狂欢节：新奥尔良最大的派对
📖 逐句对照翻译
Wild celebrations of Mardi Gras come just before the start of Lent.
狂欢节的热烈庆祝活动就在四旬斋开始之前。
Lent is the Christian observance leading up to the Easter holiday.
大斋期是基督教在复活节前的一段斋戒期。
It is a serious, spiritual time, especially important to Roman Catholics.
这是一个严肃的、精神性的时刻，对罗马天主教徒尤为重要。
The name "Mardi Gras" comes from the French language.
“马迪·格拉斯”这个名字来源于法语。
It means "Fat Tuesday."
它的意思是“油腻星期二”。
The day is also called “Shrove Tuesday” in some places.
有些地方也把这一天称为“忏悔星期二”。
Mardi Gras marks the end of the Carnival period, a time of public merrymaking energetically observed in Europe and South America.
马迪·格拉斯狂欢节标志着狂欢期的结束，欧洲和南美洲的人们精力充沛地庆祝这一公众狂欢时刻。
Mardi Gras in New Orleans
新奥尔良的狂欢节
During Mardi Gras, huge crowds fill the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the southern part of the United States.
狂欢节期间，美国南部路易斯安那州新奥尔良的街道上挤满了人。
People from all over the country come to eat, drink and dance.
来自全国各地的人们来这里吃喝跳舞。
Police watch the crowds carefully.
警察仔细观察人群。
Many parties and parades have already taken place by the time Fat Tuesday arrives.
等到肥美星期二到来时，许多派对和游行早已举行。
In fact, activities start in January and last for weeks before the big Tuesday.
事实上，活动从一月份就开始了，并持续数周，直到那个重要的星期二到来。
Social groups hold parades.
社会团体举行游行。
Some of the huge floats, or special parade vehicles, carry up to two hundred fifty people.
一些巨大的花车，或特殊的游行车辆，能承载多达二百五十人。
Riders on the parade floats wear colorful clothes.
游行花车上的骑手们穿着色彩鲜艳的衣服。
Top hats made from bird feathers can stand a meter tall.
用鸟羽制作的礼帽能有一米高。
Beautiful, and sometimes strange, masks cover the faces of people on the floats.
美丽而有时奇特的面具覆盖在花车上人们的脸上。
These people throw cups and necklaces to the crowds of people who watch the parades.
这些人向观看游行的人群投掷杯子和项链。
Another tradition is to eat “King Cake.
另一个传统是吃“国王蛋糕”。
" This food, similar to a sweet bread, is served at Mardi Gras parties.
这种类似甜面包的食物，是在马迪·格拉斯派对上供应的。
Inside one piece is a small plastic baby.
其中一块里面有一个小塑料婴儿。
Whoever gets the baby must promise to hold the next party.
谁得到宝宝，就必须承诺举办下一次聚会。
The French Quarter is the oldest part of the city.
法国区是该市最古老的部分。
It remains the heart of New Orleans.
它仍然是新奥尔良的心脏。
And the French Quarter is where some of the best food -- a mix of French and Caribbean influences -- can be found.
而法国区正是能品尝到一些最美味食物的地方——这些食物融合了法国和加勒比风味。
In New Orleans, music spills into the streets not just at Mardi Gras, but throughout the year.
在新奥尔良，音乐不仅在狂欢节期间，而且全年都流淌在街头巷尾。
New Orleans is known as the birthplace of jazz.
新奥尔良被誉为爵士乐的诞生地。
But local sounds also include Cajun and zydeco music.
但当地音乐也包括卡津音乐和柴迪科音乐。
On Bourbon Street, the music and the crowds seem like a huge celebration that never ends.
在波旁街上，音乐和人群仿佛是一场永不落幕的盛大庆典。
The most traditional old-time jazz is played at Preservation Hall in the French Quarter.
最传统的旧式爵士乐在法国区的保留厅演奏。
I’m Dorothy Gundy.
我是多萝西·冈迪。
Jerilyn Watson reported this story for VOA Learning English.
杰里琳·沃森为VOA英语学习频道报道了这则新闻。
Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English.
吉尔·罗宾斯为《学习英语》改编了它。
