來自中國的雇員Dana跟同事Charlie聊天兒，說自己要去美國朋友家過圣誕，請Charlie給她講講美國人過圣誕的習俗。

D: I've heard that some Americans celebrate and open presents on Christmas Eve, while others choose Christmas morning. What's the difference?

C: Each American family makes their own Christmas traditions. My uncle eats hot dogs every Christmas....don't ask me why, that's just his thing. When I was a kid, we opened our presents on Christmas Eve but our neighbor always had to wait until Christmas morning.

D: That's kind of nice...everybody makes their own traditions.

美國有些家庭圣誕前夜拆禮物，有些家庭則要等到圣誕節一大早。有區別嗎？Charlie說，這要看每個家庭的習慣， Everybody makes their own traditions. 比如說，Charlie的叔叔每年圣誕節都要吃熱狗。那是為什么？Charlie說，don't ask me why, that's just his thing. 意思是不要問我為什么，他就是這么個習慣。

C: We have lots of different kinds of people in America...lots of different religions, lots of different nationalities. Jewish people don't celebrate Christmas, but they have a winter festival called Hanukkah. Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists don't celebrate Christmas either, but almost everybody in America enjoys the winter holiday season.

D: So I can expect to see snow?

C: There is a pretty good chance it will snow. But you better hope there isn't a blizzard! If there's a storm, you might not be able to go anywhere.

在美國，并非所有人都慶祝圣誕節。猶太人不過圣誕，他們過的是hanukkah。 Hanukkah is spelled h-a-n-u-k-k-a-h, 光明節。另外，穆斯林、印度教和佛教徒都不過圣誕節，但是幾乎所有人都喜歡過節的氣氛。Charlie告訴Dana, there is a pretty good chance it will snow. 很有可能會趕上下雪，但是最好不要是暴風雪，blizzard。

D: Well, I'm certainly looking forward to this trip. I think it will be a lot of fun.

C: Christmas in America is great...especially if you don't have to do any Christmas shopping. For me that's the worst part... crowded shopping malls...crazy people. I love Christmas, but I hate Christmas shopping.

D: Someone told me the day after Christmas is a good day for sales.

C: That's true. You can go check out the malls on the 26th.

D: Sounds like a plan. Thanks for your input, Charlie.

C: My pleasure and a Merry Christmas!

D: Merry Christmas to you, too!

Charlie最頭疼圣誕節前出去買禮物，因為外面到處都是人。不過，圣誕節次日是大減價的日子。The day after Christmas is a good day for sales. You can go check out the malls. 可以到商場去逛逛。