Easte 复活节

　　Spring is a time for new life. Flowers begin to bloom盛开 after the long winter. Birds begin to build nests to lay their eggs in. In forests and fields many animals have babies this time of year. Days begin to get longer and the sun gets warmer. People begin to enjoy the outdoors and all the beautiful weather of spring.

　　春天是新生命的季节。长冬过后花朵开始盛开鸟儿开始筑巢下蛋。在森林和田园中许多动物都在一年的这个时候生育。白天逐渐变长太阳逐渐变暖。人们开始享受户外活动和春天的美好气侯。

　　The most important holiday in spring especially for Christians基督徒 is Easter. This Christian holiday is not on the same date every year but it’s always on a Sunday. It can be any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Many people celebrate Easter by buying new clothes. Children celebrate by hunting for colored eggs that their parents have hidden around the house. People also give Easter baskets filled with candy and other goodies 糕饼糖果 to one another to celebrate the day.

　　春天最重要的节日尤其对基督徒而言就是复活节。这个基督教的节日不见得每年都在同一天但都是在星期日。从3月22日至4月25日之间的任何一个星期日都可能是复活节。许多人会买新衣来庆祝复活节小孩子的庆祝方式则是寻找爹妈在家里四处藏好的彩蛋。人们也会互相赠送装满糖果和点心的复活节篮子来庆祝这个节日。

　　But the holiday is more than new clothes and good things to eat. On Easter many people go to the church to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection复活 from the dead. The Bible tells about Jesus and his death and resurrection. Jesus died because of people’s sins罪. But he rose again and gave forgiveness and new life to everyone who believes in him. Isn’t that something to celebrate in spring.

　　但这个节日的意义不仅限于新衣和好吃的东西。在复活节许多人会上教堂庆祝耶酥死而复生。《圣经》中谈到耶酥谈到他的死和复活。耶酥因人们的罪而死可是他又复活了赦免每一个相信他的人并赐给他们新生命。这岂不是一件值得在春天庆祝的事吗?

　　Most people color them. Some people hide them. Others just eat them. But no matter what one does with Easter eggs they are an important Easter tradition throughout the Western world.

　　许多人将它们上色有些人将它们藏起来其他人则是吃掉它们无论你怎么处置复活节蛋它们是西方世界各地的一个重要传统。

　　From Honolulu to Helsinki people from many different cultures celebrate Easter. In both America and Belgium children look for Easter eggs hidden on lawns and in bushes. In America children believe the eggs are hidden by the Easter bunny复活节兔子. But in Belgium the hidden eggs are supposed to have fallen from church bells.

　　从檀香山到赫尔辛基许多不同文化的人都庆祝复活节。在美国及比利时孩童寻找藏在草坪及矮树从中的复活节蛋。在美国孩子们相信这些蛋是复活节兔子给藏起来的但是在比利时藏起来的蛋被认为是由教堂铃铛上掉下来的。

　　In Bulgaria red Easter eggs are blessed 幸运的 in churches Bulgarian families also hit these Easter eggs together to see whose has the strongest shell壳. The winner looks forward to good fortune运气 that year.

　　在保加利亚复活节红蛋在教堂中被祝福然后大家轮流一起敲打这些蛋比赛谁的蛋壳最坚硬赢者可以期待那一年获得好运气。

　　Still dozens of other Easter traditions exist. In parts of Austria for example children sing from door to door and are rewarded with colorful eggs.

　　还有许多其他的复活节传统。例如在奥地利的一些地区孩童挨家挨户唱歌而且以得着彩蛋为奖赏。

　　This year Easter falls on April 12. On this day whatever tradition people follow they’re sure to have an exciting time.

　　今年的复活节是在4月12日在那一天无论人们遵循什么传统都一定会度过快乐的时光。

　　词汇注释

　　bloom vi. 开花

　　resurrection n. 复活，复苏

　　sin n. 罪，罪孽

　　bunny n. 小兔子