十大圣诞传统及其起源（组图）

Holly and ivy 冬青和常春藤

Synonymous with Christmas and the subject of a traditional British folk carol, both holly and ivy were originally used in pre-Christian times to celebrate the winter solstice. As they provide a rare splash of colour in the darkest month of the year, their popularity has endured.
提到圣诞节，人们就会想起冬青和常春藤，这两种植物还被写成了一首英国传统民谣。在前基督时代，人们用冬青和常春藤装点房屋来庆祝冬至。在一年中最阴冷的时节，冬青和常春藤给房间带来了一抹生机勃勃的绿色，因此几千年来一直广受欢迎。

Christmas crackers 圣诞拉炮

London sweet-maker Tom Smith invented Christmas crackers in the late 1840s, inspired by traditional, paper-wrapped French bonbons. Even though he included mottos or riddles inside each, it was not until he found a way to make them “crack” when pulled apart that sales took off. His sons Tom, Walter and Henry later added hats and novelty gifts.
受传统的用纸包裹的法国棒棒糖启发，伦敦糖果商汤姆•史密斯在19世纪40年代末发明了圣诞拉炮。尽管他在每只圣诞拉炮里都会放格言或谜语，但直到他想出法子让其在拉动包装纸的时候发出啪的一声，圣诞拉炮的销量才开始飙升。他的儿子汤姆、沃尔特和亨利后来又加进了纸帽子和新奇礼物等创意。