常春藤生活英語：All about November

November is the eleventh month of the year. The word November, however, comes from the Latin1 word novem, which means "nine." This is because November was originally the ninth month of the year. Before 713 BC, the Roman calendar was used and a year had roughly 304 days. Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome, added January and February to the calendar, and November became the eleventh month. People who are born before November 22 are Scorpios2. Those who are born after November 22 are Sagittariuses3. Both of the constellations4 that are connected to these star signs are visible from Taiwan.

In many parts of the world, November marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. In North America, this is celebrated by Thanksgiving, a holiday when people give thanks to God for the food He provides. Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday of the month. Another important November holiday is November 11, Remembrance5 Day. This is a day to think about those who have died in war.

November 1 is a holiday, which is called All Saints'6 Day. This is a day when Christian saints are remembered. Similar to the Chinese Tomb7 Sweeping Day, on November 2, many people remember their loved ones who have passed away. This day is called All Souls' Day. Families take flowers to graves and go to church to honor their dead relatives.

All about November

November是一年中第十一個月。然而，November卻是由拉丁文中代表『九』的novem這個字演變而來。這是因為November原是一年中的第九個月。在公元前713年之前，人們用的是羅馬歷法，那時一年約有三百零四天。羅馬的第二位國王Numa Pompilius把January及February加入歷法中，于是November就成了第十一個月。在十一月二十二日前出生的人為天蝎座。在十一月二十二日后出生的人則為射手座。與這兩個星座有關(guān)的天文星座從臺灣都可以看得到。

在世界上許多地方，十一月代表著豐收的結(jié)束及冬季的開始。在北美是藉由感恩節(jié)來慶祝，這是一個人們向上帝感謝祂恩賜食糧的節(jié)日。感恩節(jié)是當(dāng)月的第四個星期四。另一個重要的節(jié)日是十一月十一日的Remembrance Day。這一天是讓人們追思在戰(zhàn)爭中陣亡的人的日子。

十一月一日是一個稱為All Saints' Day的節(jié)日。人們會在這個時候緬懷基督教的圣徒。與中國清明節(jié)相似的是，許多人在十一月二日悼念他們過世的摯愛。這個日子被稱為All Souls' Day。各個家族會將鮮花獻上墳前，然后上教堂向去世的親戚致敬。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. roughly　adv. 粗略地，大致上

There are roughly 40 people in this room.

這個房間里大約有四十個人。

2. visible　a. 看得見的，可見的

The writing on the paper is barely visible.

這張紙上的字跡幾乎快看不到。

3. mark　vt. 標志，代表(重要的變化或發(fā)展)

The death of that emperor marked the end of a golden era.

那位皇帝的駕崩代表著一段黃金時期的結(jié)束。

4. remember　vt. 悼念;紀念

This is a day to remember our ancestors.

這是個用來緬懷我們祖先的日子。

5. honor　vt. 表彰，表揚

The grand ceremony was held to honor the scientist for his achievements.

這場盛大的儀式是為了表揚那位科學(xué)家的成就而舉辦。

Phrases for Learning

pass away　　過世，逝世

The actor passed away at the age of 54.

那位演員過世時享年五十四歲。

Extra Words

1. Latin　a. 拉丁文的

2. Scorpio　n. 天蝎座的人;天蝎座

3. Sagittarius　n. 射手座的人;射手座

4. constellation　n.(天文)星座

5. remembrance　n. 悼念(本文中作形容詞用)

6. saint　n. 圣人，圣徒

7. tomb　n. 墓，墳(本文中作形容詞用)

Tips In Use

Before 713 BC, the Roman calendar was used...

(在公元前713年之前，人們用的是羅馬歷法……)

BC 表『公元前』，而 AD 則表『公元』。兩者的分野為耶穌誕生那一年，其表示方法如下：

1. 500 BC → 公元前500年

BC 為"Before Christ"(耶穌誕生前)的縮寫。

2. AD 2008 → 公元2008年

AD 為拉丁文 Anno Domini 的縮寫，其意為"in the year of our lord"(我們活在主的年代)。

注意:

若是年份不特別注明是 AD 或 BC，通常指的是公元某某年。但若是某段文章內(nèi)兩者皆同時提及，則必須寫上 AD 或 BC 以示區(qū)隔。