新视野大学英语综合教程3 课文及课文翻译Unit8

Traditional Christmas shopping customs

1 Once again, it's that time of year, when all good men and women settle their differences, get back in touch with old friends and loved ones, and do their utmost to enjoy some centuries-old traditions of Christmas shopping.

2 At the start of the Christmas shopping season is Stir-up Sunday. This used to be a display of family unity when everyone went to the grocer's shop to buy the flour, eggs and jars of dried fruit, and then stand around the kitchen table helping Mother or Grandmother make the Christmas pudding. Each member of the family would take it in turns to stir up, or mix, the ingredients and make a secret wish.

3 These days it has become the custom, just before we go to the market to order the turkey, for Mother to say, "With all your family coming for Christmas lunch, we'll need a ten-kilo turkey," and Father to reply "Ten kilos! You must be kidding! We'll have to saw it in half to get it in the oven." Then number one Son says "Why don't we have a goose this year?" and number two Son says, "What about roast duck?" and finally, number one Daughter "Stirs it Up" by saying in disgust, "But you know I don't eat any meat whatsoever, all those poor turkeys, what about us vegetarians?" It's then traditional for Father to make a wish, not a secret one but at the top of his voice, "I wish you'd eat proper food like the rest of us!"

4 Then there's the custom of Buying our Overseas Relatives Presents on the Last Day of Posting. It begins like this. Someone notices that there's scarcely one day left before parcels to distant countries need to be sent. Then Mother and Father play a game called

It's-your-side-of-the-family-not-my-side, usually until they won't speak to each other ever again (so, about five minutes). Then Father (for it's always him) rushes into town in a panic to buy something like socks or a tea towel, nothing too heavy because of the postage costs, and definitely not the same present as he bought last year.

5 Another tradition is Hunt the Parking Space. This involves the annual triumph of hope against experience—taking the car into town to go Christmas shopping. Traditionally, Father will steer the car round and round the parking lots, watching for some Merry Christmas shopper staggering past with bags and presents, and then following them, like the Three Wise Men following the star 2,000 years ago, until they lead