VOA标准英语2010年-Britain's Answer to Mardi Gras is a Pa

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Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the day many Christians¹ around the world begin a traditional fast before Easter, this year for 46 days. Custom also has it that the days and weeks before Lent be given up to revelry and indulgence - the great Carnival² on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the famous masked balls of Venice and costume parties and parades elsewhere. In Britain the last day before Lent is celebrated³ by boisterous⁴ crowds dressed in costumes, who race down streets flipping⁵ pancakes.

Lent is a time for giving up things. And in Britain, Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins, is for cleaning out the fridge, mixing up your milk, butter, and eggs frying up a pancake, getting all dressed up, stepping out into the rain, and having a race.

Why do the British do it? Most don't really seem to know.

This team of racers has one idea. "I think it appeals to their slightly quirky nature. And, you know, everybody's got a bit of a sweet tooth," one team member said.

"Skinny Bean" has been coming to the race for 16 years, and he's got another idea. "It brings everybody together for no particular reason at all," he said.

In fact, Britons have been celebrating Pancake Day for more 500 years.

Legend has it that on Shrove Tuesday in 1445 a woman cooking pancakes in her kitchen lost track of the time.
 
When she heard the church bells ringing she ran to the church - still in her apron⁶ and holding her frying pan. And that's how Pancake Day began, and continues. 

But with one difference: These participants don't seem to want to give anything up for Lent. 

We asked Irishman Donald O'Kelly what he'll be giving up. "Lent? Oh yes… Lent. We're giving up… pancakes."

One thing everyone does seem to know is that Pancake Day is a time to indulge. And after 500 years, Britons don't look like they're about to forget that.
 

1 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

2 carnival   

n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演

参考例句：

• I got some good shots of the carnival.我有几个狂欢节的精彩镜头。
• Our street puts on a carnival every year.我们街的居民每年举行一次嘉年华会。

3 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。

4 boisterous   

adj.喧闹的，欢闹的

参考例句：

• I don't condescend to boisterous displays of it.我并不屈就于它热热闹闹的外表。
• The children tended to gather together quietly for a while before they broke into boisterous play.孩子们经常是先静静地聚集在一起，不一会就开始吵吵嚷嚷戏耍开了。

5 flipping   

讨厌之极的

参考例句：

• I hate this flipping hotel! 我讨厌这个该死的旅馆！
• Don't go flipping your lid. 别发火。

6 apron   

n.围裙；工作裙

参考例句：

• We were waited on by a pretty girl in a pink apron.招待我们的是一位穿粉红色围裙的漂亮姑娘。
• She stitched a pocket on the new apron.她在新围裙上缝上一只口袋。