法国素以浪漫著称。这种浪漫不仅体现在它的风土人情上,也浸透在它的古老文化中。无论是被法国人视为掌上明珠的埃菲尔铁塔,还是集时尚、美丽于一身的香榭丽舍大道,抑或是散发着灵魂之香的法国香水,都蕴含着独特的法式浪漫气息……
France has been a cultural centre of the world for many centuries. Known for its alluring art, architecture, music, language, cuisine, and of course fashion, its rich and diverse culture dates back thousands of years. Now let’s enjoy the charm of French culture and look at some of its popular cultural icons.
多少个世纪以来,法国一直都是世界的文化中心。法国文化包罗万象、多姿多彩,无论是艺术、建筑、音乐、语言、美食还是时尚,都享有盛名。法国文化可以追溯到数千年前。今天,就让我们来了解一些法国流行的文化符号,感受法国文化的独特魅力。
The Eiffel Tower 埃菲尔铁塔
You can’t possibly go to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Even if you don’t visit this world- famous structure, you will see its top from all over Paris. The tower rises over 300 meters; when it was completed at the end of the 19th century it was twice as high as the Washington Monument, at the time the tallest structure in the world.
The Eiffel Tower was built for the World’s Fair in 1889, held in celebration of the centennial of the French Revolution in 1789.
The man behind the Eiffel Tower was Gustave Eiffel1) and the structure took more than two years to complete. When built, there were protests from contemporary artists who feared the construction would be the advent of structures without “individuality”, and many who feared that this huge “object” would not fit into the architecture of Paris. The tower was only meant to last for the duration of the Fair, but it obviously still stands today.
Today, there is no such aversion2) anymore among Parisians, and one could not imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower. In fact, it has become the most recognizable symbol of the City of Light.
不去埃菲尔铁塔,就不能说到过巴黎。即便未能登上这座享誉世界的建筑,也能在巴黎处处看到它的尖顶。塔身高达300米,19世纪末竣工时,埃菲尔铁塔的高度是当时世界上最高的建筑物——华盛顿纪念碑的两倍。
埃菲尔铁塔建造的初衷是迎接1889年世界博览会和纪念1789年法国大革命胜利一百周年。
埃菲尔铁塔的设计师是古斯塔夫·埃菲尔,铁塔耗时两年多建成。铁塔竣工之后,反对之声不绝于耳,当代艺术家们担心铁塔的建成标志着磨灭个性的建筑时代的到来,还有许多人担心这个巨型的家伙与巴黎的建筑风格格格不入。最初人们只打算让埃菲尔铁塔维持至世博会结束,但显而易见,至今它仍然高高耸立,岿然不动。
如今,巴黎人对于铁塔不再有抵触情绪,人们甚至无法想象没有埃菲尔铁塔的巴黎会是什么样子。事实上,埃菲尔铁塔已经成为“光明之都”(编者注:巴黎的昵称)最具标志性的城市地标。
Champs Elysees香榭丽舍大道
The Champs Elysees forms the backbone of Paris’s cultural and commercial hub. The long, straight stretch of road is a wide boulevard3), flanked4) with trees, shops, boutiques5) and restaurants. The 3km-long street originated in the 17th century, with the first records indicating it was first formed in 1616. Queen consort6) of France, Italian-born Marie de Medici, ordered an avenue of trees to adorn7) the newly stretched boundaries of the Palais des Tuileries8)’ gardens. From these origins of being a mere boundary, the Champs Elysees soon grew to be an important throughway in Paris. By the end of the 18th century, it had gained a reputation as a fashionable avenue, a reputation it still holds to this day.
The term “Champs Elysees” derives from the Greek mythological story of the Elysian Fields9) where the blessed go after death. With rows of trees and decorated sidewalks, which become illuminated at night, the Champs Elysees has often been referred to as the most beautiful avenue in the world.
The Champs Elysees is also an important area to stage public events in France. There are numerous ceremonies and celebrations in which the French customarily flock to the famous boulevard. The annual Bastille Day10) celebrations are held on the grand avenue each year. French citizens, along with the President of the Republic, gather to celebrate the day in which French partisans11) stormed the famous Bastille prison, the event that triggered the French Revolution. This large procession, which includes a review of the French troops by the President, takes place each year on July 14th.
