每年圣诞节当天观看英国君主发表圣诞演讲,是不少英国家庭的传统活动。
今年圣诞节也不例外。英国时间12月25日下午三点,英国国王查尔斯三世如期发表了一年一度的圣诞致辞。
这是他登基以来第三次发表圣诞演讲。今年的演讲,有不少创新性的变革,更蕴含许多深意。下面,请大家跟着华闻君的解读,一起来看看。
查尔斯国王的圣诞演讲视频是本月初在一座曾经是医院的礼拜堂录制完成的。这座位于伦敦市中心的礼拜堂名为“菲茨罗维亚”(Fitzrovia Chapel ),曾是米德尔塞克斯医院(Middlesex Hospital)的附属教堂。
这也是十多年来,英国君主首次在非王宫或非王室庄园录制圣诞致辞。
这座装饰华丽的礼拜堂建于19世纪。如今,它主要用于举办展览和社区活动。无论受众的信仰如何,所有人都可参与在这里举办的活动。
此次圣诞演讲恰逢国王本年度癌症治疗周期结束。据了解,国王希望选择一个与医疗工作者相关的地点录制圣诞致辞。
选择这座2016年修缮并重新开放的前医院礼拜堂作为演讲地点,既是对医疗服务和医学研究工作者所作出贡献的致敬,也旨在体现国王致力于搭建不同信仰、背景和宗教之间桥梁的愿望。
与此同时,国王将在未来定期接受癌症治疗。据了解,国王的癌症治疗进展很顺利,因此,查尔斯国王已安排好在2025年进行一系列繁忙的公务活动以及开展海外访问。
在今年的演讲中,国王站在一棵圣诞树旁发表演讲。录制结束后,这棵圣诞树已被捐赠给克拉珀姆的一家临终关怀机构。
今年圣诞节前夕,国王还参与了一系列节庆活动,包括在伦敦巴特西参观圣诞市场,出席纪念因宗教信仰受迫害者的活动,以及在沃尔瑟姆斯托参加庆祝当地社区多样性的活动。
一般来说,英国君主的圣诞致辞通常在白金汉宫或温莎城堡录制,但也有例外。例如英国女王伊丽莎白二世在位期间,曾选择在不同地点录制演讲:2003年,是在温莎城堡的一处军营录制;2006年,在南华克大教堂录制;2010年,在汉普顿宫录制。
去年,查尔斯国王的圣诞演讲也进行了创新。国王一直是一位坚定的环保主义者,多年来致力于关注气候变化与环保问题,并曾在联合国气候变化峰会Cop28上发表过演讲。
在上次的圣诞演讲中,查尔斯决定用活的圣诞树代替往年砍伐后的圣诞树作为背景。这棵树被保存在一个花盆里,演讲完后被重新种植。
此外,去年演讲的圣诞树上还挂了很多可持续使用的环保装饰品,也展现出国王对环保运动的支持。
去年演讲时,国王还“循环利用”了他的西装。他去年所穿的蓝色单排扣西装,似乎与前年圣诞演讲时穿的是同一件。
国王的圣诞节致辞延续了自1932年以来英国王室的传统。1932年,当时的国王乔治五世发表了第一篇圣诞广播讲话。
伊丽莎白二世是英国历史上在位时间最长的君主,她的圣诞致辞从1952年开始,跨越到2021年,期间几乎从未中断。英女王的演讲也被赞为“年度最美英音”。2021年的圣诞节,伊丽莎白女王发表了生前最后一次圣诞演讲。在演讲中,她向挚爱的已故丈夫,菲利普亲王致敬。
女王说,在今年圣诞节,少了一个熟悉的笑声。“他最后的眼神发着光,就像我们第一次见面时的那样。”
值得一提的是,英国王室第一篇圣诞广播讲话稿件由英国作家及诗人拉迪亚德·吉卜林撰写,而吉卜林曾在此次国王发表演讲的菲茨罗维亚礼拜堂停灵,随后才移至威斯敏斯特教堂举行葬礼。
以下附上2024年英国国王查尔斯三世演讲的中英翻译:
Earlier this year, as we commemorated the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, The Queen and I had the enormous privilege of meeting, once again, the remarkable veterans of that very special generation who gave of themselves so courageously, on behalf of us all.
今年早些时候,在我们纪念诺曼底登陆80周年之际,我与王后有幸再次会见了那一代杰出的退伍军人。他们为我们所有人英勇奉献,他们的故事令人深深感动。
Listening to these once-young Service men and women touched usdeeply as they spoke of their comrades, drawn from across the Commonwealth, who never returned and who now rest peacefully where they made the ultimate sacrifice.Their example of service and selflessness continues to inspire, across thegenerations.
这些曾经年轻的军人们讲述了来自英联邦各地战友们的故事,他们中的许多人未能归来,如今静静长眠于他们牺牲的地方。他们无私奉献的精神至今仍然激励着一代又一代人。
During previous commemorations we were able to console ourselveswith the thought that these tragic events seldom happen in the modern era.
But, on this Christmas Day, we cannot help but think of those for whom the devastating effects of conflict - in the Middle East, in Central Europe, in Africa and elsewhere - pose a daily threat to so many people’s lives and livelihoods. We also think of the humanitarian organisations working tirelessly to bring vital relief.
