節日紀事聖誕節-Christmas Day

聖誕節

【內容提示】

聖誕節在西方如同我們中國的春節一樣，是孩子們的節日。請你根據下面的提示寫一篇文章，記敘孩子們在聖誕節的情況：

①12月25日是聖誕節。對於許許多多男孩和女孩們來說，聖誕節是一個非常快樂的日子。

②在有些學校里，學期結束之前，孩子們就表演一出表現耶穌是如何在馬棚里誕生的，名字叫做“誕生”或“生日”的節目。

③12月24日所有的孩子們都非常興奮。通常，父母們早早地就打發他們 * 睡覺，這樣父母好把禮物準備好。

④年紀比較小的孩子們想，聖誕老人可能從煙囪或者從壁爐里出來，於是他們就掛上一隻襪子，以便聖誕老人把禮物放到裡面。貪心的孩子甚至把枕頭套或布袋掛起來，以便得到更多的禮物。

⑤聖誕節的早晨，孩子們很早就醒了。他們尋找自己的禮物，與此同時大人們忙著準備飯菜。

⑥大約在下午一點鐘的時候，聖誕家宴開始。很快吃完火雞或雞後，孩子們就在布丁里尋找藏在裡面的新硬幣。

⑦家宴之後一直到夜晚，人們盡情歡樂。最快樂的一天就是這樣度過的。

【作文示範】

Christmas Day

Christmas Day falls on the twenty-fifth of December. It is a very happy day for many boys and girls . Before the term ends in some schools , the children act a nativity① or “birth” play, showing how Jesus② was born in a stable③.

On the twenty-fourth of December, all children are very excited. Usually they are sent to bed early so that their parents can get the presents ready. The younger children think that Father Christmas will come down the chimney or fireplace , so they hang up a sock for him to put presents in. The greedy ones even hang up a pillow-case④ or a sack⑤ to try to get more presents. Later that night, Father or Mother will put presents in the sock, and leave others at the side of the bed.

On Christmas morning, the children wake up very early. Some even turn on the light at two o'clock, and most of them are awake by six o'clock although it is not light in England for another hour or two at this time of the year.

Children look for their presents , and the young ones play while the dinner is prepared. At about one o'clock in the afternoon, the Christmas dinner is brought in . The turkey or chicken is quickly eaten . Children search in their Christmas pudding for new coins which are hidden in it . The rest of the day is full of games and eating until the happiest of all Christmas hollidays comes to an end.

(節選自《英文學習》1985年第12期)

【詞語解釋】

①nativity [n+'tiviti] n.出生;誕生;(宗教)耶穌誕生

②Jesus ['dNi:z+s] n.耶穌

③stable ['steibl] n.廄;馬棚;牛棚

④pillow-case ['pil+ukeis] n.枕套

⑤sack [s$k] n.袋;布袋

【寫法指要】

這是一篇用一般現在時寫成的記敘文，所以叫做現在記敘文(present narration)。現在記敘文適合於寫經常發生的事情，比如聖誕節就是每年都要過的節日。這種記敘文一般按照人物行為情節的時間順序安排文章結構，本文分為“聖誕前”、“聖誕夜”和“聖誕當天”三個時間順序的行為情節。