巴伐利亚阿尔卑斯山脉的雪中教堂与圣诞树，德国 Snowy chapel with Christmas tree in the Bavarian Alps, Germany (© mauritius images GmbH/Alamy)

巴伐利亚阿尔卑斯山脉的雪中教堂与圣诞树，德国 Snowy chapel with Christmas tree in the Bavarian Alps, Germany (© mauritius images GmbH/Alamy)

流动的传统 Traditions that travel

平安夜

随着平安夜的到来，数以百万计的人们拥抱那些将我们与根源相连的习俗，或者接触全新的文化。如今日图片中所见的那样，在德国巴伐利亚阿尔卑斯山的雪景中，节日灯光在寒冬中闪耀；而在地球的另一端，比如加勒比海、澳大利亚或巴西，耀眼阳光洒在金色海滩上，圣诞节的画面则截然不同

在德国，人们会捧着一杯热气腾腾的漫步于圣诞市集，穿梭于一个个摊位之间。在委内瑞拉加拉加斯，人们则会踩着轮滑去参加圣诞弥撒。在墨西哥，可能又会看到夜圣萝卜节中剩下的奇趣萝卜雕塑。对于那些喜欢神秘事物的人来说，乌克兰会在圣诞树上装饰象征好运的蜘蛛网，而威尔士则会庆祝马利·卢伊德，一种由装饰过的马头骨引领、挨家挨户巡游的独特传统。传统习俗多到数不胜数。对一个人来说平凡至极的习惯，对另一个人而言却可能是一片崭新的文化天地。所以，今夜不妨敞开心扉，甚至打开家门，或许有人正期待与你分享他们的节日故事，或静静聆听你的。

Christmas Eve

As Christmas Eve arrives, millions embrace customs that connect us to our roots—or introduce us to entirely new cultures. In snowy regions like the Bavarian Alps in Germany—a frost-kissed landscape seen in today's image—festive lights glow against winter's chill. Elsewhere, the sun blazes brightly: think of the Caribbean, Australia, or Brazil, where Christmas often means golden beaches instead of frosty mornings.

In Germany, you might wander through a festive market with a steaming cup of Glühwein (mulled wine) in hand, weaving from one stall to the next. In Caracas, Venezuela, you'll join crowds rollerblading to Christmas Mass. Head to Mexico, and you'll find quirky radish sculptures from the Night of the Radishes festival, left over from the night before. For those drawn to mystery, Ukraine decorates trees with spider webs, and Wales celebrates Mari Lwyd—a horse's skull adorned and paraded door to door. The list of traditions is endless. What feels ordinary to one may be an entirely new world to someone else. So tonight, open your heart—and maybe your door—someone might be eager to discover your holiday tradition.