VOA标准英语2009年-Big Crowds Celebrate Christmas Eve in
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2009年(十二月)
Photo: AP
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal, center, walks towards Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, 24 Dec 2009
Thousands of people have attended Christmas Eve celebrations at the birthplace of Christianity in Bethlehem.
Christmas Eve began with festive 2 marches through Manger Square by Palestinian boy and girl scouts 3. The celebrations took place outside the ancient Church of the Nativity, where tradition says Jesus was born.
Bethlehem is in the Palestinian-ruled West Bank, and religion mixed with nationalism. Manger Square was decked out with Christmas trees and lights and Palestinian flags.
Religious observances began with the arrival of the Latin Patriarch, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Holy Land.
Priests and monks 4 in white robes held a procession into the Church of the Nativity leaving a trail of fragrant 5 incense 6. Pilgrims from around the world looked on, including Paul Edelman from the U.S. state of Iowa. "Just the festivities, the idea that this is the birthplace of Christ, and you get to see all the historic places and share it with people from around the world; it's a very nice experience," he said.
Palestinian police with assault rifles patrolled the streets but the atmosphere was calm. A lull 7 in violence brought a big turnout of tourists; some 70,000 are expected to visit Bethlehem this week.
Palestinian shopkeeper Nadia Hazboun said the security situation in the West Bank is much better than a few years ago, when there was fighting with Israel and militants 8 ruled the streets. "It was bad, now it is good. I told you, before anybody take the law in his (own) hands. But now the law (is) with the police. We have security, we have calm, we have now the best situation in Bethlehem," he said.
At the same time, the Palestinians complain that Israel's separation wall at the entrance to Bethlehem casts a dark shadow over Christmas. Israel erected 9 the wall to stop a wave of suicide bombers 10, but Bethlehem Mayor Victor Batarseh says the town of Jesus' birth has become a prison. "We need bridges of love and understanding between the people, not walls of hatred," he said.
Batarseh, who is a Christian 1, said Bethlehem still brings hope at Christmas, with its eternal message of peace on earth, goodwill 11 toward men.
- They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
- His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
- It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
- We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。
- to join the Scouts 参加童子军
- The scouts paired off and began to patrol the area. 巡逻人员两个一组，然后开始巡逻这个地区。
- The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
- He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。
- The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。
- This proposal will incense conservation campaigners.这项提议会激怒环保人士。
- In summer,they usually burn some coil incense to keep away the mosquitoes.夏天他们通常点香驱蚊。
- The drug put Simpson in a lull for thirty minutes.药物使辛普森安静了30分钟。
- Ground fighting flared up again after a two-week lull.经过两个星期的平静之后，地面战又突然爆发了。
- The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
- Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。
- Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》