At this time of year, few sights evoke more feelings of cheer and goodwill than the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree.

每年此时，没有什么情景比一棵圣诞树上闪烁的灯光更让人感到欢乐祥和。

The popularity of a tree at Christmas is due in part to my great-great grandparents, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. After this touching picture was published, many families wanted a Christmas tree of their own, and the custom soon spread.

人们对圣诞树的喜爱要部分归功于我的曾曾曾祖父母——维多利亚女王和阿尔伯特亲王。这张温馨的图片公布后，很多家庭都想要一棵自己的圣诞树，这一习俗也很快普及开来。

In 1949, I spent Christmas in Malta as a newly-married naval wife. We have returned to that island over the years, including last month for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders; and this year I met another group of leaders: The Queen's Young Leaders, an inspirational group, each of them a symbol of hope in their own Commonwealth communities.

1949年，初为军嫂的我在马耳他度过圣诞节。多年以来，我们多次回到马耳他岛，上个月还在那里召开英联邦领导人会议。今年我会晤了另一批领导人，“女王青年领袖”是一个鼓舞人心的团体，每个人都是各自英联邦社区的希望。

Gathering round the tree gives us a chance to think about the year ahead -- I am looking forward to a busy 2016, though I have been warned I may have Happy Birthday sung to me more than once or twice.

聚在圣诞树旁，让我们有机会展望来年。我盼望着2016年忙忙碌碌，尽管有人说，我可能不止一次甚至两次听到生日歌。

（注：2016年是伊丽莎白女王九十岁生日，届时将展开多场庆祝活动。）

It also allows us to reflect on the year that has passed, as we think of those who are far away or no longer with us. Many people say the first Christmas after losing a loved one is particularly hard. But it's also a time to remember all that we have to be thankful for.

圣诞树让我们回首过去的一年，于是我们想到了那些远离和已经离开我们的人。很多人说失去平生所爱后的第一个圣诞节是最艰难的，可此时也该想想我们要感恩的人。

It is true that the world has had to confront moments of darkness this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope, often read at Christmas carol services: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it".

今年，世界不得不面对诸多黑暗时刻，这是事实。可《约翰福音》有一句充满希望的话这样说，圣诞赞歌中常常朗诵，“光明照亮了黑暗，黑暗却无法蒙蔽光明。”

One cause for thankfulness this summer was marking 70 years since the end of the Second World War. On VJ Day, we honoured the remaining veterans of that terrible conflict in the Far East, as well as remembering the thousands who never returned.

今年夏天纪念二战结束七十周年是一件值得感恩的事。在对日作战胜利日，我们给在远东那场可怕战役中的在世老兵们授勋，缅怀数千名没有回到祖国的牺牲者。

The procession from Horse Guards Parade to Westminster Abbey must have been one of the slowest ever, because so many people wanted to say "thank you" to them.

从骑兵卫队场到威斯敏斯特宫的队伍大抵是行进最慢的一次，太多的人想对他们说一声“谢谢”。

At the end of that war, the people of Oslo began sending an annual gift of a Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square. It has 500 light bulbs and is enjoyed not just by Christians but by people of all faiths, and of none. At the very top sits a bright star, to represent the Star of Bethlehem.

战争结束后，奥斯陆人民每年向特拉法加广场赠送一棵圣诞树。树上挂着500个灯泡，不仅基督徒喜爱它，无论何种信仰或有无信仰的人们都喜爱它。在树顶有一颗明星，它代表着“伯利恒之星”。

（注：所谓“伯利恒之星”是《圣经》中记载的一颗奇特天体。据说，在耶稣诞生时，有三个博士在东方观察到一颗属于“犹太人之王”的星，前来耶路撒冷拜见，就在博士们前往附近的伯利恒寻找时，先前看见的那颗星，又忽然出现在前方，引领他们来到耶稣降生之处。后世科学家推测这可能是金星和木星交汇。）

The custom of topping a tree also goes back to Prince Albert's time. For his family's tree, he chose an angel, helping to remind us that the focus of the Christmas story is on one particular family.

这一风俗也可追溯到阿尔伯特亲王时代。他把一个天使放在家里的圣诞树顶，提醒我们圣诞节纪念了一个家庭的故事。

For Joseph and Mary, the circumstances of Jesus's birth - in a stable - were far from ideal, but worse was to come as the family was forced to flee the country. It's no surprise that such a human story still captures our imagination and continues to inspire all of us who are Christians, the world over.

对于约瑟和玛丽而言，耶稣出生在马厩，这样的环境远非理想，可更糟糕的是这家人还被迫逃离故土。这个人伦故事依旧捕捉着我们的想象力，继续激励着全世界所有的基督徒，这并不令人惊讶。

Despite being displaced and persecuted throughout his short life, Christ's unchanging message was not one of revenge or violence but simply that we should love one another.

