中文先驱报专栏作家 杨瑾鸿 Every Christmas, since long before I was born, kids hear about Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas.
从我出生前以来的每一个圣诞节，孩子们都听说有圣诞老人，这个人也被称为圣诞之父。

The mythology goes like this:
神话大概是这样：

Santa lives at the north pole with his reindeer and elves, and every Christmas he takes off around the world in his flying sleigh, delivering presents to kids. But only the good ones.
圣诞老人住在北极，他带着他的驯鹿和精灵，在每一个圣诞节的时候，乘坐者雪橇飞往世界各地给孩子们送礼物。 但只给好孩子送礼物。

He comes when kids are asleep; that's why they don't see him coming down their chimney. And in the morning, voila! There's a gift for the kid, just from Santa.
他来时，孩子们都睡着了; 这就是为什么孩子们从来不看到他从烟囱爬下来。早上才可以恍然大悟一声，“瞧！” 就这样，每一个孩子的礼物都是从圣诞老人那里得到的。

Of course, as a smart kid, I never believed in Santa. But you say you believe in Santa for as long as possible because then you get a present from Santa, as well as from your parents!
当然，作为一个聪明的孩子，我从来不相信圣诞老人。 但你要是说你相信圣诞老人，是因为你从圣诞老人那里能得到礼物，那么其实也是可以一信的，当然说白了就是从你的父母那里得到礼物！

I always took Santa for granted. He's just part of the Christmas atmosphere.
我总是把圣诞老人当作理所当然。 他只是圣诞节气氛的一部分。

But on my first ever trip to Shanghai, in December 2010, I had a chat with an American friend. It was December, and Shanghai was full of more Christmas decorations than I had ever seen in my home country.
但在我2010年12月第一次去上海的时候，正直寒冬十二月。上海充满了比我在我的祖国看到的更多的圣诞装饰品。

I met an American friend who'd lived in China quite some time. He said something that I've always remembered: "We might think that Chinese culture is pretty complex, but try explaining why Christmas has elves and trees and Santa!"
我遇到了一个在中国住了一段时间的美国朋友。 他说了一些东西我记忆犹新：“我们大概公认中国文化是相当复杂的，但尝试解释为什么圣诞节有精灵和树木和圣诞老人何尝不复杂？！

It's a good point.

这是一个好主意。

Let's see if I can clear up any confusion:

让我们看看是否可以讲明白：

Original Christmas story
原始未删节版本圣诞节故事

People are sinful. God needs to judge the sin, but rescue the sinner. So, He did it through becoming a human being. The big God of the whole universe became a small, vulnerable child - and that birth is what we celebrate at Christmas.
人们是有罪的。 上帝需要给人类判罪，也救赎罪人。 所以，他最终通过降临人间，化身为人，做到了这一切。 宇宙之神化身成为一个小而脆弱的孩子 - 这个“诞生”就是我们在圣诞节所庆祝的事情。

Later, this baby will grow up into a man who will die on a cross, and pay the price for humanity's sin, saving mankind.
后来，这个婴儿长成了一个将在十字架上死去的人，他要为人类的罪付出代价，拯救人类。

Familiar Christmas elements:
熟悉的圣诞元素：

The manger scene (Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Shepherds, Wise Men, the star)
马槽场景（玛丽，约瑟夫，耶稣，牧羊人，明智的人，星星）

Here's a traditional painting of the scene.
这是一个传统的场景画。

And here's a modern interpretation!
这里有一个现代的解释！

Christmas Tree
圣诞树

Ok, so what about the Christmas tree? Where does that come from?
好吧，圣诞树是怎么样的呢？ 这是从哪里来的呢？

The original Christmas story happened about 2000 years ago. Fast forward about 1600 years, to Germany, and you'll find the first mention of a Christmas tree.
大约2000年前有了世界上第一棵圣诞树。 大约1600年的德国，你会发现有人第一次提到了圣诞树。

For generations, Europeans thought evergreen trees were very special, especially in the middle of winter. They represented life and hope, even in the midst of darkness.
欧洲人普遍认为常绿树是非常特别的，特别是在冬天的时候（因为他们那冷呗）。他们代表生活和希望，即便是在黑暗的时期。

Somehow, the Germans began to combine their ancient tradition of honouring a tree with candles, and it took 200 more years for Christmas trees to become popular in Europe and America.
不知怎的，德国人开始结合他们的传统的蜡烛来装扮一棵常绿树，并用了200多年的时间让圣诞树在欧洲和美国流行开来。

Santa Claus (or Father Christmas)
圣诞老人是何方神圣啊？

We started by asking who is the real Santa Claus, and he hasn't even been mentioned yet! So who is he?
真正的圣诞老人， 他是谁？

In fact, Santa Claus is based on a real person, Saint Nicholas, who lived in Asia Minor (Turkey). Saint Nicholas was a follower of Jesus who inherited a lot of money from his parents. Instead of spending it on himself, he used the money to prevent people being sold into slavery.
事实上，圣诞老人的真身是圣尼古拉斯，一个住在亚洲的人（土耳其人）。 圣尼古拉斯是耶稣的追随者，他从父母那里继承了很多钱。 他没有把钱花费在自己身上，而是用钱来阻止人们贩卖奴隶。

Over the years, Europeans remembered St Nicholas in various ways. His "Saint's Day" festival is on 6 December. But it wasn't until 1823 when a poem called "The Night Before Christmas" rocketed Santa to worldwide fame.
很多年来，欧洲人以各种方式铭记圣尼古拉斯的美德。 他的“圣日”节是12月6日。 但是直到1823年，一首名为“圣诞之夜”的诗篇使的“圣诞老人”举世闻名。

This poem introduced the now-famous reindeer, sleigh and Santa's home in the North Pole.
And so, we come to Christmas. How to celebrate it?
这首诗介绍了现在着名的驯鹿，雪橇和圣诞老人在北极的家。
所以，圣诞节我们应 如何庆祝？

Remember Jesus, who selflessly chose to become a helpless and vulnerable baby.
Remember the hope offered by an evergreen tree in a cold and dark time
Remember Saint Nicholas, who used his inherited wealth to make a big difference for others
记住耶稣，他无私地选择成为一个无助和脆弱的婴儿。
记住常青树在寒冷和黑暗中给我们的希望
记住圣尼古拉斯，是他使用他继承的财富，改变了人们的厄运

When we are kids, we only think of ourselves, and the gifts we will get from Santa. When we get older, we get the chance to be Santa to others. It's not only about money, it's also about our hearts, our listening, our care.
当我们还是孩子时，我们只考虑到自己和我们将从圣诞老人那得到的礼物。 当我们变老，我们有机会成为圣诞老人时，我们就要给予。 这不仅是金钱，它也是关于我们的心，我们的耳朵，我们的爱。

Merry Christmas!
圣诞节快乐！

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（责编：Lesley）

来源 - 中文先驱报专栏作家：杨瑾鸿