英国女王2015圣诞致辞

At this time of year, few sights evoke more feelings of cheer and goodwill than the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree.The popularity of a tree at Christmas is due in part to my great-great grandparents, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. After this touching picture was published, many families wanted a Christmas tree of their own, and the custom soon spread.
每年的这个时候，很少有风景能比圣诞树上闪烁的灯光更能唤起人们的欢乐和善意。圣诞树的流行部分归功于我的曾祖父母维多利亚女王和阿尔伯特王子。这张感人的照片出版后，许多家庭都想要一棵自己的圣诞树，这种习俗很快就传开了。
In 1949, I spent Christmas in Malta as a newly-married naval wife. We have returned to that island over the years, including last month for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders, and this year I met another group of leaders: The Queen's Young Leaders, an inspirational group, each of them a symbol of hope in their own Commonwealth communities.
1949年，我在马耳他度过圣诞节，当时我是一个刚结婚的海军妻子。多年来，包括上个月举行的英联邦领导人会议，我们都回到了那个岛上。今年，我会见了另一批领导人：女王的年轻领导人，一个鼓舞人心的团体，他们每个人都是英联邦社区希望的象征。
Gathering round the tree gives us a chance to think about the year ahead - I am looking forward to a busy 2016, though I have been warned I may have Happy Birthday sung to me more than once or twice.
聚在树上让我们有机会思考未来的一年——我期待着2016年的忙碌，尽管有人警告我，我可能不止一次地为自己唱生日快乐歌。
It also allows us to reflect on the year that has passed, as we think of those who are far away or no longer with us. Many people say the first Christmas after losing a loved one is particularly hard. But it's also a time to remember all that we have to be thankful for.
它也让我们反思过去的一年，正如我们所想的那样，那些与我们在一起或不再在一起的人。很多人说失去亲人后的第一个圣诞节特别艰难。但这也是一个时刻，要记住我们必须感谢的一切。
It is true that the world has had to confront moments of darkness this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope, often read at Christmas carol services: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it".
的确，今年世界必须面对黑暗的时刻，但约翰福音中有一首充满希望的诗句，经常在圣诞颂歌中读到：“光明在黑暗中照耀，黑暗并没有战胜它。”
One cause for thankfulness this summer was marking 70 years since the end of the Second World War.
今年夏天值得庆幸的一个原因是纪念二战结束以来70年。
On VJ Day, we honoured the remaining veterans of that terrible conflict in the Far East, as well as remembering the thousands who never returned.The procession from Horse Guards Parade to Westminster Abbey must have been one of the slowest ever, because so many people wanted to say "thank you" to them.
在VJ日，我们纪念了在远东地区那场可怕冲突中剩下的退伍军人，同时也纪念了数千名从未回来过的退伍军人。从马卫队游行到威斯敏斯特大教堂的队伍肯定是有史以来最慢的队伍之一，因为有那么多人想对他们说“谢谢”。
At the end of that war, the people of Oslo began sending an annual gift of a Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square.It has 500 light bulbs and is enjoyed not just by Christians but by people of all faiths, and of none. At the very top sits a bright star, to represent the Star of Bethlehem.
战争结束后，奥斯陆人民开始每年向特拉法加广场赠送圣诞树。它有500个灯泡，不仅受到基督徒的喜爱，也受到各种信仰的人们的喜爱，而且一个也没有。最上面有一颗明亮的星星，代表伯利恒的星星。
The custom of topping a tree also goes back to Prince Albert's time. For his family's tree, he chose an angel, helping to remind us that the focus of the Christmas story is on one particular family.
树顶的习俗也可以追溯到阿尔伯特王子的时代。对于他家的树，他选择了一个天使，帮助提醒我们，圣诞节故事的焦点是一个特定的家庭。
For Joseph and Mary, the circumstances of Jesus's birth - in a stable - were far from ideal, but worse was to come as the family was forced to flee the country.
对约瑟夫和玛丽来说，耶稣出生在马厩里的情况远不理想，但更糟的是，家庭被迫逃离这个国家。
It's no surprise that such a human story still captures our imagination and continues to inspire all of us who are Christians, the world over.
毫不奇怪，这样一个人类故事仍然俘获了我们的想象力，并继续激励着全世界的基督徒。
Despite being displaced and persecuted throughout his short life, Christ's unchanging message was not one of revenge or violence but simply that we should love one another.
尽管在他短暂的一生中被流离失所和迫害，基督不变的信息并不是复仇或暴力，而是我们应该彼此相爱。
Although it is not an easy message to follow, we shouldn't be discouraged; rather, it inspires us to try harder: to be thankful for the people who bring love and happiness into our own lives, and to look for ways of spreading that love to others, whenever and wherever we can.
尽管这不是一个简单的信息，但我们不应该气馁；相反，它激励我们更加努力：感谢那些把爱和幸福带到我们自己生活中的人，并在任何时候、任何地点寻找将爱传播给他人的方法。
One of the joys of living a long life is watching one's children, then grandchildren, then great-grandchildren, help decorate the Christmas tree. And this year my family has a new member to join in the fun.
长寿的乐趣之一就是看自己的孩子，然后是孙子，然后是曾孙，帮助装饰圣诞树。今年，我的家人有了一个新成员加入到娱乐活动中来。
The customary decorations have changed little in the years since that picture of Victoria and Albert's tree first appeared, although of course electric lights have replaced the candles.
自从维多利亚和阿尔伯特的树第一次出现以来，传统的装饰品几乎没有什么变化，当然，电灯已经取代了蜡烛。
There's an old saying that "it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness".
有句老话说：“点燃蜡烛总比诅咒黑暗好。”
There are millions of people lighting candles of hope in our world today. Christmas is a good time to be thankful for them, and for all that brings light to our lives.
今天世界上有数百万人点燃了希望的蜡烛。圣诞节是一个感谢他们的好时机，也是所有为我们的生活带来光明的时刻。
I wish you a very happy Christmas.
祝你圣诞快乐。