The traditions we associate with Christmas have evolved over the centuries. Here are answers to five questions about these traditions, from the date we choose to celebrate to the origin of Santa. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/A）The Bible makes no mention of Jesus being born on December 25th and, as more than one historian has pointed out, why would shepherds be tending to their flock in the middle of winter? So why is that the day we celebrate? Well, either Christian holidays miraculously fall on the same days as Pagan ones or the Christians have been crafty in converting pagan populations to religion by placing important Christian holidays on the same days as pagan ones. And people had been celebrating on December 25th(and the surrounding weeks)for centuries by the time Jesus showed up. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/B）The Winter Solstice, falling on or around December 21st, was and is celebrated around the world as the beginning of the end of winter. It is the shortest day and longest night and its passing signifies that spring is on the way. In Scandinavian countries, they celebrated the solstice with a holiday called Yule last from the 21st until January and burned a Yule log the whole time. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/C）In Rome, Saturnalia—a celebration of Saturn, the God of agriculture—lasted the entire end of the year and was marked by mass intoxication. In the middle of this, the Romans celebrated the birth of another God, Mithra(a child God), whose holiday celebrated the children of Rome. When the Christianity became the official religion of Rome, there was no Christmas. It was not until the 4th century that Pope Julius I declared the birth of Jesus to be a holiday and picked December 25th as the celebration day. By the middle ages, most people celebrated the holiday we know as Christmas. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/D）The American Christmas is, like most American holidays, a mishmash of Old World customs mixed with American inventions. While Christmas was celebrated in America from the time of the Jamestown settlement, our modem idea of the holiday didn’t take root until the 19th century. The History Channel credits Washington Irving with getting the ball rolling. In 1819 he published The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, gent. , an account of a Christmas celebration in which a rich family invites poor folk into their house to celebrate the holiday. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/E）The problem was that many of the activities described in Irving’s work, such as crowning a Lord of Misrule, were entirely fictional. Nonetheless, Irving began to steer Christmas celebrations away from drunken debauchery(放荡)and towards wholesome, charitable fun. Throughout the rest of the 19th century, Christmas gained popularity and Americans adopted old customs or invented new ones, such as Christmas trees, greeting cards, giving gifts and eating a whole roasted pig. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/F）Since time immortal, humans have been fascinated with the color green mid plants that stay green through winter. Many ancient societies—from Romans to Vikings—would decorate their Homes and temples with evergreens in the winter as a symbol of the returning growing season. But the Christmas tree didn’t get going until some intrepid(无畏的)German dragged home and decorated a tree in the l6th century. Legend has it that Martin Luther himself added lighted candles to his family’s tree, starting the trend(and leading to countless fires through the years). In America, the Christmas tree didn’t catch on until 1846 when the British royals, Queen Victoria and the German Prince Albert, were shown with a Christmas tree in a newspaper. Fashionable people in America mimicked the Royals and the tree thing spread outside of German enclaves(被围领土)in America. Ornaments, courtesy of Germany, and electric lights, courtesy of Thomas Edison’s assistants, were added over the years and we haven’t changed much since. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/G）The jolly, red-suited man who sneaks into your home every year to leave you girls hasn’t always been so jolly. The real Saint Nick was a Turkish monk who rived in the 3rd century. According to legend, he was a rich man thanks to an inheritance from his parents, but he gave it all away in the form of gifts to the less-fortunate. He eventually became the most popular saint in Europe and, through his alter ego, Santa Claus, remains so to this day. But how did a long-dead Turkish monk become a big, fat, reindeer-riding pole dweller? The Dutch got the ball rolling by celebrating the saint-called Sinter Klaas—in New York in the late-18th century. Our old friend, Washington Irving, included the legend of Saint Nick in his seminal History of New-York as well, but at the turn of the 18th century, Saint Nick was still a rather obscure figure in America. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/H）On December 23, 1823, though, a man named Clement Clarke Moore published a poem he had written for his daughters called “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas. ” better known now as “T’ was the Night Before Christmas. ” Nobody knows how much of the poem Moore invented, but we do know that it was the spark that eventually lit the Santa fire. Many of the things we associate with Santa—a sleigh, reindeer. Christmas Eve visits—came from Moore’s poem. From 1863 to1886, Thomas Nast’s illustrations of Santa Claus appeared in Harper’s Weekly—including a scene with Santa giving gifts to Union soldiers. Not much has changed since the second half of the 19th century：Santa still gets pulled in a sleigh by flying reindeer, he still wears the big red suit and he still sneaks down chimneys to drop off presents. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/I）Santa did get one more friend in 1939. Robert May, a copywriter for the Montgomery Ward department store chain, wrote a little story about a 9th reindeer with a disturbing red nose for a booklet to give customers during the holiday season. Ten years later, May’s brother would put the story to music, writing the lyrics and melody.

