里昂夜读英语美文[342]:盘点那些千奇百怪的国庆节

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The Most Ancient

最历史久远的国庆

San Marino set September 3 as its national day as early as the year 301.

早在公元301年建国时，圣马力诺就把9月3日定为自己的国庆节，至今已有漫长的历史。

The Republic of San Marino was established that day and it is located to the northeast of Apennines Peninsula in South Europe, bounded by Italy.

圣马力诺共和国位于南欧亚平宁半岛东北部，四周与意大利领土接壤。

Since the statutes of the republic were enacted in 1263, San Marino is considered as the oldest republic in Europe.

该国1263年制定共和国法规，是欧洲最古老的共和国。

Business, industry and agriculture there have all been developed while tourism and stamps are the major financial industries of the nation.

圣马力诺商工农三业并举发展，旅游和邮票收入是国家经济的重要来源。

San Marino shares a mild climate with beautiful scenery and historical places,

该国气候温和，风景优美，名胜古迹引人入胜，

and receives more than 2.5 million visitors from all over the world.

每年接待世界各地的游客250多万人。

The Most Agonizing

最纠结万分的国庆

The Day of German Unity is the national day of Germany, celebrated on October 3 as a public holiday.

1990年10月3日东德、西德合并，德国作为一个统一国家正式成立。

It commemorates the anniversary of German reunification in 1990.

于是，每年的10月3日都被称为德国统一日，也就是德国的国庆节。

An alternative choice would have been the day the Berlin Wall came down —November 9,1989,

然而，德国人原先确定的国庆日期其实是11月9日，因为这一天蕴含了太多的历史涵义：

which coincided with the anniversary of the November Revolution in 1918 and the defeat of Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch in 1923.

1989年11月9日柏林墙倒塌，1918年11月9日德国十一月革命爆发，1923年11月9日希特勒"啤酒馆政变"失败。

However, November 9 was also the anniversary of the first large-scale Nazi-led action against Jews in 1938,

不过令人扼腕的是，这一天恰好也是纳粹1938年对犹太人开始进行大规模屠杀的日子，

so the day was considered inappropriate as a national holiday.

在这个背景下，还将11月9日定为国庆节显然很不合适。

Therefore, October 3,1990, the day of the formal reunification, was chosen instead.

因此德国才最终将国庆节改为10月3日，作为该国完成统一的纪念。

The Most Elusive

最捉摸不定的国庆

The date of the UK's national day is uncertain, partly because of the UK's fickle weather.

由于英国天气变化无常，其国庆日期也一度无法确定。

According to the historical convention,

按照历史惯例，

the birthday of the reigning king or queen is set as the national day and Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21.

在位君主的生日即为英国国庆日，现英国女王伊丽莎白二世的生日为4月21日。

However, the climate in London in April is unpleasant, so the kingdom chooses the 2nd Saturday of June instead to be the Queen's official birthday

但由于4月的伦敦天气往往欠佳，所以英政府特意将"女王官方诞辰日"指定为每年6月的第2个星期六，

in order to get better weather for the event.

以促成更为宜人的天气条件。

The national day of the UK at times seems more like a personal affair for the royal family and it is typically a low-profile celebration.

和大多数国家的国庆日相比，英国国庆不免有王室一己之私的意味，该国的国庆庆祝也显得异常低调。

Saturday is not a working day in the UK and the national day is not recognized as an official holiday.

此外，周六在英国本来就非工作日，因此这一天并不属国家法定节假期。

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