在以往的纪念活动中,我们曾安慰自己,认为这些悲剧事件在现代已不常发生。然而,在这个圣诞节,我们不禁想到在中东、中欧、非洲及其他地区的冲突,给许多人的生命和生计带来了威胁。与此同时,我们也想到那些为提供救助而永不停歇的人道主义组织。
After all, the Gospels speak so vividly of conflict and teach the values with which we can overcome it.
The example that Jesus gave us is timeless and universal. It is to enter the world of those who suffer, to make a difference to their lives and so bring hope where there is despair.
As the famous Christmas Carol, 'Once in Royal David's City' reminds us, 'Our Saviour holy' 'came down to Earth from Heaven', lived among 'the poor and mean and lowly' and transformed the lives of those he met, through God's 'redeeming love'.
毕竟,《福音书》生动地描述了冲突,并教导我们可以克服冲突的价值观。耶稣给我们的榜样是永恒且普世的:进入受苦之人的世界,改变他们的生活,在绝望中带来希望。
正如著名的《圣诞颂歌》中所唱:“我们的救世主从天堂降临地球”,生活在“贫困和卑微的人们中间”,通过上帝的“救赎之爱”改变了他所遇见的人的生活。
That is the heart of the Nativity Story and we can hear its beat in the belief of all the great Faiths in the love and mercy of God in times of joy and of suffering, calling us to bring light where there is darkness.
这正是圣诞故事的核心,我们可以在所有伟大信仰中感受到它的脉动。它呼吁我们在黑暗中带来光明,无论是在欢乐还是痛苦的时刻。
All of us go through some form of suffering at some stage in our life, be it mental or physical.
The degree to which we help one another – and draw support from each other, be we people of Faith or of none - is a measure of our civilisation as Nations.
This is what continually impresses me, as my Family and I meet with, andlisten to, those who dedicate their lives to helping others.
我们每个人在人生的某个阶段都会经历某种形式的苦难,无论是精神上还是身体上的。
我们彼此帮助的程度,从彼此那里获得的支持,以及我们是否有信仰,都是衡量一个国家文明程度的标准。
这一点深深打动了我,因为我和我的家人不断与那些将生命奉献给帮助他人的人交流,并倾听他们的故事。
I am speaking to you today from the Chapel of the former Middlesex Hospital in London – now itself a vibrant Community space – and thinking especially of the many thousands of professionals and volunteers here in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth who, with their skills and out of the goodness of their heart, care for others - often at some cost to themselves.
今天,我在伦敦曾是米德尔塞克斯医院的小教堂向您讲话。这里现在是一个充满活力的社区空间。我特别想到了英国以及英联邦各地成千上万的专业人士和志愿者,他们用自己的技能和善心关爱他人,并且常常以牺牲自己为代价。
From a personal point of view, I offer special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who, this year, have supported me and other members of my Family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed.
I am deeply grateful, too, to all those who have offered us their own kind words of sympathy and encouragement.
从个人角度,我特别衷心感谢那些无私的医生和护士,今年他们帮助我和我的家人应对疾病的不确定性和焦虑,并为我们提供了所需的力量、关爱和安慰。我也对所有给予我们同情和鼓励的好心人深表感激。
On our recent visit to the South Pacific to attend the Commonwealth Summit, I was reminded constantly of the strength which institutions, as well as individuals, can draw from one another.
And of how diversity of culture, ethnicity and Faith provides strength, not weakness.
Across the Commonwealth, we are held together by a willingness to listen to each other, to learn from one another and to find just howmuch we have in common. Because, through listening, we learn to respect our differences, to defeat prejudice, and to open up new possibilities.
在我们最近访问南太平洋参加英联邦峰会时,我不断感受到机构与个人之间相互支持的力量,以及文化、种族和信仰的多样性带来的强大力量,并不是弱点。在整个英联邦,我们因为彼此倾听、互相学习而团结在一起,并发现我们有多少共同点。通过倾听,我们学会尊重差异,克服偏见,并开启新的可能性。
I felt a deep sense of pride here in the United Kingdom when, in response to anger and lawlessness in several towns this Summer, communities came together, not to repeat these behaviours but to repair.
To repair not just buildings, but relationships. And, most importantly, to repair trust; by listening and, through understanding, deciding how to act for the good of all.
今年夏天,当英国的多个城镇出现暴乱时,我对英国社区的反应深感自豪。他们并未复制这些行为,而是选择修复——不仅是修复建筑,更是修复关系,最重要的是修复信任。他们通过倾听、理解,并决定如何为所有人的利益采取行动。
Again, listening is a recurrent theme of the Nativity Story. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, listened to the Angel who revealed to her a different future full of hope for all people.
The message of the Angels to the shepherds - that there should be peace on Earth - in fact echoes through all Faiths and philosophies.
倾听也是圣诞故事不断重复的主题。耶稣的母亲玛利亚听从天使的启示,接受了充满希望的新未来。天使向牧羊人传递的信息“人间应该享有平安”,实际贯穿所有了信仰和哲学。这些至今仍被全世界善良的人们所信奉。
It rings true to this day for people of goodwill across the world. And so it is with this in mind that I wish you, and all those you love, a most joyful and peaceful Christmas.
因此,怀着这样的心情,我祝愿您和您所爱的人度过一个最快乐、最平安的圣诞节。
本文部分素材来自英国广播公司、《太阳报》和《每日邮报》等,图片均来源于网络。