复活节彩蛋：复活节彩蛋的英文介绍

　　The Easter we celebrate today is a combination1 of different traditions. Partly, it comes from old festivals2 to celebrate Spring. And partly it comes from the Christian celebration of the rebirth3 of Jesus Christ.Most people agree that the word “Easter” comes from the Anglo-Saxon4 Goddess Eastre, a symbol of Spring. It is easy to see how “Eastre time” became “Easter time”.As a chief Christian festival, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the 1st day of Spring. It can be as early as March 22, or as late as April 25! Many dates of the Christian5 calendar are dependent on Easter.The celebrations of Easter have many customs and legends that have nothing to do with Christianity6. Of all the symbols associated7 with Easter, the egg, the symbol of richness8 and new life, is the most important. The customs and traditions of using eggs have been associated with Easter for centuries.Originally, Easter eggs were painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring and were used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts. After they were colored and printed with various designs, the eggs were exchanged by lovers and romantic admirers. In the Middle Ages, eggs were traditionally given at Easter to the servants. In Germany, eggs were given to children along with other Easter gifts.

　　当今世人所庆祝的复活节实际上融合了多种古老的传统。它一部分来自古老的迎春佳节，一部分源于基督徒纪念耶稣基督复活的仪式。多数人认为“复活节”一词源于盎格鲁撒克逊人所信奉的女神EASTRE，她是春天的象征。这样，就不难理解“女神EASTRE的节日”如何演变为现今“EASTER”一词了。复活节是重要的基督教节日，每年春分(3月21日)过后，第一次月圆后的第一个星期日就是复活节。它的具体时间可早在3月22日，亦可晚至4月25日。基督教教历的许多重要日子都与复活节的具体日期有关。复活节节庆活动的许多习俗与传说都与基督教无关。在所有与复活节有关的象征性事物中，复活节彩蛋最为重要，它象征着富饶与新生。涉及彩蛋的习俗与传统成为复活节节庆活动的组成部分，已有数百年的历史。起初，复活节彩蛋被涂上鲜艳的色彩，象征春天的阳光，并被用于滚彩蛋比赛或作为馈赠的礼物。恋人们和迷恋浪漫的人们将彩蛋涂上色彩并绘成各式图案后相互交换。中世纪，主人习惯在复活节将彩蛋赐予仆人。在德国，大人们将彩蛋连同其它复活节礼物一起送给孩子们。