Many secular symbols of Christmas have emerged over several centuries. Santa Claus, in his present form, is a fairly recent development whereas his origin, in part, goes back to Roman times.
圣诞节的很多世俗象征已经出现好几个世纪了。现在这种形象的圣诞老人,可以说是最近才出现的。然而,他的起源却可以部分追溯到古罗马时代。
St. Nicholas was an early Christian Bishop of Patara of the Lycian seaport in the 4th century A.D. The Roman Emperor Diocletian, who persecuted Christians, imprisoned him because the practice of Christianity was illegal. The first Christian Emperor of Rome, Constantine, later released him. Nicholas reputation for generosity, kindness and miracles earned him a widespread reputation and eventually sainthood. He is said to have brought back life to the children who had been chopped into pieces by their butcher father. He is reputed to have placed some gold coins in stockings, hung by a fire to dry by three poor girls. He had hoped that the girls would be able to use the money to marry to avoid living on prostitution the common destiny of such girls at that time. From this gesture came the tradition of empty oversize stockings hanging on fireplaces at Christmas time for Santa to fill with little gifts. From these roots, the present-day Santa Claus seems to have emerged.
圣?尼古拉斯是公元4世纪时利西亚海港的帕塔拉的一个早期的基督教主教。迫害基督教徒的罗马皇帝戴克里以非法宣扬基督教的罪名把他关进了监狱。后来,罗马的第一位信仰基督教的皇帝康士坦丁释放了他。尼古拉斯的慷慨、仁慈和圣迹为他赢得了广泛的声誉,最终被尊为圣徒。据说,他恢复了被他们那屠夫父亲砍成碎片的孩子们的生命。还说他在三个可怜女孩挂起来用火烘烤的长袜子里放了一些金币,希望这些女孩能用这些钱结婚,以免沦为妓女,而在那个时代,这种女孩的命运大多就是这样。在圣诞节,把特大号的空长袜挂在壁炉上面让圣诞老人放一些小礼物的传统,就来自这个故事。根据这些传说,现代的圣诞老人的形象似乎显现出来。
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