中國(guó)網(wǎng)站品牌欄目（頻道）
什么是baby shower
Although the custom of helping expectant parents plan for a new baby has been a tradition for centuries, the origin of the modern baby shower is unknown. There is evidence that ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians and the Romans, often bestowed small gifts upon newborn children, or presented the parents with a hand-made gift after the child was born. However, baby showers as we know them today were not common until after World War II - possibly one of the first manifestations of the baby boom.
Baby showers have always served several purposes. They allow friends and family to share the joy and excitement of welcoming a new life into the world, and they provide emotional support to new parents. It is not uncommon for an expectant mother or father to be nervous about their new role as a parent. A friendly word of advice from a friend or family member can be extremely helpful, and the presence of everyone who attends the shower is a supportive gesture that many appreciate.
The expense of a baby can put quite a strain on a couple's budget, especially if the mother will no longer be working. Baby showers offer a chance for friends and family to help expectant parents with the costs of preparing for and caring for a newborn. New parents always need both fun and practical things, and hand-made gifts or toys create memories that last a lifetime.
Traditionally, baby showers were celebrated by a new mother and only her closest friends after the baby had been born.
At the time, it was considered presumptuous to hold a baby shower before the child was born (which is still the case in some cultures.) Over time, however, old traditions have relaxed, allowing for "couple showers" to which men are invited, and celebrations in the workplace that co-workers can attend. It is no longer necessary to wait until the baby is born, unless the mother-to-be prefers to wait until after she has given birth.
就像準(zhǔn)新娘在新婚前夕的“新娘送禮派對(duì)”bridal shower一樣，“新生兒送禮派對(duì)”baby shower就是為了慶祝新生兒誕生所舉辦的溫馨派對(duì)。shower原意是“陣雨”的意思，但是baby shower上，其實(shí)沒(méi)有baby也沒(méi)有水。
在這里指baby得到大批禮物，或許是因?yàn)槎Y物多得像大雨中的雨點(diǎn)。當(dāng)一個(gè)婦女懷了baby后，她的親朋好友會(huì)聚在一起，送baby很多衣服、玩具等禮物。
Baby shower由來(lái)已久，早在美國(guó)殖民地時(shí)代，婦女們就聚集在準(zhǔn)媽媽的家中，一邊縫制嬰兒衣服、裁剪尿片，一邊傳授育兒經(jīng)。在商品發(fā)達(dá)的今天，嬰兒用品應(yīng)有盡有，凡想得到的都買(mǎi)得到。大家都帶著精心選購(gòu)的禮物來(lái)到派對(duì)的場(chǎng)所，或是主辦人的家中，或是公司里，或是教堂內(nèi)。即將出世的寶寶若是個(gè)男孩，那么房間布置會(huì)是藍(lán)色調(diào)；若是個(gè)女孩，則是粉色調(diào)。房?jī)?nèi)最寬大舒適的椅子一定是準(zhǔn)媽媽的“寶座”， 椅子上還會(huì)系著一串串藍(lán)色氣球或粉色氣球。
準(zhǔn)備一場(chǎng)新生兒送禮派對(duì)要花費(fèi)很多心思，主辦人大多是準(zhǔn)媽媽的好朋友，主辦人要一手包辦邀請(qǐng)函、派對(duì)主題、布置、餐點(diǎn)、賓客的小禮物等等。來(lái)參加的賓客，也是以準(zhǔn)媽媽的女性親友為主。
在派對(duì)上，賓客除了問(wèn)候準(zhǔn)媽媽外，主辦人也會(huì)帶著大家玩小游戲，讓大家和準(zhǔn)媽媽互動(dòng)起來(lái)，或者彼此多認(rèn)識(shí)，小游戲的贏家也會(huì)另外得到獎(jiǎng)品。Baby shower的壓軸好戲是拆禮物的時(shí)間，準(zhǔn)媽媽看到大家?guī)?lái)的禮物，驚喜之余也會(huì)感謝大家?guī)兔κ∠略S多嬰兒用品的費(fèi)用。（來(lái)源：CRI實(shí)用英語(yǔ)課堂）
考考你
1. 形勢(shì)會(huì)好轉(zhuǎn)的。
2. 他迷途知返，成了一個(gè)好青年。
3. 一堆沒(méi)出息的家伙，給我停手。
4. 他的額外津貼包括公司提供的一輛汽車(chē)。
《所有美好的東西》精講之二 參考答案
1. They often argue but it doesn't take them long to come round.
2. Speak of the devil, here she is!
3. Many countries subsidize exports.
4. After the excitement I tried to settle myself.
（中國(guó)日?qǐng)?bào)網(wǎng)英語(yǔ)點(diǎn)津：陳丹妮）
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