Christmas Traditions, Past and Present

圣誕節(jié)的往昔與今朝

Americans may have made some changes in the way they celebrate Christmas over the years, but some important traditions--like friends and family--remain the same. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted among a representative sample of 2,001 adults nationwide, nine out of every 10 Americans celebrate Christmas.

多年來(lái)，美國(guó)人在慶祝圣誕節(jié)的方式上做了很多改變，但一些重要的傳統(tǒng)還是保留至今，例如在那天與朋友和家人相聚。根據(jù)佩尤研究中心對(duì)全國(guó)2001名具有代表性的成年人進(jìn)行的調(diào)查顯示，十個(gè)里面有九個(gè)美國(guó)人會(huì)慶祝圣誕。

However, only around half of those who celebrate view it as a religious holiday, while one-third see it as a cultural celebration, rather than one of faith. Religion is far less central to young peoples’ observances of Christmas, the survey found, with only 39 percent of those aged 18-29 viewing it as a religious holiday, compared with 66 percent of those aged 65 and older.

然而，會(huì)慶祝圣誕節(jié)的人中只有差不多一半把它視作為一個(gè)宗教節(jié)日；而三分之一的人會(huì)將它看作一個(gè)文化慶典，而不是一種信仰。在年輕人的眼中，宗教遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)不是圣誕節(jié)的核心，經(jīng)調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn)，18-29歲的人中只有39%的人把它當(dāng)做一個(gè)宗教節(jié)日，與之相比，65歲及以上的人有66%把圣誕節(jié)視為宗教節(jié)日。

According to Christian theology, the Christmas holiday commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whose teachings form the basis of the Christian faith. Christians didn’t begin celebrating Christ’s birth until the third century A.D., when Roman church officials settled on December 25 (the Bible doesn’t mention the exact date), probably to coincide with already existing pagan winter festivals. Today, Christmas is not the most important Christian holiday–in fact, it ranks fourth after Easter, Pentecost and Epiphany. Yet since the 19th century, when Americans began to celebrate Christmas in the way we think of today–including traditions such as decorating trees, sending holiday cards and giving gifts–it has grown into the biggest commercial holiday of the year and is now celebrated by the vast majority of Americans, Christian or not.

根據(jù)基督教神學(xué)的理念，圣誕節(jié)是為了紀(jì)念拿撒勒耶穌的誕生，其傳教為基督教信仰構(gòu)建了雛形。基督教徒們從公元前三世紀(jì)才開(kāi)始慶祝耶穌的誕生，當(dāng)時(shí)羅馬官方將日期定為12月25日（圣經(jīng)中沒(méi)有提到具體的日期），可能是為了和當(dāng)時(shí)異教徒的冬季節(jié)日同步。如今，圣誕節(jié)已經(jīng)不是基督教最重要的節(jié)日了，其重要地位居于復(fù)活節(jié)、圣靈降臨節(jié)和主顯節(jié)之后。之后，自十九世紀(jì)以來(lái)，美國(guó)人開(kāi)始像現(xiàn)在一樣慶祝圣誕節(jié)，包括裝飾圣誕樹(shù)、贈(zèng)送節(jié)日賀卡和禮物等傳統(tǒng)，從那時(shí)開(kāi)始圣誕節(jié)已經(jīng)成為每年最大的商業(yè)節(jié)日；現(xiàn)在絕大多數(shù)美國(guó)人都慶祝圣誕，不論他們是否是基督徒。

In an attempt to explore the changing nature of Christmas traditions, the Pew survey also asked its adult participants how they remember celebrating the holiday as children, compared to the way they celebrate it now. A whopping 86 percent said they plan to celebrate Christmas with family and friends, and the same percentage say they plan to give gifts to friends and family. Around nine in 10 adults (91 percent) said these activities were part of their holiday traditions when they were children. According to the survey, eight out of every 10 Americans (79 percent) plan to put up a Christmas tree this year, compared with 92 percent who said they typically put up a Christmas tree when they were children.

為了探討圣誕節(jié)的傳統(tǒng)的演變，佩尤調(diào)查還讓這些成年參與者談?wù)勊麄兺陼r(shí)是如何慶祝圣誕的。高達(dá)86%的受調(diào)查者說(shuō)，他們是和家人朋友一起慶祝圣誕節(jié)的，也有相同比例的人說(shuō)準(zhǔn)備給朋友和家人送禮物。大約十分之一的成人（91%）表示，這些活動(dòng)也是他們小時(shí)候過(guò)圣誕節(jié)的時(shí)候會(huì)做的事情。據(jù)調(diào)查，每10個(gè)美國(guó)人里有8個(gè)（79%）計(jì)劃今年在家里布置一棵圣誕樹(shù)，而92%的人說(shuō)在他們小時(shí)候他們也通常會(huì)在圣誕節(jié)放一棵圣誕樹(shù)。

Other holiday traditions remembered from childhood didn’t fare as well, however. While 81 percent of those surveyed said their families typically sent holiday cards during their childhoods, only 65 percent said they planned to do so this year. Only 16 percent said they would go caroling (compared with 36 percent who said they caroled during their childhood).

