GIFTS USED TO GO IN THE TREE, NOT UNDER IT. 过去人们把礼物挂在圣诞

陈小将

In its first decades in the US, Christmas trees held gifts in their branches more often than under them. Typical 19th-century reports describe a “monster Christmas tree despoiled of its pendent treasures of candy, dolls, and toys of all descriptions” and a “mammoth Christmas-tree whose branches hung heavy with Christmas toys and presents for the little ones”. Often these gifts included fruit, cakes, and candy that children would just pluck directly from the tree and enjoy.
在圣诞树刚被引进美国的那几十年，人们往往是在圣诞树枝上挂礼物而不是把礼物放在树下。19世纪的典型报道中是这样描述的：“巨大圣诞树上挂的各色糖果、娃娃、玩具等宝贝被一抢而空”或者“超大圣诞树的枝头沉甸甸地挂着给小朋友准备的圣诞玩具和礼物”。这些礼物通常包括水果、蛋糕和糖果，孩子们可以直接从圣诞树上摘下来享用。