Enews14 英語教室

出自KMU e-News

高雄醫學大學第14期充電小站

英語教室

Kissing Under the Mistletoe　聖誕節之吻

The Druids considered the mistletoe to be a sacred plant and believed it had miraculous properties which could cure illnesses, serve as an antidote against poisons, ensure fertility and protect against the ill effects of witchcraft. Moreover, whenever enemies met under the mistletoe in the forest, they had to lay down their arms and observe a truce until the next day. From this has seemingly come the ancient custom of hanging a ball of mistletoe from the ceiling and exchanging kisses under it as a sign of friendship and goodwill.

督伊德教憎侶(Druids) 認為檞寄生(mistletoe) 是一種神聖的植物。他們相信檞寄生能夠奇蹟般地治好疾病，因此有人把它當成解毒藥。此外，許多人也相信它能帶來豐收，並且也能夠化解巫術帶來的噩運。另外，若仇敵在森林中的檞寄生下撞見，雙方都必須卸下武器，並且觀察停戰直到第二天。由此而來，人們將一串檞寄生掛在天花板的舉動已經變成一種習俗，他們在站檞寄生下親吻以示友好。

Another version, however, says that this custom, which was widespread among the Anglo-Saxons, was connected to the legend of Freya, goddess of love, beauty and fertility. According to legend, a man had to kiss any young girl who, without realizing it, found herself accidentally under a sprig of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling.

這種習俗的另外一種說法在盎格魯-撒克遜(Anglo-Saxon) 廣為流傳，此說法跟芙瑞亞(Freya) 女神有關，祂專司愛、美與收穫。根據此傳說，男生會在女生不知道天花板上掛了一串檞寄生的情況下親吻她。

Even if the pagan significance has been long forgotten, the custom of exchanging a kiss under the mistletoe can still be found in many European countries as well as in Canada during Christmastime. Thus if a couple in love exchanges a kiss under the mistletoe, it is interpreted as a promise to marry, as well as a prediction of happiness and long life.

雖然這個習俗的意義已被人們遺忘許久，但這個習俗仍存在於許多歐洲國家和加拿大，特別是聖誕節期間。因此，一對情侶如果在檞寄生下親吻，通常代表結婚的承諾，及幸福美滿的未來。