英语课程计划-Hanukkah

Hanukkah is one of the most important celebrations in the Jewish calendar. It means the Festival of Lights. It is an eight-day holiday that takes place each year in November or December. The festival is to celebrate a miracle that happened in the Second Temple in Jerusalem. A Syrian king took the temple from the Jews. In 164BC, a small group of people called the Maccabees revolted against the king and took back their temple. Their leader Judah Maccabee decided¹ to cleanse² the altar by burning olive oil in a special candle holder³ called a Menorah. They only had enough to burn for one day, yet miraculously⁴, it burned for eight days and nights. Jewish elders declared an eight-day holiday to commemorate⁵ this miracle.

Today the festival is observed by lighting⁶ the lights of the family Menorah. One light is lit on each night of the holiday until there are eight lights on the final night. Families also say prayers throughout the festival, especially after meals. In Israel, schools close for a week to celebrate Hanukkah. Families exchange gifts and eat festive⁷ food. Potato pancakes and fruit-filled doughnuts are the most traditional food, but there is also a custom of frying or baking food in olive oil. Hanukkah is also a time for singing and playing games. There are more songs for Hanukkah than for any other Jewish celebration. The most traditional game is played using a four-sided spinning top, called a dreidel, and coins or tokens.

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 cleanse   

vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗

参考例句：

• Health experts are trying to cleanse the air in cities. 卫生专家们正设法净化城市里的空气。
• Fresh fruit juices can also cleanse your body and reduce dark circles.新鲜果汁同样可以清洁你的身体,并对黑眼圈同样有抑制作用。

3 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

4 miraculously   

ad.奇迹般地

参考例句：

• He had been miraculously saved from almost certain death. 他奇迹般地从死亡线上获救。
• A schoolboy miraculously survived a 25 000-volt electric shock. 一名男学生在遭受2.5 万伏的电击后奇迹般地活了下来。

5 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

6 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

7 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。