Christmas Day falls on the twenty-fifth of December. It is a very happy day for many boys and girls . Before the term ends in some schools , the children act a nativity① or “birth” play, showing how Jesus② was born in a stable③.

On the twenty-fourth of December, all children are very excited. Usually they are sent to bed early so that their parents can get the presents ready. The younger children think that Father Christmas will come down the chimney or fireplace , so they hang up a sock for him to put presents in. The greedy ones even hang up a pillow-case④ or a sack⑤ to try to get more presents. Later that night, Father or Mother will put presents in the sock, and leave others at the side of the bed.

On Christmas morning, the children wake up very early. Some even turn on the light at two o‘clock, and most of them are awake by six o‘clock although it is not light in England for another hour or two at this time of the year.

Children look for their presents , and the young ones play while the dinner is prepared. At about one o‘clock in the afternoon, the Christmas dinner is brought in . The turkey or chicken is quickly eaten . Children search in their Christmas pudding for new coins which are hidden in it . The rest of the day is full of games and eating until the happiest of all Christmas holidays comes to an end.

翻譯：

圣誕節是十二月二十五。對許多男孩和女孩來說這是一個非常快樂的一天。在一些學校學期結束前，孩子們做一個出生①或“誕生”的游戲，顯示耶穌②是怎樣在馬棚出生的。

在十二月二十四號，所有的孩子都很興奮。通常他們都很早去睡覺以便他們的父母可以準備禮物。年輕的孩子認為圣誕老人會從煙囪或壁爐出來，所以他們掛襪子來裝禮物。貪婪的人甚至掛一個枕套或麻袋④⑤設法得到更多的禮物。之后，在晚上，父親或母親會把禮物放在襪子里，把其他的禮物放在他們床邊。

在圣誕節早上，孩子們很早就醒了。一些孩子甚至在二點就醒了，他們大多數是六點醒來，雖然這時在英國這個季節還有一兩個才到黎明。

孩子們尋找他們的禮物，和年輕人玩，直到晚餐準備好。大約下午一點，圣誕晚餐開始。火雞或雞很快被吃完。孩子們在他們的圣誕布丁下搜索隱藏的新硬幣。其余的一天充滿游戲和吃食直到最快樂的圣誕節結束。

【詞語解釋】

①nativity [n+‘tiviti] n.出生;誕生;(宗教)耶穌誕生

②Jesus [‘dNi:z+s] n.耶穌

③stable [‘steibl] n.廄;馬棚;牛棚

④pillow-case [‘pil+ukeis] n.枕套

⑤sack [s$k] n.袋;布袋

【寫法指要】

這是一篇用一般現在時寫成的記敘文，所以叫做現在記敘文(present narration)。現在記敘文適合于寫經常發生的事情，比如圣誕節就是每年都要過的節日。這種記敘文一般按照人物行為情節的時間順序安排文章結構，本文分為“圣誕前”、“圣誕夜”和“圣誕當天”三個時間順序的行為情節。