    Just how much do people know about keeping their homes safe from burglary? Surprisingly, many of us make assumptions about home security that can actually increase our risk of a burglary by leaving us—and our homes—undefended. Here are some home-security myths and truths.
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/A） A home-security system cannot stop a burglar from hitting your home. But it is a strong deterrent (威慑), making him think twice before targeting you. “Criminals have told me, when they were questioned, they had walked by three or four houses that had alarm stuck to their windows and then hit the one that didn’t,” says Const. Jim Caldwell of the Edmonton Police Service. That’s because setting off an alarm could mean a call to police. And if a thief does break in, he is less likely to make a thorough search of the house. “It’s going to be a smash-and-grab,” says Normand Fiset, president of the Quebec chapter of the Canadian Security Association. “Usually they’re in and out quickly.”
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/B） Research indicates that your house is 12 times more likely to be broken into again within the next month. Susan Hall’s Toronto home was burglarized a few years ago. “The police told us, ‘Don’t be surprised if they come back after you’ve replaced everything,’” she says. In her case they didn’t, but nevertheless she promptly put her most sentimental possessions in a security box. Make it a priority to assess your home security and take steps to enhance it. If you do replace stolen merchandise, don’t put the packaging boxes out on display for roadside pickup.
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/C） “A lock is only as strong as the door and the door frame,” says Const. Donald Jenkins of the Halifax Regional Police. Steel doors are a good idea, too, but look for one with a solid-wood core, not a hollow door. And consider adding a solid-steel strip to the side of the door to prevent thieves from breaking the frame with an iron bar.Other steps make a difference. Install external lighting and keep bushes trimmed around doors and windows. The more visible a thief will be while breaking into your home, the tess likely it is that he’ll try. Beware-of-dog signs and locked gates also discourage criminals. And while it may seem obvious, if you do invest in good security features, make sure you actually use them. Caldwetl recently investigated a break-and- enter case in which “the guy had the best of locks, the best of alarm systems—and none of it was engaged.” 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/D） “Actually, the opposite is true,” says Ron Noiles, senior vice-president for personal-property insurance with Aviva Canada, a major sponsor of the Neighborhood Watch program. “Criminals look for neighborhoods where the goods are good. And those are typically the ones people believe they’re safe in.” If you take fewer safety precautions, like not locking your door, because you believe it’s unlikely you’ll suffer a break-in, you’re increasing the odds of your home becoming a target.
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/It’s true that most thieves seek out unoccupied houses. But home burglary, in which criminals strike deliberately while people are home so they can let them in, do sometimes happen. “It is the most effective way of carrying out the theft because you know you won’t get surprised by the owners—you have them caught,” says Fiset. And when home invasions occur, almost half the homeowners end up injured, according to the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/E） While closed curtains at night do keep thieves from looking inside, during the day they may serve as an ideal cover for burglars. Opening curtains in daytime also makes it look as though someone is home. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/“There’s little I can do to reduce property crime in my neighborhood.”
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/Police experts say that getting to know your neighbors is a huge factor in combating break-ins. “If someone sees an unfamiliar car in your driveway or people moving secretly about your property, neighbors will be more inclined to call police,” says Jenkins. Consider getting involved with a local Neighborhood Watch group, or contact your local police department to set one up.
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/F） Statistics show that houses with alarm systems are less likely to be broken into, and if they are, less property is stolen. And there’s an added bonus—Home-insurance companies typically offer a discount on your payment once you have a security system installed. Unmonitored alarms sound a siren (警报器) inside or outside your house and, if you’re lucky, alert a neighbor to trouble. A system that is monitored (at a cost of around $30 a month) will summon the police. The Canadian Security Association’s Normand Fiset recommends having the alarm monitored rather than relying on neighbors to act. “When is the last time you considered calling the cops when you heard a car alarm’ in a parking lot?” he reasons. He also points out that more and more cities and towns are banning outside sirens, and an alarm that sounds only inside the house does little good.
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/G） If your alarm is monitored, its signal travels to the monitoring service, usually through your phone line. Service personnel will call the police when there’s a problem, often phoning your home first to ensure it’s not a false alarm. (If it is, you simply supply your password to cancel it.) In many regions, the homeowner is accountable for a fee if police are called needlessly. The physical components of an alarm system—motion detectors, magnetic door or window contacts, control panel—can be either hard-wired through your home or connected with wireless-radio signals. Be sure to check that the company installing the alarm is a member of a professional association and has any licenses required by your city or town.
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/H） Magnetic contact at the doors and windows and glass-break detection will trip the alarm if the perimeter(周界) of the house is crossed. The alarm will be set off before the thief has set foot inside your home. Motion detectors inside are functioned if a person moves inside the home while the system is armed. Ensure that the system you select gives the option of arming the perimeter and motion sensors separately. That way, the alarm can alert you to any breaking-in even when you are home.
