關于復活節彩蛋的英文介紹

　　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.

　　當今世人所慶祝的復活節實際上融合了多種古老的傳統。它一部分來自古老的迎春佳節，一部分源于基督徒紀念耶穌基督復活的儀式。多數人認為“復活節”一詞源于盎格魯撒克遜人所信奉的女神EASTRE，她是春天的象征。這樣，就不難理解“女神EASTRE的節日”如何演變為現今“EASTER”一詞了。復活節是重要的基督教節日，每年春分(3月21日)過后，第一次月圓后的第一個星期日就是復活節。它的具體時間可早在3月22日，亦可晚至4月25日。基督教教歷的許多重要日子都與復活節的具體日期有關。復活節節慶活動的許多習俗與傳說都與基督教無關。在所有與復活節有關的象征性事物中，復活節彩蛋最為重要，它象征著富饒與新生。涉及彩蛋的習俗與傳統成為復活節節慶活動的組成部分，已有數百年的歷史。起初，復活節彩蛋被涂上鮮艷的色彩，象征春天的陽光，并被用于滾彩蛋比賽或作為饋贈的禮物。戀人們和迷戀浪漫的人們將彩蛋涂上色彩并繪成各式圖案后相互交換。中世紀，主人習慣在復活節將彩蛋賜予仆人。在德國，大人們將彩蛋連同其它復活節禮物一起送給孩子們。