Some European countries such as Germany use a wreath of fir with 24 bags or boxes hanging from it. In each box or bag there is a little present for each day.
一些欧洲国家，像德国，使用二十四个用冷杉环绕的包包或者盒子。在每一个盒子或者包包都有小礼物供每一天拆开。
You can also not get online Advent or 'Christmas Countdown' calendars and there's one on this site. So during December, why don't you visit the Online Advent Calendar and find out about something Christmassy each day!
你也可以不参加网络降临节或者圣诞节倒计时日历，总有一个可用。所以十二月期间，为什么不参观网络降临节日历找到能让每天充满圣诞气氛的东西。
There are two types of candle that are used to count down to Christmas Day in Advent. The first looks like a normal candle, but has the days up to Christmas Day marked down the candle. On the first of December the candle is lit and burnt down to the first line on the candle.
有两种类型的蜡烛用于计算到圣诞节到来。第一个看起来像一个正常的蜡烛,但有天圣诞节蜡烛。12月的第一个蜡烛点燃,烧毁了第一行的蜡烛。
The same is done every day and then the rest of the candle is burnt on Christmas day. I use one of these candles to count down during Advent.
每天都执行同样的操作,然后剩下的蜡烛烧在圣诞节那天。我用其中一种蜡烛进行倒计时。
An Advent Crown is another form of candles that are used to count down Advent. These are often used in Churches rather than in people's homes.
降临节花环蜡烛是用来倒计时降临节蜡烛的一种款式。他们更多的用于教堂而不是人们的家里。
The crown is often made up of a wreath of greenery and has four candles round the outside and one in the middle or in a separate place. Sometimes a more traditional candelabra is used to display the five candles.
花环蜡烛由绿色植物以及四根蜡烛环绕，还有一根蜡烛在中央或者在另一个独立的地方。有时候一些传统的自传大烛台是用来摆放这五根蜡烛的。
One candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, two are lit on the second Sunday and so on. Each candle has a different meaning in Christianity. Different churches have given them different meanings, but I was taught the following:
一根蜡烛在降临节的第一个星期天点燃，两根是在第二个星期天在第三个星期天点燃，以此类推。每一个蜡烛在基督教都有不同的含义，不过我被这么教导：
The first represents Isaiah and other prophets in the bible that predicted the coming of Jesus.
第一个代表在《圣经》以赛亚书和其他先知预言耶稣的到来。
The second represents the bible.
第二个代表《圣经》。
The third represents Mary, the mother of Jesus.
第三是玛丽,耶稣的母亲。
The fourth represents John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin, who told the people in Israel to get ready for Jesus' teaching.
第四是施洗约翰,耶稣的堂兄,他告诉以色列人民准备耶稣的教学。
The middle or separate candle is lit on Christmas Day and represents Jesus, the light of the world. In Germany this fifth candle is known as the 'Heiligabend' and is lit on Christmas Eve.
中间或单独的蜡烛在圣诞节点燃,代表世界的光耶稣。在德国这第五蜡烛被称为“平安夜”，点燃于圣诞前夜。
In many churches, the colour purple is used to signify the season of Advent. On the third Sunday, representing Mary, the colour is sometimes changes to pink or rose.
在许多教会,颜色紫色是用来表示出现的季节。第三个星期天,代表玛丽,颜色有时改变粉红色或玫瑰色。
Advent was first recorded about 380AD in Spain. By the 6th century, there are records of monks in Tours (in France) holding a pre-Christmas fast. By end of the 6th century, the four Sundays before Christmas had commonly become known as Advent Sundays.
在西班牙出现首次记录大约公元380年。6世纪,有记录的僧侣之旅(在法国)举行圣诞节前斋戒。6世纪末,圣诞节前的四个星期天通常被称为降临节星期天。
In medieval and pre-medieval times, in parts of England, there were an early form of Nativity scene called 'advent images' or a 'vessel cup'. They were a box, often with a glass lid that was covered with a white napkin, that contained two dolls representing Mary and the baby Jesus.
在中世纪和中世纪以前的时期,在英国部分地区,有一种早期的基督诞生场景称为“降临图像”或“船杯”。他们是盒子,通常用玻璃盖子覆盖着白色的餐巾纸,包含两个娃娃，代表玛丽和婴儿耶稣。
The box was decorated with ribbons and flowers (and sometimes apples). They were carried around from door to door. It was thought to be very unlucky if you haven't seen a box before Christmas Eve! People paid the box carriers a halfpenny to see the box.
这个盒子是用彩带和鲜花装饰(有时是苹果)。他们从这门运到那门。这被认为是非常不吉利的如果你圣诞夜前夕还没有见过一盒!人支付运营商小钱去看管箱子。
There are some Christmas Carols that are really Advent Carols! These include 'People Look East', 'Come, thou long expected Jesus', 'Lo! He comes, with clouds descending' and perhaps the most popular advent song 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel!'.
有一些圣诞合唱班真的出现颂歌!这些包括“人向东看”,耶稣来了,你早就预料到的,瞧!他与云来了,下面最受欢迎的歌曲是“噢，来啊，噢来啊伊马内利!”。