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/I） If you have a pet or are considering getting one, make sure your system is designed to pick up only the motion of humans. What if a thief cuts your phone line to prevent contact with the monitoring company? Although this doesn’t happen often, some systems now offer wireless-phone support. The newest technology even uses your Internet connection to send out a burglary alert.

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style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/Planning your trip: Where to stay
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/A） So you’ve finally decided to take advantage of some well-earned vacation time and visit Prague, the city of your dreams. Because you’ll be all by yourself, the planning of your trip is automatically different. One of the first questions worth attention is how you’re going to spend your time in the beautiful Czech Republic capital. Are you going on a shoestring budget, or would you rather go all-out and book a room in a fancy hotel?
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/B） Because traveling alone means your money is funding the trip, a wise choice would be to stay in youth hostels. Cast away the wrong idea that these places are uncomfortable and dirty, and accept the fact that hostels provide safe, clean, comfortable, and most importantly, cheap housing that millions of students and economical travelers take advantage of every year. It is relatively easy to book a room at a hostel via the Internet, and plenty of information is available about each one. On the other hand, if you can’t wait to take advantage of room service and a Jacuzzi bath, then turn to a hotel. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/C） Along with securing your accommodations, prepare a route of the journey for each day before you leave. This plan should include everything from visiting all the famous landmarks to some relaxation time, which is essential since you’ll be likely walking for miles in your comfortable shoes(invest in a good pair, it will pay off). As great as organization is, however, you may not, at times, have to be restrained by your plan so as to leave room for some sceneries unexpected or unplanned on your trip. That is exactly the beauty of traveling alone: You are your own master, and while preparation is key, there is always room to do something wild. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/Important information prior to takeoff
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/D） One of the hardest parts of traveling in general is coming up with a list of what you’ll need to bring with you(or leave behind). Thinking of these all-important items becomes all the more difficult(and necessary) when you have no one else to rely on. Whatever luggage you take, make sure it’s easy to handle. The best solution is to take one hold-all, be it a suitcase or a backpack, and then a smaller bag which you can hang loosely from your shoulder. It’s also a good idea to keep a change of clothing in your shoulder bag in case your suitcase or backpack gets lost by an airline or bus company. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/E） If you’re heading for a foreign country, don’t leave home without a bilingual dictionary. Although a strong grasp of Czech will prove quite difficult, it is still important to learn phrases like “thank you, ” “hello, ” “please, ” and “I didn’t know she charged money for her time, ” in case you’re in trouble. Make a copy of all essential travel documents such as your passport and health insurance. Keep the copies separate or leave them behind with someone you trust, in the event of an emergency. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/F） Along with cash, bring a credit card as an emergency method of payment and make sure to take note of your credit card company’s customer service line in case of loss or theft. That way, you can cancel your card immediately and have a new one delivered to you while on your trip(if possible). A book to enjoy on a train ride or on the beach, a journal to record your experiences, and maps to educate yourself on the layout of the land(you can get these from a tourism bureau), can make a world of a difference. With these things in mind and a positive spirit, you are now officially ready to set out on your own. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/G） You’ve taken the big step, said goodbye to family and friends, endured a long plane ride, and are finally in the place you dreamed of visiting…until now. You might be quite overwhelmed by your new surroundings, but there are ways to control these feelings of over-stimulation. Instead of being an outsider looking in, try to transform yourself into a relaxed traveler who is not held back by minor frustrations, such as long lines at the train station or delays in visiting hours of certain landmarks. If you planned accordingly, then you can afford to “waste” time at the busy tourist hotspots. Besides, you’re on vacation, and have nowhere to be! Another benefit of traveling alone is the ability to explore museums and engage in other time-consuming activities. There is no pressure to rush through exhibits or cut the visit short；pace yourself and take in the masterpieces, whether you’re art over or just a beginner. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/H） Make an effort to walk everywhere—within reason, of course. This will help you get in touch with the area(so to speak)and observe the locals in their element. Using your legs also allows you to find interesting shops and cafes more easily than if you were on some poor-quality tour bus. Your goal should be to blend in, something a well-designed(and perhaps overpriced)tour won’t likely offer. Wear loose, tight clothing because the more comfortable you feel, the more willing you will be to stay out an extra hour to explore a section you might have overlooked. Remain enthusiastic, relaxed and prepared, and the stories you will have to share upon your return will be priceless. 
style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/ style=margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);/I） Bring along a camera with lots of films. Leave your route with someone at home, along with the numbers of each place you’re staying at. It’s okay if your plans are sketchy, but if there is a big change in your plans, you might want to e-mail the new information to your “in case of emergency” person back home. Stay safe and keep an eye out when it comes to money or your belongings; you don’t have a companion to catch the pickpocket creeping up from behind. While having fun is important, so is safety. Be carefree, but don’t throw caution to the wind.