洛杉矶个性圣诞老人广受欢迎

 　　LOS ANGELES — In many western cultures, Santa Claus is traditionally depicted¹ as Caucasian man with a white beard in a red suit. But around the United States, this symbol of Christmas comes in many colors. In one Los Angeles shopping mall non-traditional Santas are a tradition.

　　He’s known as “Saint Nicholas”, “Kris Kringle”, “Father Christmas”, or simply ….

　　'Santa. Yeah he’s a good person. He brings joy to a child and I really want to thank him for that,' said Jason Mata.

　　Jason Mata and his family come to the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza² Mall every year to see this particular Santa Claus because he speaks Spanish.

　　“Go to school, be kind to your parents, do your homework, and enjoy life…be a kid," said a Spanish-speaking Santa.

　　During the holiday season, many U.S. shopping malls set up display areas where children can meet Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas. Most of those who put on the red suit to greet the children are white. But, according to Mall Marketing³ Director, Rachel Erickson, a Spanish-speaking Kris Kringle has been a part of their Multicultural⁴ Santa Program for more than a decade, because the neighborhood is so diverse.

　　“The demographic speaks to the Santa program that we have and we absolutely want make sure that our Santas are representative and culturally reflective of our neighbors," said Erickson.

　　The Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Mall is located in the heart of L.A.'s Latino and African American neighborhoods. So the shopping center has two Santas - one Latino and one African-American. Langston Patterson portrays⁵ the black Santa and he says the kids get very excited.

　　“It’s a joy to see the kids jump around like grease⁶ in a skillet when they see Santa Claus and their very happy and focused. And I enjoy the parents and they enjoy me,"said Patterson.

　　Patterson is the only Santa that Sheila Ford⁷'s son has ever known.

　　“We make it a trip - a special trip - every year. And it’s really a surprise he still believes in him and that’s because they connect. And they connect because he looks like him," said Ford.

　　And that personal connection gives extra meaning to the holiday.

1 depicted   

描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• Other animals were depicted on the periphery of the group. 其他动物在群像的外围加以修饰。
• They depicted the thrilling situation to us in great detail. 他们向我们详细地描述了那激动人心的场面。

2 plaza   

n.广场，市场

参考例句：

• They designated the new shopping centre York Plaza.他们给这个新购物中心定名为约克购物中心。
• The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen.这个广场上布满了便衣警察。

3 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

4 multicultural   

adj.融合多种文化的，多种文化的

参考例句：

• Children growing up in a multicultural society.在多元文化社会中长大的孩子们。
• The school has been attempting to bring a multicultural perspective to its curriculum.这所学校已经在尝试将一种多元文化视角引入其课程。

5 portrays   

v.画像( portray的第三人称单数 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• The museum collection vividly portrays the heritage of 200 years of canals. 博物馆的藏品让运河200 年的历史再现眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The film portrays Gandhi as a kind of superman. 这部电影把甘地描绘成一个超人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 grease   

n.动物脂，油脂，润滑脂；v.抹油，润滑

参考例句：

• He puts grease on his hair to make It'shiny.他往头发上擦油，使之发亮。
• You have a grease spot on your shirt.你的衬衣上有块油斑。

7 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。