rì běn
日本
de
的
shèng dàn jié
圣诞节
hé
和
xīn nián
新年
Christmas and New Year in Japan
zuò zhě作者zài在rì běn日本dú读yán jiū shēng研究生shí时 ，dōng tiān冬天cháng cháng常常hěn很máng忙 ，yào要zhào gù照顾hěn很duō多xiǎo小shù miáo树苗 。
When the author was a graduate student in Japan, winter was often very busy, taking care of many small seedlings.
rì běn日本de的shèng dàn jié圣诞节hé和xīn nián新年yǒu有tè bié特别de的xí guàn习惯 。
Christmas and New Year in Japan have special customs.
shèng dàn jié圣诞节shí时 ，rì běn日本rén人xǐ huān喜欢chī吃kěn dé jī zhà jī肯德基炸鸡hé和cǎo méi草莓dàn gāo蛋糕 。
At Christmas, Japanese people like to eat KFC fried chicken and strawberry cake.
hěn很duō多rén人huì会tí qián提前yù dìng预订zhà jī炸鸡 ，hé和jiā rén家人yì qǐ一起chī吃 。
Many people book fried chicken in advance to eat with their families.
shèng dàn jié圣诞节guò hòu过后 ，rén men人们kāi shǐ开始zhǔn bèi准备xīn nián新年 。
After Christmas, people start preparing for the New Year.
xīn nián新年shí时 ，jiā lǐ家里huì会zuò做yī zhǒng一种jiào叫 “zá zhǔ杂煮 ”de的tāng汤 ，lǐ miàn里面yǒu有nián gāo年糕 、ròu肉hé和shū cài蔬菜 。
At New Year, families make a soup called 'Zoni,' which contains rice cakes, meat, and vegetables.
dà jiā大家hái还huì会chī吃 “yù jié liào lǐ御节料理 ” ，zhè xiē这些shí wù食物dài biǎo代表jiàn kāng健康hé和hǎo yùn好运 。
Everyone also eats 'Osechi Ryori,' foods that represent health and good luck.
xīn nián新年jià qī假期lǐ里 ，jiā rén家人yì qǐ一起xiū xī休息 ，bù yòng不用zuò做tài太duō多fàn饭 。
During the New Year holiday, families rest together and don’t cook too much.
zuò zhě作者yǒu shí有时huì会xiǎng niàn想念jiā rén家人 ，dàn但yě也xué huì学会le了xiǎng shòu享受ān jìng安静de的jià qī假期 。
The author sometimes misses their family but has also learned to enjoy the quiet holiday.
xiàn zài现在zài在měi guó美国 ，tā他hé和péng yǒu朋友men们yì qǐ一起guò过shèng dàn jié圣诞节 ，dà jiā大家yì qǐ一起chī fàn吃饭 、liáo tiān聊天 、hù互sòng送xiǎo小lǐ wù礼物 ，gǎn shòu感受dào到wēn nuǎn温暖hé和kuài lè快乐 。
Now in the United States, the author celebrates Christmas with friends, eating, chatting, exchanging small gifts, and feeling warmth and happiness.