圣诞节是西方最重要的节日。它已经由最初的一个宗教节日变成如今世界性的一个大众节日。人们在节日期间互相赠送祝福和礼物，期盼新年的到来。以下关于圣诞节的常识，有多少是你知道的呢？

1. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve 圣诞节与平安夜

In Christianity[基督教]， Christmas is the festival celebrating the Nativity[基督诞生] of Jesus. Christmas Day is the 25th of December， when Christmas is celebrated. Everybody goes for various parties to celebrate the festival on Christmas Day. The day before Christmas is known as the Christmas Eve. The Christmas Eve marks the beginning of the Christmas season.

在基督教的传统中，圣诞节是为庆祝基督耶稣降生的节日。人们在每年的12月25日庆祝圣诞节。在圣诞节那天，大家都去参加各种各样的派对来庆祝节日。圣诞节的前一天被称为平安夜。平安夜标志着圣诞节期的开始。

2. Christmas Celebrations 圣诞习俗

Christmas celebrations can be different from country to country. For many Christians， a religious[宗教的] service plays an important part in the Christmas season. Secular processions[世俗的传统]， includes Santa Claus[圣诞老人]， the most famous figure all over the world and other seasonal figures. Usually， family members will reunite[团聚] and exchange the gifts on Christmas Day， too.

国与国之间圣诞的习俗不尽相同。对基督教徒来说，在圣诞节举行相应的宗教仪式必不可少。而世俗的传统，包括全世界都非常有名的圣诞老人等。通常，家庭也会在圣诞节团聚并互换礼物。

3. Christmas Dinner 圣诞大餐

Christmas dinner is the primary meal traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It is an important part of the celebration. But what is actually served can vary greatly from country to country. In England， a standard Christmas meal would include turkey， potatoes， vegetables， sausages and gravy[肉汁]， followed by Christmas pudding or mince[碎肉;肉末] pies. In Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe， fish is often the traditional main course[主菜]. Ham is the main meal in the Philippines， while in Germany， France and Australia， goose and pork are favored[倍受青睞].

圣诞大餐是在平安夜或圣诞节吃的传统大餐。圣诞大餐是圣诞节习俗的重要部分，但各国的圣诞大餐也有差别。在英国，标准的圣诞大餐通常包括火鸡、土豆、蔬菜、香肠和肉汁，之后是圣诞布丁或碎肉派。在波兰等东欧国家，鱼是圣诞餐的主菜在菲律宾，火腿是主菜;而在德国、法国和澳大利亚，鹅和猪肉倍受青睐。

4. Traditional Decorations传统装饰物

Many plants have been associated with Christmas，such as holly[冬青树]， mistletoe[槲寄生]， Christmas cactus[蟹爪兰] and so on. The room may be decorated with[被……装饰] these plants， along with a Christmas tree， garlands[花环] and ever green foliage[树叶]. It is also traditional to decorate the outside of houses with lights and sometimes with snowmen， and other things. The traditional colors of Christmas are pine green[松绿色]， snow white and heart red.

许多植物都和圣诞节相联系，比如冬青树、懈寄生和蟹爪兰等。它们和圣诞树、花环、绿叶一起被用以装饰房间。另外也有用灯泡、有时也用雪人和其他东西装饰屋子外部的传统。圣诞节最传统的装饰颜色是松绿色、雪白色和大红色。

5. Christmas Cards and Stamps圣诞卡片和圣诞邮票

In western society and in Asia， Christmas cards are usually exchanged during the weeks preceding[先于……] Christmas Day on December 25. The traditional greeting reads “Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”. The first commercial Christmas card was produced in London in 1843. A number of nations have issued commemorative[纪念性的] stamps at Christmas time. These stamps are usually printed in considerable quantities. People often use these stamps to mail Christmas cards or collect them.

在西方和亚洲，人们会在圣诞节的前一周会互寄圣诞卡片。通常祝福语会是“祝你圣诞快乐，新年快乐”。第一张商业圣诞卡片起源于1843年的伦敦。很多国家在圣诞的时候都会发行纪念邮票。这些邮票通常质量都很好。人们也经常用这些圣诞邮票来寄他们的圣诞卡片，或者进行收藏。

6. Little Christmas and Womens Christmas 小圣诞和女人的圣诞节

Little Christmas is one of the traditional names in Ireland for January 6. It is so called because it was the day on which Christmas Day was celebrated under the Roman calendar[罗马历]. It is the traditional end of the Christmas season and the last day of the Christmas holidays for both primary and secondary schools in Ireland. Little Christmas is also called Womens Christmas， and sometimes Womens Little Christmas. Traditionally， Irish men will take on all the house work and giving their wives a day off that day.

愛尔兰人把每年的1月6日称为“小圣诞”。这一天是以过去罗马历计算的圣诞节。在爱尔兰，小圣诞被视做圣诞节期的最后一天，同时也是中小学圣诞假期的最后一天。小圣诞节在爱尔兰同时也叫“女人的圣诞节”，或“女人的小圣诞”。传统上这一天爱尔兰的男人通常会接过家里的所有家务，让他们的妻子休一天假。