【有文稿】歪果仁在中国怎么过圣诞？

Lincoln: It's Christmas in China! Or at least, it's Christmas Eve, but we're celebrating it as if it is, we're all very excited. Wu You, tell us a little bit more, what is Christmas like in China? WY: Most Chinese people who celebrate Christmas do so as a happy occasion for get-togethers with friends, relatives and couples, without any kind of religious attachment. On the streets and in the shopping malls, there are Christmas trees, lights and decorations. And you’ll hear Christmas music playing from the end of November, even. And then Christmas carols can be heard over the noise of the crowds shopping for the Christmas season sales and promotions. And there will be a Chinese Santa as well, which helps to make the scene complete! Lincoln: What?! A Chinese Santa?! WY: Yes, there will be, in the shopping mall. Lincoln: Okay, yeah, Wu You, it seems like Chinese people have taken the kind of familial aspect of Christmas, they’ve taken it to heart. WY: And also what is unique here in China, as well, is that on Christmas Eve, there are performances, and also congregations putting on dance and drama performances. It is called the “peaceful evening” in Chinese, “平安夜”, from the translation of the words “silent night”. And also there’s an unusual apple-eating tradition as well. Lincoln: Hang on, hang on here. Apple-eating tradition? WY: Yes, yes. Because the word “apple”, “苹果”, sounds like the word “peace” in Mandarin, so people eat apples on Christmas Eve. Lincoln: Very interesting. Apples on Christmas Eve. Nick, what do you have planned for Christmas Eve? Nick: I hadn’t planned to eat any apples, but I might have to change my plans now! Lincoln: Yeah, you might have to get some in! Nick: I think it’s going to be necessary. Christmas Eve, not too much, my plans are mostly for tomorrow, Christmas Day. So I’m going to attempt to cook some form of Christmas dinner. Lincoln: Get in, Nick, he’s going to attempt to cook. What are you cooking for us, Nick? Nick: We have got chicken on the menu Lincoln/WY: Wow(!) Nick: It was as adventurous as I could get! And various vegetables, etc. etc, all the extra things that go with it. Lincoln: Nick, you’ve skipped over a lot of that meal there. WY: Are there any kinds of special desserts or special food for Christmas in the UK? Nick: Yep, so we have Christmas pudding, which is like a kind of rich fruit cake, and it often has brandy or other alcohol in it, so that when you serve it out you light it on fire before you bring it out, and then all the alcohol goes up. WY: Wow, that’s nice. Lincoln: We don’t do that, but I do know that one. Nick: That’s probably all that spending Christmas at the beach, no fire available. We have mince pies, which are little, cupcake-sized pastries filled with currants and spices, and things like that, and lots of chocolate-related things as well. Lincoln: We share a lot of that, as well. And as Nick mentioned very briefly there, in South Africa, being in the southern hemisphere, we have Christmas by the beach, because it’s summer for us. So on the 24th, you’d probably get off work – you wouldn’t necessarily get off work but your boss would know that you’re not very motivated, you’ve got one eye on the clock, so for the most part, most bosses just kind of wave you off. The 25th is a holiday; the 26th is a holiday as well. So in that time, you’re usually at the beach, you’re with your friends, you’re with your family, it’s the school holidays, so everyone has a lot of free time. WY: Do you know what the top three Chinese Christmas songs are? Lincoln: No I don’t know. Something by Adam Lambert, probably, I don’t know. WY: Yeah, I like him! But they are: We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Silent Night, and Jingle Bells. Lincoln: Okay! Nick: And are we talking about translations here? WY: Sometimes the original songs, sometimes they are the Chinese versions of these songs. Lincoln: Also, is there a tradition of gift-giving, for Christmas? WY: Oh, there is. Usually people will give out Christmas cards, or different gifts, like chocolate, or dresses, or just a simple apple, as we mentioned before! Lincoln: An apple, fair enough.