美国人的圣诞节
在美国，圣诞节是最受欢迎的节日。有些人去教堂作礼拜庆祝基督诞辰。对其他人来说，圣诞节正好是好好玩玩儿和热闹一番的时刻，是亲友团聚的日子。"回家去过圣诞节"是人人珍爱的风俗，如果能在圣诞节回到家庭的怀抱，那么天高地远似乎都不在话下。大、中、小学放假两周。各公司会宽厚雇员，给假回家探亲。家长们欢迎子女和孙子孙女们回家，常常开着家门欢迎朋友和生人来做客。
从11月下旬开始，美国的各家各户和商店便开始用圣诞树和明亮的灯光装饰了。在有些商店的橱窗里张贴着告示，写着"圣诞节前还有68天买东西的时间"或"到圣诞节还有21天买东西的时间"。学校和教堂已开始演出专场圣诞节音乐会。人们已行动起来去参加各种聚会、去买礼品、去准备专门为圣诞节吃的食品。对相当多的美国人来说，圣诞节传统的气氛比其他节日都浓一些。然而，在美国，许多成为传统的东西并非多么古老。实际上，当年到美国来的第一批移民要是看到今天美国人过圣诞节的样子一定会大吃一惊的。
在美国许多地方有从欧洲其他国家来的一批批移民，他们庆祝圣诞节有他们本民族的风俗。到1800年以后，欧洲各国来的移民们相互杂居更多了，开始相互吸收庆祝圣诞节的风俗。例如，德国来的移民庆祝圣诞节时，砍来常青树，树上装饰上蜡烛和水果。到了19世纪50年代的时候，全美国人都在圣诞节竖起常青树。
Christmas
in
In the United States Christmas is
the most popular holiday. Some people will attend church and observe Christmas
as the birthday of Christ. For others, Christmas is just a day of fun and
celebration, a time for family and friends to gather. "Going home for Christmas " is a cherished custom and no distance seems
too great if it enables one to join the family circle for the holiday. Schools
and colleges close for two weeks, and business firms are lenient about giving
leave to employees for the Christmas visit to their homes. Parents welcome home
their children and grandchildren and often open their doors to friends and
strangers.
Since the last days of November
American homes and stores have been decorated with Christmas trees and bright
lights. In some shop windows, notices are put up saying "68 shopping days
to Christmas " or "21 shopping days to
Christmas." Schools and churches have been presenting special holiday
concerts. People have been going to parties, finding gifts and preparing
special Christmas food. For large number of Americans, Christmas is surrounded
by more traditions than any other holiday. Yet, many of these traditions are
not really very old ones in the
In many parts of