美国人的新年-异域风情-休闲英语-轻松英语-洪恩在线

January

　　New Year's Day in America

Like many people all over the world, Americans enjoy celebrating the arrival of each new year. Almost everyone makes an occasion of New Year's Eve in order to[1] see the old year out and welcome the new one. In New York, a favorite gatheringplace on December 31 is New York City's Times Square. Thousands of Americans and international tourists crowd this famous spot (at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue) and crane their necks[2] to watch for "Happy New Year" to flash across the electronically controlled sign that moves around. When the moment arrives bedlam breaks forth. Bells ring, whistles blow, people cheer with their happy excitement.
snow in new year's day 　　The cheerful scene goes one after another[3] in public squares throughout the country, but not at the same moment. Because of the four time zones in the United States the New Year comes to the Central States one hour later, to the Mountain States two hours later, and finally to the Western States three hours after the Eastern States have said goodbye to another year. So by following the radio and television broadcasts everyone can enjoy the festivities in other parts of the country as well as their own.
　　 Some people prefer to see the old year out at a church service. Although the holiday does not have religious origin, many churches hold "Watch Night" services on New Year's Eve. Those who go to churches can solemnly renew their dedication to God for the coming year.
　　The custom of visiting friends, relatives and neighbors is one of the popular activities on New Year's Day. This activity is called Open House. The custom of Open House was inaugurated by George Washington during his first term as President. On January 1, 1789, President Washington first opened the doors of his official residence to all who wished to come. An Open House is just what the name implies : the front door is left open. Inside the door there is a spirit of relaxed cordiality, and guests are free to arrive and leave when they like. Invitations may say simply, "Drop in after the game" or "Come drink a New Year's toast with us[4]". On January 1, now, families hold "Open House" so that their friends can visit them throughout the day to express good wishes for the new year.
　　Many championship football games are scheduled for[5] New Year's Day, and there is usually an elaborate parade before each football game. Often, much of the day is spent watching these games on television.

注释：

1. makes an occasion of…in order to：把…这一时刻作为…。Occasion是“时机、时刻”的意思，美语中的用法很灵活，这并不是个固定词组，只是动词make的一个灵活的用法。后面接状语in order to表示目的。

2. crane their necks：伸长脖子。Crane这个词很有意思，它的原意是“鹤”的意思。大家都知道鹤的脖子很长。Crane 在此是动词，它的表达是不是很生动呢？

3. one after another：一个接一个。Another是“另一个”的意思。另一个后面还有一个。真是没完没了，那还是“一个接一个”的吧。

4. Come drink a New Year's toast with us：中间省略了一个连词and。实际上应该是come and drink…。

5. are scheduled for：为……而安排。Schedule…for…，此处用的是被动形式。在英语中当主动形式不好表达时（比如没有主语时），就常常会用到被动形式的。

美国人的新年

　　同全世界人民一样，美国人也喜欢庆祝每个新年的到来。几乎人人都把除夕作为送旧迎新的时刻来庆祝。十二月三十一日在纽约，人们最喜欢聚会的地方是纽约的时代广场。成千上万的美国人和国际游客拥挤在这块胜地（百老汇和第七街的交叉处），翘首观望来回移动的电子控制牌，上面不时闪现着"新年好"的字幕。当新的一年的一刹那到来时，喧闹声骤然四起。钟声响了，汽笛响了，人们热情欢呼，沉浸在幸福的激情之中。
　　热情欢呼的场面在美国全国各地的公共广场上此起彼伏，不是同时发生。因为在美国有四个时区，所以中部各州比东部各州辞别旧年要晚一个小时，山区各州要晚两个小时了。最终到达西海岸诸州的时候，已经是东海岸各州辞旧后的第三个小时了。因此，通过电台广播和电视转播，每个人不仅可以在自己的州，还可以和其他州的人民一起欢度新年。
　　有些人喜欢在教堂里辞别旧的一年。虽然新年节日并不源于宗教，但许多教堂也在除夕举行守岁仪式。去教堂的人可以向上帝献上他们新的献词。
　　看望朋友、亲戚和邻居的风俗是新年最常见活动之一。这一活动叫做"开放门户"。"开放门户"的风俗是由乔治·华盛顿在其第一届总统期间开创的。1789年的1月1日，华盛顿总统首次打开了他的官邸大门，任何想进去的人都可以进。"开放门户"，顾名思义就是：前门是开着的。进门后是轻松热情的气氛，来宾们来去自便。邀请的词语很简单，"看完球赛了请来坐坐"或者"进来跟我们喝一杯，庆祝新年"。现在，到1月1日那一天，各家各户都"开放门户"，以便朋友们随时都可去看望，表达对新的一年的美好祝愿。
　　新年那天安排有多场橄榄球锦标赛，赛前常精心组织游行。人们常常把那一天的大部分时间花在电视上看球赛。