It's the most wonderful time of the year
/ Es la época más maravillosa del año
With the kids jingle
belling
/ Con los niños haciendo sonar cascabeles
And everyone telling:
/ Y todos diciéndote:
You'll be of good cheer
/ Tendrás buen ánimo y optimismo
It's the most
wonderful time of the year
/ Es la época más maravillosa del año
For
millions of Americans, the most wonderful day of the year is December 25 --
Christmas. For one thing, it marks the end of the most busy time of year. Many
people need a rest after weeks of buying gifts, going to parties, organizing
travel and getting their homes ready for the holiday.
for one thing:
por una parte; busy time: época ajetreada; gifts: regalos;
getting their homes ready: preparando sus hogares; holiday: día
festivo;
With all this, it is often said that Christmas has lost its meaning as the
birthday of Jesus Christ. Some churches in the United States have cancelled
Christmas Day services, so people can spend the day with their families. These
churches still offer Christmas Eve services, though. And many Christians still
go to church on Christmas Day or the night before. They consider it an important
part of celebrating the holiday.
has lost its meaning:
ha perdido su significado; as the birthday: como la fecha de nacimiento;
still offer: todavía ofrecen; Christmas Eve services, though:
servicios de Nochebuena, a pesar de todo;
Most
Americans identify themselves as Christian, even if they are not very religious.
But the freedom to choose any religion, or no religion at all, is guaranteed by
the Constitution. The Constitution separates religion and government.
most: la mayoría
(de los); identify themselves as: se identifican como; even if: si
bien; freedom to choose: libertad de elección; or no religion at all:
o ninguna religión; is guaranteed by: está garantizada por;
But not all Americans celebrate Christmas. And even those who do might not
celebrate it as a religious holiday. This is true of Christians as well as non-Christians.
Still, they treat it as a special day. And it is hard to think of anyone that
Christmas is more special for than children. Of course, this has a lot to do
with the tradition of a kindly old man with a big belly and a bright red suit.
Children know Santa Claus as the one who leaves gifts under the tree on
Christmas Eve.
even those who do:
aún aquellos que lo hacen (que celebran la Navidad); might not: podrían
no; as well as: así como también; they treat it as: lo tratan como;
hard to think of anyone: difícil imaginar a alguien; than children:
que los niños; a kindly old man: un bondadoso viejito; with a big
belly: de gran panza o barriga; a bright red suit: un brillante traje
rojo; as the one who leaves gifts: como la persona que deja regalos;
Some people celebrate Christmas in less material ways. For example, they
volunteer to serve meals at shelters for the homeless or visit old people in
nursing homes. To them, this is honoring the true spirit of Christmas.
in less material
ways: de formas menos materiales; they volunteer: se ofrecen como
voluntarios; to serve meals: servir comidas; at shelters: en
refugios o asilos; the homeless: los indigentes (personas sin hogar);
nursing homes: geriátricos, hogares de ancianos; is honoring the true
spirit: es honrar el verdadero espíritu;
Christmastime centers on home and family. Once people bring home a Christmas
tree, they may struggle with setting it up so it does not fall over. But then
they enjoy decorating it with colorful lights and ornaments.
centers: se
centra; may struggle: puede que tengan que luchar; with setting it up:
enderezarlo y asegurarlo; fall over: caerse, darse vuelta;
In some families, the tradition is to open gifts on Christmas Eve. In others,
though, people wait until Christmas morning to open their presents. A big
Christmas dinner is a tradition in many families. And so are special treats like
Christmas cookies covered in powdered sugar.
special treats:
convites especiales; cookies: galletas; covered in powdered sugar:
cubiertas de azúcar en polvo (azúcar impalpable);
Many people travel long distances to be home with their families at Christmas.
But not everyone is able to be with loved ones. For some, Christmas can be a
lonely time. Most businesses and public places are closed for the holiday. But
some restaurants stay open and serve Christmas dinner.
is able to be with
loved ones: puede estar con quienes ama; lonely time: época
melancólica; closed: cerrados, sin actividad; stay open:
permanecen abiertos;
Christmas time is here
/ Ya llegó la Navidad
Happiness and cheer
/ Felicidad y alegría
Fun for all...
/ Diversión para todos...
Caroling is a Christmas tradition that goes back hundreds of
years. Sometimes carolers walk along a street and the group stops at each house
to sing a song. Other times they gather in a public place. Carolers may visit
places like shopping centers, hospitals and nursing homes. School choruses are
often invited to sing songs of the holiday season.
caroling:
el canto de villancicos; that goes back: que se remonta a; carolers:
los cantores de villancicos; they gather: se reúnen; school choruses:
coros escolares;
December is usually also the time of the ancient Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The
eight-day Festival of Lights honors the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem
after the Maccabees defeated King Antiochus of Syria.
ancient Jewish
holiday: antigua festividad judía; Festival of Lights: Fiesta de las
Luminarias; rededication: reconsagración; the Maccabees: los
Macabeos; defeated: vencieron;
Most black Americans celebrate Christmas. But after Christmas, from December 26
to January 1, many also celebrate Kwanzaa. This African-American holiday honors
culture, community and family. The name comes from a Swahili term meaning "first
fruits." Kwanzaa started during the 1960s.
African-American holiday:
festividad afro-americana; first fruits: las primeras frutas;
A favorite
Christmas tradition is watching a performance of the ballet "The Nutcracker."
The Russian composer Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky wrote the music in 1891. "The
Nutcracker" is a story told in dance about a young girl named Clara.
performance:
actuación; The Nutcracker: El Cascanueces; Russian composer:
compositor ruso; a story told in a dance un cuento convertido en ballet;
Clara is celebrating Christmas with her family and friends. One of her gifts is
a wooden nutcracker shaped like a toy soldier. Clara is shown how to put a nut
in the mouth to break the shell open with the head. But she dreams that the
nutcracker comes to life as a good-looking prince.
a wooden nutcracker:
un cascanueces de madera; shaped like a toy soldier: con la forma de un
soldadito de madera; how to put a nut in the mouth: cómo colocar una nuez
en la boca (del soldadito); to break the shell open: para romper la
cáscara; she dreams that the nutcracker: ella sueña que el cascanueces;
comes to life as a good-looking prince: se convierta en un apuesto príncipe;
We leave you now with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy performing
"The Waltz of the Flowers" from "The Nutcracker".
under: bajo (la
batuta o dirección de); performing: ejecutando; waltz: vals.
