文章

趣谈英国:五月大婚 小心懊悔终生

Sunday used to be the most popular wedding day, as it was the one day most people were free from work. Puritans in the Seventeenth Century put a stop to this, however, believing it was improper to be festive on the Sabbath. Today, Saturdays are the busiest, despite the rhyme.
在过去,星期日是结婚的热门选择,因为人们在这一天不用上班。17世纪,清教徒认为在安息日大婚不合适,从而让这一习俗走上了末路。现在,星期六成为了新人们喜结连理的繁忙日子,尽管与下面小诗所暗示的相悖:

Monday for health,
Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday best of all,
Thursday for losses,
Friday for crosses,
Saturday for no luck at all.

As for the time of year, the saying “Marry in the month of May, and you'll live to rue the day” dates back to Pagan times. May, the start of summer, was dedicated to outdoor orgies (i.e. the summer festival Beltane), hardly the best way to begin married life! Queen Victoria is said to have banned her children from marrying in May, and Nineteenth Century Vicars were rushed of their feet on April 30th because Brides refused to marry during May.
关于一年中什么时候适合结婚,有这么一句俗语:五月结婚,你将感到懊悔。这句俗语可追溯到异教徒时代。五月作为夏天的开始,被认为是户外纵欲的最佳季节 (夏季的五朔节)。因此,五月不是开始新婚生活的好日子。据说维多利亚女王曾禁止她的孩子们在五月结婚。十九世纪,在4月30日这一天,牧师们总是忙得不可开交,因为新娘们不乐意在即将到来的五月结婚。

The sun has always been associated with sexual stimulation and, therefore future fertility. In Scotland it was traditional for the Bride to 'walk with the sun', proceeding from east to west on the south side of the church and then circling the Church three times 'sunwise' for good luck.
人们常常把太阳和性刺激、生育联系在一起。按照苏格兰传统,新娘要“跟随太阳步行”:在教堂南面,由东边走到西边,然后围绕教堂走三圈,方向与太阳在天空上移动的相一致,以求好运气。

英国有一首传统的小诗,述说着不同月份结婚的含义。让我们来看看英国人在新婚吉日的选择上有些什么偏好与忌讳吧~

Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind & true,
When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.
Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden & for Man.
Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go.
Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bred.
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see
Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.

根据这首小诗,原来新年一月、晚春四月、神殿九月、荒凉阴冷的十一月,瑞雪兆丰年的十二月才是大婚的好季节啊!不过仁者见仁,智者见智啦!

  • 《趣谈职场口语 口语的灵魂 搭配》

    当具备一定的词汇基础后,英语口语能力很大程度上取决于你掌握多少搭配,也就是我们常说的common collocation...

  • 《趣谈单词“影分身”:巧记易混淆的单词含义》

    作为零基础的英语学习者,大家有没有过这样的经历:看英美电影时,男女主人公说的每个单词明明都认识,可连成句子后愣是只能干瞪眼,求助万能的字幕组大大?或者当水平有些提高,能与老外用简单的单词、句子交流时,却发现明明自己在很严肃认真地描述和表达,对方却强装淡定、忍俊不禁?教研君用自己的“阅历”告诉你,你或许是深陷了小...

  • 《大葱老师趣谈职场口语:谈加薪如何摆业绩》

     小编导读:和老板谈加薪,摆业绩、说数字是不可少的。那么,如何才能用专业地道又言简意赅的职场英语说明给自己加薪是“天经地义”的呢?今天,沪江网校实战商务口语主讲老师大葱老师告诉你加薪时如何向上...

  • 《大葱老师趣谈职场口语:求加薪如何开场》

     小编导读:职场口语中公认的一个难点就是向老板提加薪。不要说用英文求加薪了,就是用中文来讲,也有很多技巧和要领要知道。今天,沪江网校实战商务口语主讲老师大葱老师告诉你加薪时如何巧妙开场,给老板...

  • 《趣谈英国:英国员工请病假三分之一在说谎!》

    One in three workers admit to taking time off under false pretences, according to research.一项研究表明:三分之一的员工承认请假时使用假借口。...

版权所有©四级英语单词   网站地图 陇ICP备2023000160号-4