维多利亚时期的圣诞节（双语）

　　Its hard to imagine now, but at the beginning of the 19th century Christmas was hardly celebrated. Many businesses did not even consider it a holiday. However by the end of the century it had become the biggest annual celebration and took on the form that we recognise today.
　　虽然现在很难相信，但是在19世纪初，几乎没有人庆祝圣诞节。大部分商家也都没把圣诞节当做一个假日。然而，19世纪末圣诞节摇身一变变成了一年中最圣诞的庆祝活动。这一传统从那个时候被传承至今。
　　The transformation happened quickly, and came from all sectors of society.
　　转变之迅速，覆盖社会各界各行各业。

　　Victoria and Albert gathered around the Christmas tree with their children.
　　维多利亚和阿伯特以及他们的孩子围在圣诞树边。

　　Many attribute the change to Queen Victoria, and it was her marriage to the German-born Prince Albert that introduced some of the most prominent aspects of Christmas. In 1848 the Illustrated London News published a drawing of the royal family celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree, a tradition that was reminiscent of Prince Alberts childhood in Germany. Soon every home in Britain had a tree bedecked with candles, sweets, fruit, homemade decorations and small gifts.
　　这一转变很大程度上要归功于维多利亚女皇，以及她和德国出生的阿伯特王子的婚姻。阿伯特将圣诞节最重要的部分介绍给了她。在1848年，伦敦新闻画报刊登了一张绘有王室一家围着一颗装饰精致的圣诞树庆祝圣诞的画。这一活动是阿伯特王子用来怀念自己在德国度过的童年时光的。很快，大不列颠的每家每户都有了一棵装饰着蜡烛、糖果、水果、收工制作的装饰和小礼物的树。