圣诞起源
12月25日的圣诞节是庆祝基督教创始人耶稣基督生日的日子，是美国最大、人们最喜爱的节日。
据基督教徒的圣书《圣经》说，上帝决定让他的独生子耶稣基督投生人间，找个母亲，然后就在人间生活，以便人们能更好地了解上帝、学习热爱上帝和更好地相互热爱。“圣诞节”的意思是“庆祝基督”，庆祝一个年轻的犹太妇女玛丽娅生下耶稣的时刻。
玛丽娅已和木匠约瑟夫订婚。可是，在他们同居之前，约瑟夫发现玛丽娅已怀孕。因为约瑟夫是个正派的人，又不想把这件事说出去让她丢脸，所以他想悄悄地和她分手。他正在考虑这事时，上帝的天使出现在他的梦中，对他说，“不要嘀咕了，把玛丽娅娶回家。她怀的孩子来自圣灵。她将生下个男孩子，你们给孩子起名叫耶稣，因为他将从罪恶中拯救人们。”
尽管耶稣的确切生日并不清楚，大约是在2000年前，但是日历按着假定日期把时间分为公元前(耶稣基督诞生前)和公元后(A. D. 是拉丁文缩写，意思是“有了我们主——耶稣的年代”)。在公元后的头三百年间，耶稣的生日是在不同的日子庆祝的。最后，在公元354年，教堂的领导人把12月25日定为耶稣基督的生日。
The Origin of Christmas
Christmas Day-December 25-which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ， the founder of the Christian religion， is the biggest and best-loved holiday in the United States.
According to the Bible， the holy book of Christians， God decided to allow his only son， Jesus Christ， to be born to a human mother and live on earth so that people could understand God better and learn to love God and each other more. "Christmas"- meaning "celebration of Christ "- honors the time when Jesus was born to a young Jewish woman Mary.
Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph， a carpenter， but before they came together， she was found to be with child. Because Joseph， her husband， was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace， he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this， an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said， "Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife， because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son， and you are to give him the name Jesus， because he will save his people from their sins."
Although the exact date of the birth of Jesus nearly 2，000 years ago is not known， the calendar on the supposed date divides all time into B.C. (Before Christ )and A.D. ( a Latin phrase， Anno Domini， "in the year of our Lord.")For the first 300 years， Jesus' birthday was celebrated on different dates. Finally， in the year 354， church leaders chose December 25 as his birthday.
圣诞节的由来英文版(配中文翻译)
Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. No one knows the exact date of Christ's birth, but most Christians observe Christmas on December 25. On this day, many go to church, where they take part in special religious services. During the Christmas season, they also exchange gifts and decorate their homes with holly, mistletoe, and Christmas trees. The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, an early English phrase that means Mass of Christ. The story of Christmas comes chiefly from the Gospels of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew in the New Testament.
圣诞节是基督教节日的庆祝耶稣基督诞生的。没有人知道确切日期基督的诞生，但大多数基督徒纪念圣诞节12月25日。在这一天，许多去教堂，在那里他们参加特殊的宗教服务。在圣诞节期间，他们还交换礼物和装饰自己的家园与冬青，槲寄生，并圣诞树。圣诞节一词来自Cristes maesse ，早期英文词组这意味着质量的基督。这个故事的圣诞节是主要来自福音圣路加及圣马太在新约。
The history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the Christ child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires, the yule log, the giving of gifts, carnivals(parades) with floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, the holiday feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians.
历史上的圣诞节可以追溯到4000年。我们的许多传统的圣诞节庆祝百年前的耶稣出生的子女。在为期12天的圣诞节，光明的'火灾，尤尔日志，提供礼品，嘉年华会(游行)的花车， carolers谁唱的同时，从挨家挨户，节日假期，和教会游行都可以追溯到早期Mesopotamians 。
Many of these traditions began with the Mesopotamian celebration of New Years. The Mesopotamians believed in many gods, and as their chief god-Marduk. Each year as winter arrived it was believed that Marduk would do battle with the monsters of chaos. To assist Marduk in his struggle the Mesopotamians held a festival for the New Year. This was Zagmuk, the New Year's festival that lasted for 12 days.
许多这些传统开始于美索不达米亚庆祝新年。该Mesopotamians相信在许多神，并作为他们的主要神马尔杜克。每年进入冬季，人们认为马尔杜克将尽战斗的怪物的混乱。为了协助马尔在他的斗争Mesopotamians举行了节日新年。这是Zagmuk ，在新年的节日持续12天。
The Persians and the Babylonians celebrated a similar festival called the Sacaea. Part of that celebration included the exchanging of places, the slaves would become the masters and the masters were to obey. The ancient Greeks held a festival similar to that of the Zagmuk/Sacaea festivals to assist their god Kronos who would battle the god Zeus and his Titans.
