The Tradition of Advent
基督降临节的传说
Advent is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas (or sometimes from the 1st December to Christmas Day!).
降临节在圣诞节前整整四个星期（或者有时候是从12月1日到圣诞节）。
Advent means 'Coming' in Latin. This is the coming of Jesus into the world. Christians use the four Sundays and weeks of Advent to prepare and remember the real meaning of Christmas.
降临节的拉丁文含义是来临。这是耶稣来到世界。基督教用这四个星期的降临节来准备和纪念圣诞节的真实含义。
There are three meanings of 'coming' that Christians describe in Advent. The first, and most thought of, happened about 2000 years ago when Jesus came into the world as a baby to live as a man and die for us.
基督教徒之中有三种关于降临节来临的含义。首先，最多人认为的是，两千年前发生的，耶稣做一个婴儿来到这个世界并长大成人然后为我们而死。
The second can happen now as Jesus wants to come into our lives now.And the third will happen in the future when Jesus comes back to the world as King and Judge, not a baby.
第二，耶稣想要走进我们的生活。第三，是将来耶稣想要成为国王和长官而非婴儿。
Some people fast (don't eat anything) during advent to help them concentrate on preparing to celebrate Jesus's coming. In many Orthodox and Eastern Catholics Churches, Advent lasts for 40 days and starts on November 15th and is also called the Nativity Fast.
一些人斋戒（不吃任何东西）在降临节去帮助他们专注于为耶稣的来临做准备。在许多东正教和东部的天主教，降临节持续四十天从11月15日开始，他同样被称为圣诞颂斋戒。
Orthodox Christians often don't eat meat and dairy during Advent, and depending on the day, also olive oil, wine and fish. You can see what days mean now eating what foods on this calendar from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
东正教徒经常不吃肉以及其他的日常食物在降临节期间，同样也不食用橄榄油，酒和鱼。从美国的希腊东正教大主教去在这些日子吃的食物可以知道这些日子的含义。
There are several ways that Advent is counted down but the most common is by a calendar or candle(s).
有许多方式用来到记忆降临节，最通用的去用日历和蜡烛。
There are many types of calendars used in different countries. The most common ones in the UK and USA are made of paper or card with 25 little windows on.
有许多类型的日历用于各个国家。
A window is opened on every day in December and a Christmas picture is displayed underneath.
在英国和美国最通用的是纸质或者卡片制成的并用二十五个小窗口组成。一个窗口在十二月的每一天都打开，圣诞照片在底部摆设。
When they were first made, scenes from the Christmas Story and other Christmas images were used, such as snowmen and robins, but now many calendars are made in the theme of television programmes and sports clubs.
他们第一次制作，圣诞故事和其他的圣诞形象被用来做素材，比如雪人和罗宾斯，不过现在大部分智力是用电视节目的主题和运动俱乐部的主题做成的。
Some of these types of calendar even have chocolate under each window, to make every day in December that little bit better! I used to like those when I was a little boy (and still do now!!!)!
一些这类日历还藏有小巧克力在窗口之下，让十二月的每一天都变得甜甜的。在我还是个小男孩的时候我很喜欢这些（就是现在也喜欢）。