譯/李海龍
新生兒賀禮各國(guó)大不同
譯/李海龍
Baby Gift Giving Traditions Around the World
世界各國(guó)的文化不同,贈(zèng)送新生兒禮物的傳統(tǒng)也千差萬(wàn)別,而下面幾個(gè)國(guó)家的傳統(tǒng)尤為獨(dú)特。
Here are some of the most unique baby gift giving traditions from different cultures around the world.
[2]在埃及,送給新生兒的傳統(tǒng)禮物是帶有藍(lán)眼睛飾物的棕櫚葉。人們通常會(huì)把它別在新生兒的衣服上,使他們免受“邪眼”的傷害。
Egypt
[2] In Egypt, a palm with a blue eye is traditionally given to newborn babies. It is usually attached to their clothing, giving them protection from the “evil eye1邪眼,一種迷信力量,由他人的妒忌或厭惡而生,可帶來(lái)噩運(yùn)或者傷病。持邪眼信仰的人們往往認(rèn)為,兒童尤其是嬰兒最容易招致邪眼詛咒,因?yàn)殚L(zhǎng)者往往易于夸獎(jiǎng)兒童,這便容易招致陌生人或是無(wú)子女?huà)D女的嫉妒和惡念。.”
[3]在印度,人們會(huì)把銀腳鐲送給剛出生的女?huà)?。身上佩戴裝飾品是印度的一大傳統(tǒng)。人們認(rèn)為銀制品代表力量,贈(zèng)送銀飾是希望嬰兒健康茁壯地成長(zhǎng)。
India
[3] In India, baby girls are given silver ankle bracelets when they are born. Body decoration is a very popular tradition in India. It is thought that silver represents strength and brings hope that the baby will grow up to be strong and healthy.
[4]在中國(guó),人們給新生兒的傳統(tǒng)禮物是塞了錢(qián)的紅包。有的紅包是全紅色,有的上面寫(xiě)著“吉祥”或者“如意”字樣。這種紅包表示要帶給嬰兒一生的喜慶和富貴。
China
[4] In China, a red envelope fi lled with money is traditionally given to newborn babies. The envelope can be plain2plain全然;完全地。red or have the words “fortune” or “l(fā)uck” written on it. This is thought to bring great joy and wealth to their life.
[5]在巴西,不少人認(rèn)為準(zhǔn)媽媽收到的第一件禮物應(yīng)該是針織的紅色鞋子,也有人認(rèn)為新生兒出院時(shí)應(yīng)該穿這樣的鞋子。
Brazil
[5] Many believe that knitted red shoes should be the very first gift an expectant mother33 expectant mother孕婦;準(zhǔn)媽媽。receives, but others believe the newborn should wear the shoes when leaving the hospital.
[6]在俄羅斯,人們給嬰兒的禮物是一把銀匙,據(jù)說(shuō)它會(huì)給新生兒的未來(lái)帶來(lái)財(cái)富和好運(yùn)。
Russia
[6] In Russia, babies are given a silver spoon, which is thought to bring wealth and good luck to their future.
[7]在澳大利亞,人們會(huì)送給嬰兒有關(guān)黃金時(shí)代的兒童故事書(shū)。書(shū)中的故事講述了人、大地和動(dòng)物之間的關(guān)系,還談及文化價(jià)值觀(guān)和文化信念。
Australia
[7] Dreamtime4dreamtime澳洲土著語(yǔ)alcheringa的字面意義,特指澳大利亞土著神話(huà)中的黃金時(shí)代。children’s storybooks are given to babies in Australia. The books tell stories of the relationships between people, land and animals, as well as cultural values and beliefs.
[8]就嬰兒禮物而言,英國(guó)文化和美國(guó)文化二者差別不大。在英國(guó),人們經(jīng)常拿來(lái)送給新生兒的禮物有首飾、搖鈴、相框和紀(jì)念品盒子。
United Kingdom
[8] English culture and American culture are not that different when it comes to baby gifts. Some common newborn baby gifts in the United Kingdom include jewelry, rattles5rattle搖鈴;撥浪鼓。, picture frames and keepsake6keepsake紀(jì)念品;留作紀(jì)念的小東西。boxes.
[9]美國(guó)人送給嬰兒的禮物包括鮮花、玩具、衣服等。最近,美國(guó)很流行的做法是給新生兒送搖錢(qián)樹(shù),希望它帶給嬰兒好運(yùn)和福氣。搖錢(qián)樹(shù)有時(shí)也叫作發(fā)財(cái)樹(shù),它的歷史悠久,對(duì)很多人來(lái)說(shuō)更是寓意深遠(yuǎn)?!?/p>
United States
[9] American baby gifting includes flowers, toys, clothes, etc. Recently, it has become very popular in the U.S. to give newborns Money Trees7搖錢(qián)樹(shù)(一種經(jīng)過(guò)裝飾搖動(dòng)時(shí)會(huì)落下錢(qián)幣的樹(shù))。to give them luck and good fortune in their lives. These trees, sometimes called Pachira8發(fā)財(cái)樹(shù);馬拉巴栗。plants, have rich histories and great signi fi cance to many people.
(譯者單位:浙江外國(guó)語(yǔ)學(xué)院)