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圣诞老人甜葡萄干：这是特别的节庆糖果 (1868年)
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圣诞节 (Christmas
Day) ：12月25日
西元前336年，罗马的基督教教堂在12月25日当天庆祝圣诞节。就在这一天，罗马人也庆祝农神节 (Saturnalia) ，也就是冬至 (winter
solstice，一年之中最短的一天) 。为了庆祝，罗马人互相交换礼物，并且用盛宴来表示欢愉的心情。在罗马新年时 (1月1日) ，人们会用绿叶来装饰自己的房子，并且发送礼物给自己小孩子和穷苦的人。万年青是生存下来的一种象征。
现代的圣诞节就援引了许多常规习俗。圣尼可拉斯 (St.
Nicholas) 从11世纪开始就成为很受欢迎的圣诞节人物，他相当慷慨大方，而且还有治愈、抚慰人心的力量。后来因为新教势力的兴起，人们几乎要忘记这个人了。不过，荷兰人却把圣尼可拉斯称为
“Sinterklass”。这个名字听起来是不是很熟悉呢？
By 336 A.D., the Christian church in Rome celebrated the festival of Christmas on December 25. The same day, Romans celebrated Saturnalia, the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year). In observance of the "birthday of the unconquered sun," they exchanged gifts and made merry with a festival. On the Roman New Year (January 1), people decorated houses with greenery and gave gifts to children and the poor. Evergreens were a symbol of survival.
Modern-day Christmas borrows many of these traditions. St. Nicholas became a popular figure by the 11th century, known for his great generosity and healing powers. With the rise of the Protestant Church, he was nearly forgotten, except in the Netherlands, where they called him Sinterklaas. Does that name sound familiar?
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