Although Sri Lanka is a mostly Buddhist country (only 7% ofpeople are Christians) Christmas is celebrated as a public holidayby everyone. Most Christians in Sri Lanka are Catholics. Therehas been influences from several different European countries.Sri Lanka (it was also called Ceylon) was ruled by thePortuguese from 1505 to 1650, the Dutch from 1658 to 1796 and the British from 1815 to 1948.

　　尽管斯里兰卡是一个主要的佛教国家(只有7%的人是基督徒)，圣诞节是一个公众假期。大多数基督徒在斯里兰卡是天主教徒。这是来自几个不同的欧洲国家的影响。斯里兰卡(也有人称为锡兰)从1505年至1650年由葡萄牙统治，从1658年至1796年由荷兰统治和从1815年至1948年由英国统治。

　　For Christians in Sri Lanka, the Christmas season starts on 1st December when people let off firecrackers at dawn!

　　在斯里兰卡对于基督徒，圣诞季节开始于12月1日人们在黎明放爆竹时!

　　The streets are decorated and the shopping centers have large Christmas Trees in them. Bigcompanies have Christmas parties and large hotels have Christmas dinner dances.

　　街道会被装饰，商场中有很大的圣诞树。大公司有圣诞晚会和大型酒店都有圣诞晚宴舞会。

　　The Christians go to Midnight Mass services all over the country. They also invite friends, bothChristian and non Christian to their homes for parties.

　　遍布全国的基督徒去子夜弥撒服务。他们还邀请基督徒和非基督徒好友来参加聚会。

　　New Year is also widely celebrated with more fire crackers! There are also Midnight Mass servicesfor New Year.

　　新年普遍放爆竹庆祝!新年也有午夜弥撒服务。

　　In Sri Lanka Santa is called Naththal Seeya.

　　在斯里兰卡，圣诞老人被称为Naththal Seeya。

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（编辑：何莹莹）