香榭丽舍大道是巴黎的商业和文化中心。一条大道又长又直,宽宽的林荫道两旁绿树成荫,餐馆林立,商家店铺与高档时装店鳞次栉比。这条大道有三公里长,其历史可追溯至17世纪。根据最早的史书记载,香榭丽舍大道始建于1616年,当时出生于意大利的法国王后玛丽·德·梅德西斯决定建造一条绿树成荫的大道,来点缀杜伊勒里花园向外延展的边界区域。尽管最初只是花园的边界,香榭丽舍大道却很快声名远扬,成为巴黎一条重要的主干大道。18世纪末,香榭丽舍大道赢得“时尚之街”的美誉,其盛名一直延续至今。
“Champs Elysees”这一名称源于希腊神话故事中的“Elysian Fields”,指的是受上天庇护之人的灵魂居住的冥界乐土。香榭丽舍大道佳木成行,人行道精心装饰,夜晚华灯异彩,常被冠以“世界上最美丽的大街”的美誉。
香榭丽舍大道也是法国重要的展示公共事件的舞台。不计其数的庆祝仪式和庆典都在这里登场,每当这个时候,法国人总是习以为常地蜂拥而至,聚集到这条著名的大街上。每年的法国国庆庆典就在这条宏伟的大道举行。其时,法国群众同法兰西共和国的总统一起来纪念这伟大的日子。在历史上国庆日的这天,法国人民攻占了著名的巴士底监狱,由此揭开了法国大革命的序幕。每年的7月14日,这一盛大的游行都如期举行,其间还包括总统阅兵仪式。
The Béret 贝雷帽
The simple black French béret has been a popular image and symbol of France for a long time. While many believe it originated among the Basques12), it in fact, likely came from Béarn, a region in Southwest France.
The classical French béret is a brimless, loose-fitting, round flat cap made from the finest wool and dyed in either black or navy blue, with a short tab13) on top. Modern French hat designers have slightly modified the classical style, using wool felt14) or acrylic15) and have developed a wide assortment of bright fashionable colours to suit all tastes.
Throughout the early part of the 1900s the béret was very widely worn in France by shepherds, farmers, school boys, painters, and of course French artists.
The French military béret originated from the wide and floppy16) headdress worn by the Chasseurs alpins (light mountain infantry17)) from its founding in the early 1880s. A tight-fitting version was subsequently adopted by French armoured troops towards the end of World War I. During the Second World War the béret became a symbol of French Patriotism.
Today the beret is closely associated with the military, police and special forces units throughout the world. Yet its endearing quality and style makes it still very much a French icon.
线条简洁的黑色法式贝雷帽一直都是广为流传的法国形象和法国标志。许多人认为贝雷帽起源于巴斯克地区,事实上它可能源于法国西南部一个叫贝亚恩的地区。
经典的法式贝雷帽是无边的、宽松的圆平顶帽,由优质的羊毛制成,染成黑色或者海军蓝,帽顶有短小的帽耳。现代的贝雷帽设计者对传统的风格做了简单的改进,利用羊毛毡或丙烯酸类纤维作为原材料,同时引入一系列的时尚亮色以满足不同的品味需求。
20世纪初,贝雷帽在法国广为流行,牧羊人、农民、学生、画家都戴贝雷帽,法国的艺术家们自然也不例外。
法式贝雷军帽始于19世纪80年代初,最初的版本是法国山地步兵戴的宽宽大大、松松垮垮的帽子。后来,在第一次世界大战末期,法国装甲兵开始采用一种戴起来更服帖、更合体的贝雷帽。到了二战期间,贝雷帽成为法国人爱国的标志。
今天,谈起贝雷帽,人们最容易联想到的是世界各国的军队、警察和特种部队,但是精良的质地和亲切的风格依然使它成为法国代表性的文化符号。
Perfume 香水
It was in the 17th century when French alchemists and idealists began to conjure up18) French perfume. Since then, with each century that passes, French perfume gains more and more of a reputation for being classic, universal and timeless. No one makes perfume like the French do. It’s in their blood. French perfume is the fragrance of artists, dreamers, philosophers, and wanderers. It seems to come naturally to the French to admire things of great beauty or mystery, and then to recreate them in a new and shimmering light.
The heart of the French perfume industry lies in Grasse, a small city on the French Riviera. Grasse is also considered the capital of the perfume world at large19). It creates some of the most beloved fragrances the world over.
French perfume masters say the most fundamental ingredient in their fragrances is civet20). This musk from a cat-like animal of the same name is considered by many to be the fragrance of the heart of France. It is a pungent symbol of pride for the country. Two other essential foundations for French perfume are lavender21) and jasmine22).
French perfume is the fragrance of romantics. It is often given as a gift between lovers, accompanied by roses. Good examples of French perfumes are Chanel Number 5, Lancome, Coty, Shalimar, and Cartier. They are above reprove. No other perfumes in the world compare to these special fragrances from France.
