为什么美国人说“cross my heart and hope to die”?为什么他们喜欢握手?为什么给男孩穿蓝色的衣服，给女孩穿粉红色的衣服?为什么在婚礼上要朝新郎，新娘洒年夜米?年夜今天起头就将辅佐巨匠找出这些风尚习惯的布景和启事。
美国人在每次过生日时，不仅庆祝春秋又年夜了一岁，而且也庆祝又
一年曩昔了。是以，蜡烛既是生命和衰亡的象征，也是但愿和惊骇
的象征。当过生日的人对考试.巨室蜡烛许愿时，他/她是在祈求神的呵护以
便能够交好运。当过生日的人吹熄蜡烛时，他/她则是在但愿自己能
把握即将降临到自己身上的任何工作。
With each birthday，Americans not only celebrate growth but also the passing of another year.Thus, candles are symbols of both life and death,as well as both hope and fear.When a person makes a wish over these symbols, he or she invokes powers for good fortune. And when that person snuffs out these symbols, he or she expresses the hope to have a degree of control over whatever lies in store for him or her.
小贴士
invoke:
(1)援用某事物为步履依据或理由
The government has invoked the Official Secrets Act in having the book banned.
政府援引国家神秘保密法以禁该书。
(2)以祈祷祈求某事物
invoke vengeance(up)on one's enemies
求神降或祸给仇敌