然而，其他的節(jié)日傳統(tǒng)卻跟童年時(shí)的不一樣。盡管有81%的受調(diào)查者表示，在兒提時(shí)代，他們的家人通常會(huì)贈(zèng)送節(jié)日賀卡，但只有6%5的人表示他們今年也會(huì)贈(zèng)送賀卡。也只有16%的人說(shuō)他們會(huì)去唱圣誕頌歌（與之相比，36%的人說(shuō)他們也會(huì)在童年時(shí)唱圣誕頌歌）。

The Pew survey found that religious and non-religious Americans are relatively similar in their celebrations of the Christmas holiday, and that both cultural and religious observers were just as likely to gather with family, exchange gifts and take part in another popular Christmas tradition–Santa Claus. Among those adults surveyed who have a child who believes in Santa Claus, 69 percent said they plan to pretend that Santa visits their house on Christmas Eve this year. Perhaps more surprisingly, 18 percent of parents whose children do not believe in Santa will still pretend to get a visit from the jolly bearded fellow this Christmas, and so will 22 percent of adults who are not parents or guardians of any children.

佩尤調(diào)查還發(fā)現(xiàn)，有宗教信仰和無(wú)宗教信仰的美國(guó)人都在慶祝圣誕節(jié)的方式上不盡相同。文化和宗教人士會(huì)和家人聚在一起，互相交換禮物和沿襲其他廣受歡迎的圣誕傳統(tǒng)——比如扮圣誕老人。受調(diào)查者中還包括一些有孩子的成年人，那些孩子都相信有圣誕老人的存在，在這些受調(diào)查者中69%的人說(shuō)，他們打算假扮圣誕老人在今年的圣誕夜上門拜訪。也許更令人驚訝的是，還有18%的家長(zhǎng)，盡管孩子不相信圣誕老人的存在，但仍然會(huì)假扮這個(gè)快樂(lè)的留著胡子的圣誕老人，也有22%的人雖然不是任何孩子的父母或是監(jiān)護(hù)人，表示愿意這么做。

Christmas Traditions, Past and Present

圣誕節(jié)的往昔與今朝

Americans may have made some changes in the way they celebrate Christmas over the years, but some important traditions--like friends and family--remain the same. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted among a representative sample of 2,001 adults nationwide, nine out of every 10 Americans celebrate Christmas.

多年來(lái)，美國(guó)人在慶祝圣誕節(jié)的方式上做了很多改變，但一些重要的傳統(tǒng)還是保留至今，例如在那天與朋友和家人相聚。根據(jù)佩尤研究中心對(duì)全國(guó)2001名具有代表性的成年人進(jìn)行的調(diào)查顯示，十個(gè)里面有九個(gè)美國(guó)人會(huì)慶祝圣誕。

However, only around half of those who celebrate view it as a religious holiday, while one-third see it as a cultural celebration, rather than one of faith. Religion is far less central to young peoples’ observances of Christmas, the survey found, with only 39 percent of those aged 18-29 viewing it as a religious holiday, compared with 66 percent of those aged 65 and older.

然而，會(huì)慶祝圣誕節(jié)的人中只有差不多一半把它視作為一個(gè)宗教節(jié)日；而三分之一的人會(huì)將它看作一個(gè)文化慶典，而不是一種信仰。在年輕人的眼中，宗教遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)不是圣誕節(jié)的核心，經(jīng)調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn)，18-29歲的人中只有39%的人把它當(dāng)做一個(gè)宗教節(jié)日，與之相比，65歲及以上的人有66%把圣誕節(jié)視為宗教節(jié)日。

According to Christian theology, the Christmas holiday commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whose teachings form the basis of the Christian faith. Christians didn’t begin celebrating Christ’s birth until the third century A.D., when Roman church officials settled on December 25 (the Bible doesn’t mention the exact date), probably to coincide with already existing pagan winter festivals. Today, Christmas is not the most important Christian holiday–in fact, it ranks fourth after Easter, Pentecost and Epiphany. Yet since the 19th century, when Americans began to celebrate Christmas in the way we think of today–including traditions such as decorating trees, sending holiday cards and giving gifts–it has grown into the biggest commercial holiday of the year and is now celebrated by the vast majority of Americans, Christian or not.