波斯人和巴比伦人了类似的庆祝活动称为Sacaea 。部分的庆祝活动包括交流的场所，将成为奴隶的主人和主人的服从。古希腊人举行了庆典类似的Zagmuk / Sacaea节日，以协助其神克罗诺斯谁将战斗神宙斯和他的巨人。
The Roman's celebrated their god Saturn. Their festival was called Saturnalia which began the middle of December and ended January 1st. With cries of Jo Saturnalia! the celebration would include masquerades in the streets, big festive meals, visiting friends, and the exchange of good-luck gifts called Strenae (lucky fruits). The Romans decked their halls with garlands of laurel and green trees lit with candles. Again the masters and slaves would exchange places.
罗马的庆祝他们的神土星。他们的电影节被称为撒特那利亚始于12月中旬和1月1日结束。随着呼声赵撒特那利亚!庆祝活动将包括伪装在街头，大节日餐，探亲访友，交流的好运气的礼物所谓Strenae (幸运水果) 。罗马人的大厅装饰花环的桂树和绿色的树木与蜡烛点燃。同样的主人和奴隶将交流的地方。
Jo Saturnalia! was a fun and festive time for the Romans, but the Christians thought it an abomination to honor the pagan god. The early Christians wanted to keep the birthday of their Christ child a solemn and religious holiday, not one of cheer and merriment as was the pagan Saturnalia.
赵撒特那利亚!是一种乐趣和节日的时候，罗马人，但基督徒认为这令人深恶痛绝纪念异教神。早期的基督徒要保持他们的生日基督孩子一个庄严和宗教节日，而不是欢呼和欢乐的是异教徒撒特那利亚。
Some legends claim that the Christian Christmas celebration was invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December. The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also the Persians whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. The Church eventually was successful in taking the merriment, lights, and gifts from the Saturanilia festival and bringing them to the celebration of Christmas.
有些传说宣称，基督教圣诞节庆祝活动竞争的发明对异教徒庆祝12月。 25日不仅是神圣的罗马人，而且波斯人的宗教Mithraism是一个基督教的主要竞争对手，当时。教会的最终成功地以欢乐，灯光，和礼物从Saturanilia节将他们庆祝圣诞节。
The exact day of the Christ child's birth has never been pinpointed. Traditions say that it has been celebrated since the year 98 AD. In 137 AD the Bishop of Rome ordered the birthday of the Christ Child celebrated as a solemn feast. In 350 AD another Bishop of Rome, Julius I, choose December 25th as the observance of Christmas.
确切的一天，基督孩子的出生从来没有确定。传统说，它一直在庆祝，因为今年98的广告。公元137年罗马主教下令生日庆祝基督儿童作为一个庄严的盛宴。在另一公元350罗马主教，朱利叶斯一，选择12月25日作为庆祝圣诞节。
The birth of Jesus had a story: In Nazareth, a city of Galilee. The virgin's name was Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband was minded to put her away secretly. While he thought about these things, Gabriel, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him did not be afraid to take Mary as wife. And Mary will bring forth a Son, and he shall call his name, Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
耶稣诞生的故事了：在拿撒勒，一个城市的加利利。原始的名字是玛丽的未婚夫约瑟夫。在他们走到一起，她发现孩子的圣灵。约瑟夫她的丈夫的态度让她离开秘密。虽然他想这些事情，加布里埃尔，一个天使的上帝似乎给他的一个梦想，并告诉他不害怕采取的妻子玛丽。和玛丽将带来一个儿子，他将请他的名字，耶稣，因为他将拯救他的人民从他们的罪孽。
Before Jesus births, Joseph and Mary came to Quirnius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up out of Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and of the lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
耶稣出生之前，约瑟夫和玛丽来到Quirnius是叙利亚执政。所以一切都进行登记，每个人自己的城市。约瑟夫也上升了加利利，在城市拿撒勒，到朱迪亚，市的大卫，这是所谓的伯利恒，因为他的房子和宗族的大卫，将登记的玛丽，他的未婚妻妻子，谁是儿童。于是，当他们在那里，天已经完成，她将交付。她提出了她的第一个儿子，包裹他的布带，并奠定他在马槽，因为没有空间，他们在旅店。
And that, Christmas is the feast of the nativity of Jesus, is on 25th, December every year. But nobody knows the actual birthday of Jesus. And the Christmas has become popular when Christmas cards appeared in 1846 and the concept of a jolly Santa Claus was first made popular in nineteenth Century.
