【导语】圣诞节（Christmas）又称耶诞节，耶稣诞辰，译名为“基督弥撒”，西方传统节日，在每年12月25日。弥撒是教会的一种礼拜仪式。圣诞节是一个宗教节，因为把它当作耶稣的诞辰来庆祝，故名“耶诞节”。以下是
Christmasisthemostimportantfestivalinthewesternworld.ItfallsonDecember25th.WhenmymotherandIstayedinAmerica,wewereinvitedbyoneofmymother'sfriendstohaveChristmaswithanAmericanfamily.WeboughtsomepresentsforourAmericanfriendsonourwaytotheirhouse.
Theyhadprepareddifferentkindsofgiftsfortheirfamilyandguestswhenwegottotheirhouse,suchasChristmascandles,cakes,cards,littletoys,biscuitsandsoon.AChristmastreewasplacedinthecomerofthebrillianthall.Howbeautifulitwas!Wewereimpressedbythese.Wehadabigmeal.Afterdinner,theytoldussomeinterestingstoriesaboutChristmas.WelearnedthatChristmashadsomethingtodowithGod.Wewenttobedatmidnight.ThoughweknewtheSantaClauswasnottrue,wewerestillwaitingfortheSantaClauswithwhitebeardtobringuspresents.Andwereceivedmanybeautifulpresentsthenextmorning.
ThisChristmaswasreallyunforgettable.NotonlydidIhaveagoodtime,butalsoIknewsomethingaboutforeignculture.
ItwasoneofthelastdaysbeforeChristmas,andtheassistantsinthelargestorehadtheirhandsfullservingeagerChristmasshoppers.
Atonecounteranoldladywaschoosingglovesredonesforherdaugherinlaw,lightblueonesforherniece,pinkonesforhergranddaughter,greenonesforhersisterandbythetimeshehadfoundwhatshewanted,thecounterwascoveredwithpairsofallcolorsandsizes.
Whenthesalesgirlhadfinallywrittenoutthebillandwasabouttoturntothenextcustomerwithatiredvoice."Thankyouverymuch,madam,"theoldladysuddenlycriedout,"Oh,Ialmostforgot..."——"Anythingelse,madam?"saidthegirl,"Yes,"begantheoldlady,"I'dliketobuyanotherpair,butI'mnotquitesureaboutwhatexactlyIshouldcloose.Iwonderifyoucouldhelpme.""Certainly,madam",wasthegirl'sreply.Theoldladythenwentontoexplainthatwhatshewaslookingforwasapairofglovesforagirlofherage.Shewasnotatailsurewhatcolortochoose,andthedesignwasaproblemtoo.
Thetiredgirldidherbesttohelptheoldladymakeuphermind,showingherailkindsofgloves.
Atlastthechosenpairofgloveswerewrappedupandpaidforaswell,andasthegirlwasabouttoturntothenextcustomer,theoldladyhandedheralittleparcelandsaid,"Thesenow,dear,theseareforyouandthankyouforbeingsopatient.IdohopeyouhaveamerryChristmas!"
ChristmasDay,the25thofDecember,isthebiggestfestivalcelebratedintheChristiancountriesoftheworld.AlthougheveryoneenjoysChristmasDay,itisparticularlyenjoyedbychildren,whogetveryexcitedbecauseofthepresentstheyknowtheyaregoingtoreceive.SmallchildrenbelievethattheirpresentsarebroughtbySantaClaus.SantaClaus(alsocalled"FatherChristmas)isakindofoldmanwho,thechildrenaretold,livesattheNorthPole.Hetravelsthroughtheskyonasleighwhichispulledbyreindeersandloadedwithpresents.Stoppingontheroofofhouses,heentersbyclimbingthechimney.WhensmallchildrengotobedonChristmasEve,theyhangastockingattheendoftheirbeds.TheirparentswarnthemnottotrytolookatFatherChristmas,orhewillnotleavethemanything.Whentheywake,theyfindtheirstockingsfilledwithpresents.ChildrenareveryexcitedonChristmasmorningandalwayswakeupearly.
Christmasisalsoafamilycelebration.Asanymembersofthefamilyaspossible.