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《中英對照讀新聞》Who wants a Santa-free Christmas? 誰要一個沒有耶誕老人的耶誕節？

◎張沛元

A group of German Catholics wants to do away with Santa Claus because of the fictional figure’s commercial hype and replace him with St Nicolas and the selfless giving they say he represents.

一群德國天主教徒想擺脫耶誕老人，因為他們受夠了商業炒作這個虛構人物，並想以聖尼古拉斯及其所代表的無私付出取而代之。

Even before shops fill with Santa-themed goodies, the Bonifatiuswerk of German Catholics -- a Catholic aid organization -- has begun calling for "Santa Claus-free zones."

甚至早在商店充斥耶誕老人主題的商品之前，天主教援助組織「德國天主教Bonifatiuswerk」，就開始呼籲打造「無耶誕老人區」。

The organization sees Santa as "an invention of the advertising industry designed to boost sales" and as "a representative of consumer society" who has little to do with the historical figure of St Nicolas.

該組織將耶誕老人視為「廣告業為了促銷而誕生的發明」，以及「消費者社會的代表」，與歷史人物聖尼古拉斯幾乎毫無瓜葛。

Its website describes Nicolas, the patron saint of children, as "a helper in need who reminds us to be kind, to think of our neighbors, and to give the gift of happiness."

該組織的網站形容，兒童守護神尼古拉斯是「患難中的幫手，提醒我們要仁慈、要為鄰居設想，以及散播幸福饋禮」。

The campaign is supported by several German celebrities.

多位德國名人力挺這項活動。

"Unlike Santa Claus, Nicolas wants to give children inner riches and not just encourage them to strive for material wealth," German TV presenter Nina Ruege was quoted saying.

「跟耶誕老人不同的是，尼古拉斯想要給小孩內心的富裕，而非只是鼓勵他們追求物質財富，」德國電視新聞主播妮娜．魯奇被引述如此說道。

新聞辭典

-free：接尾詞，沒有…，無…，例如，lead-free petrol，無鉛汽油；fat-free milk，無脂肪牛奶；trouble-free，無困難，無問題。

do away with something：去除掉某物。例句：The time has come to do away with that old car.（處理掉那輛老車的時候到了。）

in need：片語，在窮困中的。例句：A friend in need is a friend indeed.（患難見真情。此句為英文諺語）

 

 

自由時報-991126