節禮日

湖北省武漢市 楊淑媛 供稿

節禮日

湖北省武漢市 楊淑媛 供稿

In Britain, Boxing Day is usually celebrated on December 26th,which is the following day after Christmas Day.However,strictly speaking,Boxing Day isthe first weekday after Christmas.Like Christmas Day,Boxing Day is a public holiday.This means it’s a non working day in the whole of Britain.When Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday,the following Monday is the public holiday.

在英國，節禮日通常是在12月26日慶祝，這一天是圣誕節后的第一天。然而，嚴格來說，節禮日是圣誕節后的第一個工作日。像圣誕節一樣，節禮日是一個公共假日。這意味著這是全英國的非工作日。當節禮日剛好是星期六或星期日的時候，那么接下來的星期一就是公眾假期。

The exactorigin1ofthe holiday is unclear.One of the thoughts is that during the Middle Ages,when great sailing ships were setting off to discover new land,a Christmas Box was placed by apriest2on each ship.Those sailors who wanted to make sure a safe return would drop money into the box.It wasseale3up and kept on board until the ship came home safely.Then the box was handed over to the priest in the exchange for the saying of a Mass of thanks for the success of the sailing.The priest wouldn’t open it to share the contents with the poor until Christmas.

這個節日確切的起源并不明確。其中一個說法是，在中世紀，當大帆船啟程去探索新陸地的時候，牧師會在每艘船上放置一個圣誕箱。那些想確保自己能安全返回的水手會把錢放到箱子里。這個箱子被密封起來并放置在船上，直到船安全地返回。然后箱子會交給牧師，作為在彌撒儀式上，對牧師的航行成功的話語的感謝。牧師直到圣誕節才會打開箱子和貧苦的人們分享其中的資金。

One more thoughts is about the“Alms Box”placed in every church on Christmas Day.Worshippers4put gifts for the poor into it.These boxes were always opened the day after Christmas,that is why that day became known as Boxing Day.

另外一種說法同在圣誕節那天在每一個教堂里放置的“施舍箱”有關。做禮拜的人把禮物放在箱內送給窮人。這些箱子總是在圣誕節后的第二天被打開，這就是為什么這一天被稱為節禮日。

Today,many businesses,organizations5and families try to keep the traditional spirit of BoxingDayaliveby donating theirtime,servicesand money to help Food Banks,providing gifts for the poor,or helping families in need.Besides,spending time with family and shopping are popular Boxing Day activities now.

今天，許多企業、組織和家庭嘗試通過捐贈他們的時間、服務和資金來援助食品銀行、為窮人提供禮物或幫助需要幫助的家庭來保持節禮日的傳統精神不滅。此外，花時間陪伴家人和購物都是現在流行的節禮日活動。

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