根據(jù)基督教神學(xué)的理念，圣誕節(jié)是為了紀(jì)念拿撒勒耶穌的誕生，其傳教為基督教信仰構(gòu)建了雛形。基督教徒們從公元前三世紀(jì)才開(kāi)始慶祝耶穌的誕生，當(dāng)時(shí)羅馬官方將日期定為12月25日（圣經(jīng)中沒(méi)有提到具體的日期），可能是為了和當(dāng)時(shí)異教徒的冬季節(jié)日同步。如今，圣誕節(jié)已經(jīng)不是基督教最重要的節(jié)日了，其重要地位居于復(fù)活節(jié)、圣靈降臨節(jié)和主顯節(jié)之后。之后，自十九世紀(jì)以來(lái)，美國(guó)人開(kāi)始像現(xiàn)在一樣慶祝圣誕節(jié)，包括裝飾圣誕樹(shù)、贈(zèng)送節(jié)日賀卡和禮物等傳統(tǒng)，從那時(shí)開(kāi)始圣誕節(jié)已經(jīng)成為每年最大的商業(yè)節(jié)日；現(xiàn)在絕大多數(shù)美國(guó)人都慶祝圣誕，不論他們是否是基督徒。

In an attempt to explore the changing nature of Christmas traditions, the Pew survey also asked its adult participants how they remember celebrating the holiday as children, compared to the way they celebrate it now. A whopping 86 percent said they plan to celebrate Christmas with family and friends, and the same percentage say they plan to give gifts to friends and family. Around nine in 10 adults (91 percent) said these activities were part of their holiday traditions when they were children. According to the survey, eight out of every 10 Americans (79 percent) plan to put up a Christmas tree this year, compared with 92 percent who said they typically put up a Christmas tree when they were children.

為了探討圣誕節(jié)的傳統(tǒng)的演變，佩尤調(diào)查還讓這些成年參與者談?wù)勊麄兺陼r(shí)是如何慶祝圣誕的。高達(dá)86%的受調(diào)查者說(shuō)，他們是和家人朋友一起慶祝圣誕節(jié)的，也有相同比例的人說(shuō)準(zhǔn)備給朋友和家人送禮物。大約十分之一的成人（91%）表示，這些活動(dòng)也是他們小時(shí)候過(guò)圣誕節(jié)的時(shí)候會(huì)做的事情。據(jù)調(diào)查，每10個(gè)美國(guó)人里有8個(gè)（79%）計(jì)劃今年在家里布置一棵圣誕樹(shù)，而92%的人說(shuō)在他們小時(shí)候他們也通常會(huì)在圣誕節(jié)放一棵圣誕樹(shù)。

Other holiday traditions remembered from childhood didn’t fare as well, however. While 81 percent of those surveyed said their families typically sent holiday cards during their childhoods, only 65 percent said they planned to do so this year. Only 16 percent said they would go caroling (compared with 36 percent who said they caroled during their childhood).

然而，其他的節(jié)日傳統(tǒng)卻跟童年時(shí)的不一樣。盡管有81%的受調(diào)查者表示，在兒提時(shí)代，他們的家人通常會(huì)贈(zèng)送節(jié)日賀卡，但只有6%5的人表示他們今年也會(huì)贈(zèng)送賀卡。也只有16%的人說(shuō)他們會(huì)去唱圣誕頌歌（與之相比，36%的人說(shuō)他們也會(huì)在童年時(shí)唱圣誕頌歌）。

The Pew survey found that religious and non-religious Americans are relatively similar in their celebrations of the Christmas holiday, and that both cultural and religious observers were just as likely to gather with family, exchange gifts and take part in another popular Christmas tradition–Santa Claus. Among those adults surveyed who have a child who believes in Santa Claus, 69 percent said they plan to pretend that Santa visits their house on Christmas Eve this year. Perhaps more surprisingly, 18 percent of parents whose children do not believe in Santa will still pretend to get a visit from the jolly bearded fellow this Christmas, and so will 22 percent of adults who are not parents or guardians of any children.

佩尤調(diào)查還發(fā)現(xiàn)，有宗教信仰和無(wú)宗教信仰的美國(guó)人都在慶祝圣誕節(jié)的方式上不盡相同。文化和宗教人士會(huì)和家人聚在一起，互相交換禮物和沿襲其他廣受歡迎的圣誕傳統(tǒng)——比如扮圣誕老人。受調(diào)查者中還包括一些有孩子的成年人，那些孩子都相信有圣誕老人的存在，在這些受調(diào)查者中69%的人說(shuō)，他們打算假扮圣誕老人在今年的圣誕夜上門拜訪。也許更令人驚訝的是，還有18%的家長(zhǎng)，盡管孩子不相信圣誕老人的存在，但仍然會(huì)假扮這個(gè)快樂(lè)的留著胡子的圣誕老人，也有22%的人雖然不是任何孩子的父母或是監(jiān)護(hù)人，表示愿意這么做。