而且，圣诞节是节日的耶稣的诞生，是25日，每年12月。但是，没有人知道实际耶稣的生日。和圣诞节已成为流行时，圣诞卡出现在1846年和概念的欢乐圣诞老人最初是流行在十九世纪。
The custom of giving gifts to relatives and friends on a special day in winter probably began in ancient Rome and northern Europe. In these regions, people gave each other small presents as part of their year-end celebrations.
的习俗，送礼的亲戚和朋友的一个特殊的日子可能在冬天开始的古罗马和欧洲北部。在这些地区，每个人给其他小礼物作为其今年年底的庆祝活动。
In the 1800's, two more Christmas customs became popular--decorating Christmas trees and sending Christmas cards to relatives and friends. Many well-known Christmas carols, including ``Silent Night and ``Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, were composed during this period. In the United States and other countries, Santa Claus replaced Saint Nicholas as the symbol of gift giving.
在1800年的两个圣诞节更成为流行的习俗-装饰圣诞树和圣诞贺卡发送给亲人和朋友。许多著名的圣诞颂歌，其中包括``平安夜和``听!天使的先驱星，组成了在此期间。在美国和其他国家，圣诞老人圣尼古拉取代的象征送礼。
The word Xmas is sometimes used instead of Christmas. This tradition began in the early Christian church. In Greek, X is the first letter of Christ's name. It was frequently used as a holy symbol.
圣诞这个词有时被用来代替圣诞节。这种传统开始于早期基督教教堂。在希腊， X是第一个字母基督的名字。这是常被用作一个神圣的象征。
【作文真题】
请以“你的`美，照亮我的心”为题，写一篇文章。 要求：(1)以记叙、描写为主，兼用多种表达方式; (2)内容充实具体，表达真情实感; (3)全文不少于600字。
【范文】
你的美，照亮我的心
你是太阳系八大行星中唯一有生命光顾的星球;你虽然没有似土星一般宏大的身躯和耀眼的光环，却在这苍茫的宇宙中点亮一盏宝蓝色的明灯，照亮了人类文明前进的道路，哺育了人们，啊，地球!你的美照亮了我的心。
你美得那样神秘，永远戴着“大气层面纱”。明朝的万户曾把47个自制火箭绑在椅子上，想利用推力飞上天空，一睹你的芳颜。可是你拒绝了，你希望自己的子民可以再进步一些，制造出更先进的仪器与你见面。显然，你的鼓励是有用的，更多的人们呕心沥血地开始研究，滑翔器、莱特兄弟的飞机、火箭、航天飞机、天空站都一步步地出现在文明的大地上，正是因为人们对于你的美丽的好奇，世界文明才出现了巨大的曙光。人们否定了对你是“天圆地方”的猜测，妇孺皆知你是一颗宝蓝色的纯洁星球。
水星上没有人类示为生命源泉的水，那是一颗炽热的行星;火星是充斥着二氧化碳的星球，含氧量少之又少;可你与众不同，你拥有着储存丰富的水资源，供给给人们进行新陈代谢。你饱含着纯净的氧气，让人们在清晨第一缕阳光出现时深深地呼吸。你提供肥沃的土地给人们，让我们在富庶的土地上自给自足辛勤地“日出而作，日落而息”，愉快地度过这绵绵一生……你无私地哺育着世间万物，让我深深地被你折服。
很小的时候就有当宇航员的梦想，即便渺茫也不切实际，却真的很美好。悬浮在空灵的宇宙中，深情地注视你，想着中国的万里长城，埃及的金字塔，法国的埃菲尔铁塔具体的位置，思考着是否可以一览无余。诚然，你的美是吸引我的。
我想把你——地球比作无穷大宇宙中的灯塔，把宇宙比作波涛汹涌的大海，而我是航海中的冒险者，迷失在大海中的我被你幽暗的光照亮了，周身踱着一层蓝光，我找明了最初的方向。地球，你的美深深地照亮了我的心!
我登上了万里长城(IClimbedUptheGreatWall)
One stuffyday in the summer vacation,mother and I went to climb the GreatWall.Butaftera while,Iwastootired tokeepon.Mother told me the GreatWallisaplaceofinterestfamousthroughout the world.Sheencouragedme tocompetewithforeigntouristsandseewhowasthefirstonetoreach the top.Iclim bed to the to pfinally.examda
我登上了万里长城
暑假的.一天，天气闷热。我和妈妈去登长城。可爬了一会儿我累了，不想再往上爬了。妈妈告诉我，长城是世界著名的旅游胜地，叫我跟外国游客比一比，看谁先登上去。于是我鼓起劲，终于爬上了顶点。