17世纪,法国的炼金术士和理想主义者开始想到制造法国香水。自此以后,数百年过去,斗转星移,法国香水声名远扬,愈来愈成为经典和永恒的代名词。论制作香水,没有人能和法国人匹敌,他们天生就会制造。法国香水散发出的是艺术家、梦想家、哲学家、流浪者的芬芳气息。法国人似乎天性热爱美丽和奇妙的事物,继而开发创新,使之闪耀出新的光彩。
法国香水业的中心是法国里维埃拉地区的小城格拉斯。格拉斯也被普遍认为是世界香水之都,这里生产出的一些香水举世闻名,有口皆碑。
法国的香水大师说香水最为基本的原料是麝猫香。这种麝香源自一种像猫一样的同名动物,在许多人看来,这种香气代表着法国的灵魂之香。作为气味符号,麝猫香是法国的骄傲。法国香水的另外两大基本原料是薰衣草和茉莉。
法国香水散发着浪漫的芳香。香水配上玫瑰常常是恋人间互赠的礼物。法国著名的香水有香奈儿5号、兰蔻、科蒂、夏尔美和卡地亚。这些香水至精至美,无可挑剔。世界上任何香水都难以媲美这些独特的芳香。
The French baguette法棍
The French baguette is synonymous with French culture and cuisine all over the world. This French bread is the most prominent symbol of daily Parisian life. The bread is made from lean dough without the inclusion of preservatives23). In fact, it is against French law to use preservatives in bread. So the baguette is made every morning in bakeries across France. It is characterized by its long length, its crisp, delicious crust and the slit cuts on top, that are actually made to enable the proper expansion of gases, which in turn are responsible for the crumb24), or the soft inside of the bread.
A freshly baked baguette is simply too mouth-watering to resist and it is not unusual to see many people sitting on a park bench in Paris in the morning enjoying a fresh baguette with jelly. The present day baguette is considered to be the descendant of a type of bread from Austria which was appropriately called pain viennois, or Venetian bread, since it was made in Vienna. Pain viennois was made in deck or steam ovens in Vienna, and were only brought to Paris in the mid nineteenth century. The first French baguette was baked in the same type of oven and there has been no looking back25) for the bagnette since then.
不管在世界哪个地方,法棍都是法国文化和烹饪的代名词,也是巴黎人日常生活最为突出的标志。这种法式面包由高筋面粉制作,不含防腐剂。事实上,在面包中使用防腐剂是违反法国法律的。所以,法国的面包房每天早晨都在烘烤新鲜的法棍。它的特点是特别长,表皮香脆可口,表面还有多个斜切口——这些切口可以使面包在烘烤时得以适度的膨胀,从而使面包心或者说面包的内部松软可口。
新鲜出炉的法棍令人垂涎欲滴、难以抗拒。在巴黎常常可以看到这样的景象:清早,人们坐在公园长凳上,就着果冻,享受新鲜法棍。人们普遍认为,今天的法棍由奥地利的一种面包演变而来,这种奥地利面包又称作“维耶努瓦面包”或“维也纳面包”,这样的叫法倒也合情合理,因为这一面包就是在维也纳烘烤而成的。当时,在维也纳,人们一般是在露天平台或者蒸汽烤箱里制作这种面包,只是到了19世纪中叶,维也纳面包才传入巴黎。最早的法棍便出自于同样的蒸汽烤箱,自那以后,法棍便迎来了它“生命”中的鼎盛时光。
1. Gustave Eiffel:古斯塔夫·埃菲尔(1832～1923),法国土木工程师、金属结构专家、作家
2. aversion [E5vE:FEn] n. 讨厌的人和事物
3. boulevard [5bu:lIvB:d] n.〈美〉林荫大道
4. flank [flANk] vt. 位于……的侧面
5. boutique [bu:5ti:k] n. 专卖流行衣服的小商店
6. queen consort:王后,皇后
7. adorn [E5dC:n] vt. 装饰
8. Palais des Tuileries:杜伊勒里花园,当时的法国王后玛丽·德·梅德西斯下旨建造的皇家花园
9. Elysian Fields:乐土,极乐世界
10. Bastille Day:巴士底日,又称法国国庆日,于每年的7月14日举行,是为了纪念在1789年7月14日巴黎群众攻占了象征封建统治的巴士底监狱(即下文中提到的Bastille prison)。这一事件揭开了法国大革命的序幕。
11. partisan [pB:tI5zAn] n. 虔诚的信徒,热情的支持者
12. Basque [bAsk] n. 巴斯克人(居住在西班牙和法国毗临比斯开湾的比利牛斯西部地区一个民族中一员)
13. tab [tAb] n. 帽耳
14. wool felt:羊毛毡,羊毛毯
15. acrylic [E5krIlIk] n. [化]丙烯酸(类)纤维
16. floppy [5flCpI] adj. 松垂的,松软的
17. infantry [5InfEntrI] n. 步兵,步兵团
18. conjure up:相出,设想
19. at large:全体;普遍地
20. civet [5sIvIt] n.香猫香,麝猫香(这些哺乳动物分泌的粘稠、黄色有麝香味的液体,用于香水的制作)
21. lavender [5lAvIndE] n. [植] 熏衣草属,熏衣草花
22. jasmine [5dVAsmIn] n. 茉莉
23. preservative [prI5zE:vEtIv] n. 防腐剂,保护剂
24. crumb [krQm] n. 面包心(面包内部的柔软部分)
25. no looking back:(=never looking back)赢得胜利,赢得辉煌,茁壮成长