梦想白色的圣诞

A man walks past snow-covered Christmas decorations on apartments in Berea, Ohio, December 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

This is Steve Ember with a VOA Special English holiday program.

我是史蒂夫·艾姆博，这里是美国之音慢速英语假期特别节目。

Music fills the air. Colorful lights shine brightly in windows. Children and adults open gifts from loved ones and friends. These are all Christmas traditions.

空中弥漫着音乐。橱窗里各种颜色的灯光闪烁。孩子和成人打开爱人和朋友送的礼物。这些都是圣诞的传统。

Another tradition is snow. Christmas in the northern part of the world comes a few days after the start of winter. In many places, a blanket of clean white snow covers the ground on Christmas Day. This is what is meant by a “White Christmas.”

圣诞的另一个传统是雪。进入冬天不久，世界的北方地区就迎来了圣诞。在很多地方，圣诞节当天，地面白雪覆盖。这就是为什么叫做“白色圣诞节”。

Of course, many places do not get snow at Christmas. In fact, they may be very warm this time of year. People who like snow, but live where it is warm, can only dream of having a white Christmas.

当然，有很多地方，圣诞节并不会下雪。实际上，这时候甚至还很暖和。人们喜欢雪，但是他们住的地方很温暖，只能梦想着有一个白色的圣诞节。

American songwriter Irving Berlin captured these feelings in his song “White Christmas.” It is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. The opening words explain why the singer is dreaming of a white Christmas. Most people never hear these words, so they never really understand the true meaning of the song. Here’s how it starts:

美国作曲家欧文·柏林在他的“白色圣诞”歌曲中表达了这些感觉。这是一首最受欢迎的歌曲之一。开场白解释了一下为什么歌手梦想着白色圣诞节。很多人并没有听过这些句子，所以，他们也不明白歌词的真意。下面是歌词的开头：

The sun is shining.

太阳照耀着大地

The grass is green.

草色青绿

The orange and palm trees sway.

橙子树和棕榈树摇曳

I’ve never seen such a day in Beverly Hills, L.A.

在洛杉矶贝弗利山，从未见过这样的一天

But it’s December the 24^th

因为是12月24号

And I’m longing to be up north.

我渴望能够在北方

Up north, where it is cold and snowy.

北方、寒冷有白雪

Not south, where it is warm and sunny.

南方，温暖有阳光

Over the years, hundreds of singers and musicians have recorded “White Christmas.” But the version most people still know best was sung by Bing Crosby.

多年来，很多歌手和音乐人都唱过“白色圣诞”歌曲，但是，大多数人知道最多的还是由宾·克洛斯演唱的那首歌。

Songwriter Irving Berlin was born in Russia in 1888. He did not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. He was Jewish.

歌手欧文·柏林于1888年出生于俄罗斯。他不把圣诞节当做宗教节日来庆祝，因为他是犹太人。

But his song celebrates an idea of peace and happiness that anyone, anywhere -- snowy or not -- can enjoy.

他的歌曲赞美和平和快乐——不管人们在哪儿，那里是否有下雪，都可以享受到这种和平和快乐。

To all of you, best wishes this holiday season from all of us in VOA Special English.

来自美国之音慢速英语的所有人员祝大家圣诞假期快乐！

This is Steve Ember.

我是史蒂夫·艾姆博。

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

A man walks past snow-covered Christmas decorations on apartments in Berea, Ohio, December 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

This is Steve Ember with a VOA Special English holiday program.

Music fills the air. Colorful lights shine brightly in windows. Children and adults open gifts from loved ones and friends. These are all Christmas traditions.

Another tradition is snow. Christmas in the northern part of the world comes a few days after the start of winter. In many places, a blanket of clean white snow covers the ground on Christmas Day. This is what is meant by a “White Christmas.”

Of course, many places do not get snow at Christmas. In fact, they may be very warm this time of year. People who like snow, but live where it is warm, can only dream of having a white Christmas.

American songwriter Irving Berlin captured these feelings in his song “White Christmas.” It is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. The opening words explain why the singer is dreaming of a white Christmas. Most people never hear these words, so they never really understand the true meaning of the song. Here’s how it starts:

The sun is shining.

The grass is green.

The orange and palm trees sway.

I’ve never seen such a day in Beverly Hills, L.A.

But it’s December the 24th

And I’m longing to be up north.

Up north, where it is cold and snowy.

Not south, where it is warm and sunny.

Over the years, hundreds of singers and musicians have recorded “White Christmas.” But the version most people still know best was sung by Bing Crosby.

Songwriter Irving Berlin was born in Russia in 1888. He did not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. He was Jewish.

But his song celebrates an idea of peace and happiness that anyone, anywhere -- snowy or not -- can enjoy.

To all of you, best wishes this holiday season from all of us in VOA Special English.

This is Steve Ember.