their love for personal female heroes.

如今，女性们在这天外出度假，与女性朋友、同事或家人一起娱乐，或是表达对个人女性英雄的爱。

On Galentine's Day in 2020, for example, Michelle Obama thanked her girlfriends who support her through life's ups and downs.

以2020年的闺密节为例，米歇尔·奥巴马就感谢了陪她经历人生风雨的女性朋友。

Words in This Story

affection – n. a feeling of liking⁷ and caring for someone or something

saint – n. a person who is officially recognized by the Christian⁸ church as being very holy because of the way he or she lived

spoon – n. an eating, cooking or decorative⁹ tool that has a small shallow¹⁰ bowl attached to a handle

pattern – n. a repeated form or design especially that is used to decorate something

key – n. a small device¹¹ that is used to open a lock on a door

character – n. a person who appears in a television show, story, book, play or movie

1 charm   

vt.使着迷，使陶醉；n.招人喜欢之处，魅力

参考例句：

• With all imperfections the short play has a real charm.尽管有不少缺欠，这出小戏仍颇具魅力。
• He could resist her charm no longer.他再也抗拒不住她的魅力。

2 affection   

n.喜爱；爱慕，感情；倾向，意向

参考例句：

• The handsome young man excited affection in a girl.那位英俊的年轻男子引起了一个女孩的爱慕之情。
• He has a deep affection for his old friend.他对老朋友感情很深。

3 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。

4 saint   

n.圣徒；基督教徒；vt.成为圣徒，把...视为圣徒

参考例句：

• He was made a saint.他被封为圣人。
• The saint had a lowly heart.圣人有谦诚之心。

5 representation   

n.表现某人（或某事物）的东西，图画，雕塑

参考例句：

• The painting is a representation of a storm at sea.这幅画描绘的是海上的暴风雨。
• All parties won representation in the national assembly.所有政党在国民大会中都赢得了代表资格。

6 female   

adj.雌的，女(性)的；n.雌性的动物，女子

参考例句：

• We only employ female workers.我们只雇用女工。
• The animal in the picture was a female elephant.照片上的动物是头母象。

7 liking   

n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢

参考例句：

• The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
• I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。

8 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

9 decorative   

adj.装饰的，可作装饰的

参考例句：

• This ware is suitable for decorative purpose but unsuitable for utility.这种器皿中看不中用。
• The style is ornate and highly decorative.这种风格很华丽，而且装饰效果很好。

10 shallow   

adj.浅的，肤浅的，浅显易懂的；n.(pl.)浅滩，浅处；v.变浅

参考例句：

• The dish is too shallow to serve soup in.盘子太浅，盛不了汤。
• His analysis was always shallow.他的分析总是很肤浅的。

11 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。