奧巴馬總統攜家人點亮國家聖誕樹

Surrounded by celebrity performers and characters from the North Pole, the Obama family on Thursday led a countdown and lighted the National Christmas Tree.

First lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha helped President Barack Obama press a button to light the tree, an annual tradition since the 1920s. "I'm technologically challenged and I might not get this right," the president joked. "Everybody has got to help me out here."

The Obamas and the spectators counted down from five, and the red and yellow lights came alive on the 40-foot Colorado blue spruce growing on the Ellipse, just south of the White House. "It worked," Obama shouted.

Performers including singer Sheryl Crow, hip hop artist Common and "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks dazzled the crowd, bundled in coats and scarves.

"I told Sasha we're not on 'American Idol,'" the president said at one point. The Obama family and Vice President Joe Biden and his grandchildren watched from seats beside the stage, behind a clear protective shielding.

The characters Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus also joined the celebration, saying it was their "date night."

"You know what I'm talking about," Mrs. Claus told the Obamas, referring to the couple's nights out on the town together. The president later met Santa Claus on stage and briefly danced with him.

Before the tree was lit, Obama said its story might be Christian but its lesson is universal.

"It represents a tradition that we celebrate as a country — a tradition that has come to represent more than any one holiday or religion, but a season of brotherhood and generosity to our fellow citizens," he said.

He said it's important to remember those who have lost their jobs and homes in this season as well as military service members and their families who are apart during the holidays. "We will be thinking of you and praying for you during this holiday season," he said.

Every president has presided over the tree lighting since Calvin Coolidge in 1923. The current National Christmas Tree was planted on the Ellipse in 1978.
本週四，奧巴馬一家在著名藝人和北極來客的陪同下，一起喊着倒計時，點亮了“國家聖誕樹”。

奧巴馬在第一夫人米歇爾和女兒瑪麗亞、薩莎的幫助下，按下按鈕，點亮了聖誕樹，這項一年一度的傳統始於上世紀20年代。奧巴馬總統開玩笑說：“這個在技術上對我來說是個挑戰，我可能搞不定，大家要幫我哦。”

奧巴馬總統一家和圍觀者們從五倒數至一，只見一棵40英尺高的科羅拉多藍雲杉樹上的紅黃色燈都亮了起來。這株雲杉樹生長在白宮南面以外的橢圓廣場。奧巴馬喊道：“成功了！”

當天出席聖誕樹點燈儀式的藝人包括歌手雪兒•克羅、嘻哈歌手“凡夫俗子”（Common）和“美國偶像”冠軍喬丁•斯帕克斯，他們的表演讓觀衆傾倒。觀看錶演的觀衆們穿着棉衣，戴着圍巾，裹得嚴嚴實實。

奧巴馬說：“我跟薩莎說，我們這可不是在‘美國偶像’的現場。”奧巴馬及其家人、副總統喬•拜登和他的孫輩們坐在舞臺旁的一個防風屏後觀看錶演。

聖誕老人和他的夫人也參加了當天的點燈儀式，並稱這是他們的“約會之夜”。

聖誕夫人對奧巴馬總統一家說：“你們明白我的意思。”她指的是奧巴馬伕婦的浪漫夜遊。之後，奧巴馬總統在舞臺上會見了聖誕老人，還和他跳了會兒舞。

在聖誕樹點亮之前，奧巴馬說，雖然聖誕節可能和基督教有關，但它的意義卻是普世的。

他說：“聖誕節代表我們舉國慶祝的一個傳統，這個傳統的意義不僅在於一個節日或某個宗教，還是我們全國同胞表達手足之情和慷慨之心的一個節日。”

他說，在這個時候，我們應該心存那些失去工作和無家可歸的人們，以及那些遠在異國服役的士兵們，這一點很重要。他說：“在佳節來臨之時，我們會想着你們，併爲你們祈禱。”

總統主持聖誕樹點燈儀式的傳統始於1923年卡爾文•柯立芝總統執政期間。現在的這棵國家聖誕樹是1978年在橢圓廣場栽種的。

Vocabulary:

dazzle: to amaze, overwhelm, or bewilder with spectacular display 使驚羨，使讚歎不已（The fireworks on July 4th dazzled us. 七月四日獨立紀念日放的煙火使我們讚歎不已。）