新生兒賀禮各國大不同

譯/李海龍

新生兒賀禮各國大不同

譯/李海龍

Baby Gift Giving Traditions Around the World

世界各國的文化不同，贈送新生兒禮物的傳統也千差萬別，而下面幾個國家的傳統尤為獨特。

Here are some of the most unique baby gift giving traditions from different cultures around the world.

埃及

[2]在埃及，送給新生兒的傳統禮物是帶有藍眼睛飾物的棕櫚葉。人們通常會把它別在新生兒的衣服上，使他們免受“邪眼”的傷害。

Egypt

[2] In Egypt, a palm with a blue eye is traditionally given to newborn babies. It is usually attached to their clothing, giving them protection from the “evil eye1邪眼，一種迷信力量，由他人的妒忌或厭惡而生，可帶來噩運或者傷病。持邪眼信仰的人們往往認為，兒童尤其是嬰兒最容易招致邪眼詛咒，因為長者往往易于夸獎兒童，這便容易招致陌生人或是無子女婦女的嫉妒和惡念。.”

印度

[3]在印度，人們會把銀腳鐲送給剛出生的女嬰。身上佩戴裝飾品是印度的一大傳統。人們認為銀制品代表力量，贈送銀飾是希望嬰兒健康茁壯地成長。

India

[3] In India, baby girls are given silver ankle bracelets when they are born. Body decoration is a very popular tradition in India. It is thought that silver represents strength and brings hope that the baby will grow up to be strong and healthy.

中國

[4]在中國，人們給新生兒的傳統禮物是塞了錢的紅包。有的紅包是全紅色，有的上面寫著“吉祥”或者“如意”字樣。這種紅包表示要帶給嬰兒一生的喜慶和富貴。

China

[4] In China, a red envelope fi lled with money is traditionally given to newborn babies. The envelope can be plain2plain全然；完全地。red or have the words “fortune” or “luck” written on it. This is thought to bring great joy and wealth to their life.

巴西

[5]在巴西，不少人認為準媽媽收到的第一件禮物應該是針織的紅色鞋子，也有人認為新生兒出院時應該穿這樣的鞋子。

Brazil

[5] Many believe that knitted red shoes should be the very first gift an expectant mother33 expectant mother孕婦；準媽媽。receives, but others believe the newborn should wear the shoes when leaving the hospital.

俄羅斯

[6]在俄羅斯，人們給嬰兒的禮物是一把銀匙，據說它會給新生兒的未來帶來財富和好運。

Russia

[6] In Russia, babies are given a silver spoon, which is thought to bring wealth and good luck to their future.

澳大利亞

[7]在澳大利亞，人們會送給嬰兒有關黃金時代的兒童故事書。書中的故事講述了人、大地和動物之間的關系，還談及文化價值觀和文化信念。

Australia

[7] Dreamtime4dreamtime澳洲土著語alcheringa的字面意義，特指澳大利亞土著神話中的黃金時代。children’s storybooks are given to babies in Australia. The books tell stories of the relationships between people, land and animals, as well as cultural values and beliefs.

英國

[8]就嬰兒禮物而言，英國文化和美國文化二者差別不大。在英國，人們經常拿來送給新生兒的禮物有首飾、搖鈴、相框和紀念品盒子。

United Kingdom

[8] English culture and American culture are not that different when it comes to baby gifts. Some common newborn baby gifts in the United Kingdom include jewelry, rattles5rattle搖鈴；撥浪鼓。, picture frames and keepsake6keepsake紀念品；留作紀念的小東西。boxes.

美國

[9]美國人送給嬰兒的禮物包括鮮花、玩具、衣服等。最近，美國很流行的做法是給新生兒送搖錢樹，希望它帶給嬰兒好運和福氣。搖錢樹有時也叫作發財樹，它的歷史悠久，對很多人來說更是寓意深遠。□

United States

[9] American baby gifting includes flowers, toys, clothes, etc. Recently, it has become very popular in the U.S. to give newborns Money Trees7搖錢樹（一種經過裝飾搖動時會落下錢幣的樹）。to give them luck and good fortune in their lives. These trees, sometimes called Pachira8發財樹；馬拉巴栗。plants, have rich histories and great signi fi cance to many people.

（譯者單位：浙江外國語學院）