圣诞节习俗：日本的圣诞习俗

 　　Christmas Eve in some parts of the world may find parents battling crowds of other last-minute shoppers or struggling to assemble toys as their children sleep, but in Japan the holiday is as much for couples as for kids.

　　Magazines aimed at the young and in love are filled with advice on the best places to stroll down streets illuminated¹ with stunning² displays of Christmas lights, the best restaurants for a cosy³ dinner for two -- and the best hotels for a romantic night.

　　Tokyo Tower, a popular dating spot, is lighting⁴ up a heart-shaped illumination on its observation deck every night until Christmas. Some believe that couples who stand under the tower when the lights go on must vow⁵ eternal love.

　　Lovers can also tie a ribbon to a special Christmas "love tree" on the tower's observation deck.

　　Nearby, the new Tokyo Prince Hotel Park Tower has two specially⁶ decorated Christmas suites⁷ on offer for 2 million yen⁸ ($16,660) a night, fancy dinner included.

　　Only about 1 percent of Japan's population is Christian⁹, and December 25 is a working day for most people, but practices such as decorating shopping streets and exchanging gifts became common in the robust¹⁰ consumer economy that emerged after World War Two.

　　Modern "traditions" include Christmas Cake -- a sponge cake with strawberries and whipped cream eaten on Christmas Eve -- and, for some families, a take-out bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

　　圣诞节平安夜--日本情侣们的最浪漫的夜晚

　　在一些国家，圣诞节平安夜可能正是人们忙着大采购或是家长绞尽脑汁给孩子们准备礼物的时候;而在日本，平安夜绝对是情侣们享受浓情蜜意的最浪漫之夜。

　　据路透社12月14日报道，日本的休闲杂志总是鼓励年轻的情侣应该在平安夜漫步在被华灯笼罩的街头，或是去高级饭店享用仅属于两个人的烛光晚餐，甚至应该去最高档的酒店感受一夜的浪漫。

　　每逢圣诞来临之际，日本著名的情侣约会地——东京铁塔的了望台上将放置心形的照明物和一颗名为“爱情树”的圣诞树。东京的情侣们流行在平安夜来到这里许下对自己爱情的祝福，并在“爱情树”上系上属于自己的丝带。

　　报道说，在日本，只有1%的人是基督教徒，而12月25日圣诞节这天对大多数人而言都是正常的工作日。但从二战后日本经济复苏以来，每逢圣诞节，商业街都被装点出浓重的节日气氛，而人们之间也流行交换礼物。在日本，现代的圣诞节“传统”还包括吃奶油草莓蛋糕，或是一家人分享一大桶肯德基外卖食物。

1 illuminated   

adj.被照明的；受启迪的

参考例句：

• Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。
• the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市

2 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

3 cosy   

adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的

参考例句：

• We spent a cosy evening chatting by the fire.我们在炉火旁聊天度过了一个舒适的晚上。
• It was so warm and cosy in bed that Simon didn't want to get out.床上温暖而又舒适，西蒙简直不想下床了。

4 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。

5 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

6 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

7 suites   

n.套( suite的名词复数 )；一套房间；一套家具；一套公寓

参考例句：

• First he called upon all the Foreign Ministers in their hotel suites. 他首先到所有外交部长住的旅馆套间去拜访。 来自辞典例句
• All four doors to the two reserved suites were open. 预定的两个套房的四扇门都敞开着。 来自辞典例句

8 yen   

n. 日元；热望

参考例句：

• He wanted to convert his dollars into Japanese yen.他想将美元换成日币。
• He has a yen to be alone in a boat.他渴望独自呆在一条船上。

9 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。

10 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。