基督短暂的一生中颠沛流离、饱受迫害，可他一如既往倡导的不是复仇和暴力，而是人人相爱。

Although it is not an easy message to follow, we shouldn't be discouraged; rather, it inspires us to try harder: to be thankful for the people who bring love and happiness into our own lives, and to look for ways of spreading that love to others, whenever and wherever we can.

尽管践行不易，我们也不要灰心。这鼓励着我们要加倍努力，感谢那些给我们生命带来爱和幸福的人，并想方设法将那份爱传递给他人——无论何时，无论何处。

One of the joys of living a long life is watching one's children, then grandchildren, then great-grandchildren, help decorate the Christmas tree. And this year my family has a new member to join in the fun.

长寿的喜悦之一是儿孙绕膝。先是儿女，然后是孙辈，现在有重孙辈帮我装扮圣诞树。今年，我家又有一位新成员共享天伦。

The customary decorations have changed little in the years since that picture of Victoria and Albert's tree first appeared, although of course electric lights have replaced the candles.

自维多利亚和阿尔伯特的圣诞树出现以来，传统的圣诞装饰变化甚微，当然，电灯取代了蜡烛。

There's an old saying that "it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness".

老话说，“点燃烛火胜过咒骂黑暗”。

There are millions of people lighting candles of hope in our world today.

今天，我们的世界，成百上千万的人点燃希望的烛火。

Christmas is a good time to be thankful for them, and for all that brings light to our lives.

值此圣诞佳节，向他们表示感谢，对所有给我们生活带来光明的人表示感谢。

I wish you a very happy Christmas.

愿诸君圣诞快乐。

In the ruins of the old Coventry Cathedral is a sculpture of a man and a woman reaching out to embrace each other. The sculptor was inspired by the story of a woman who crossed Europe on foot after the war to find her husband.

在旧考文垂大教堂废墟（Coventry Cathedral）的外面竖立着一尊雕塑，造型是一个男人和一个女人正伸手想要拥抱彼此。雕塑的灵感来源于一个女人在战争爆发后徒步跨越欧洲寻找自己丈夫的故事。

Casts of the same sculpture can be found in Belfast and Berlin, and it is simply called Reconciliation.

在贝尔法斯特和柏林都能找到同样的雕塑，它的名字很简单，叫做和解。

Reconciliation is the peaceful end to conflict, and we were reminded of this in August when countries on both sides of the First World War came together to remember in peace.

和解是战争过后的和平，今年8月第一次世界大战的交战双方在一起纪念和平时，我们再次想到了“和解”这个词。

The ceramic poppies at the Tower of London drew millions, and the only possible reaction to seeing them and walking among them was silence. For every poppy a life; and a reminder of the grief of loved ones left behind.

伦敦塔上的陶瓷罂粟吸引了数百万人，沉默是人们看到这场景并从中穿过时的唯一反应。每一朵罂粟象征着一个生命，让人们想起失去至爱后的悲痛。

No one who fought in that war is still alive, but we remember their sacrifice and indeed the sacrifice of all those in the armed forces who serve and protect us today.

也不能忘记那些依然在服务和保卫着我们的军中将士做出的奉献。

In 1914, many people thought the war would be over by Christmas, but sadly by then the trenches were dug and the future shape of the war in Europe was set.

1914年，很多人认为战争会在圣诞节结束，但遗憾的是那时战壕已经挖好，欧洲战场上未来的战争形态也已经确定。

But, as we know, something remarkable did happen that Christmas, exactly a hundred years ago today.

不过，正如我们知道的那样，一百年前的今天，也就是圣诞节当天，的确发生了一件意义非凡的事情。

Without any instruction or command, the shooting stopped and German and British soldiers met in No Man's Land. Photographs were taken and gifts exchanged. It was a Christmas truce.

没有指示，没有命令，射击停止了，德国士兵和英国士兵相聚在无人地带。士兵们拍照留念并互赠礼物。这就是圣诞节休战协定。

Truces are not a new idea. In the ancient world a truce was declared for the duration of the Olympic Games and wars and battles were put on hold.

休战协定并非新创。古时候战争和战斗都要在奥运会期间暂停。

Sport has a wonderful way of bringing together people and nations, as we saw this year in Glasgow when over 70 countries took part in the Commonwealth Games.

运动是将人们和国家聚在一起的好方法，我们看到有70多个国家参与今年在格拉斯哥举行的英联邦运动会。

It is no accident that they are known as the Friendly Games. As well as promoting dialogue between nations, the Commonwealth Games pioneered the inclusion of para-sports within each day's events.

这个运动会被称为友好运动会并非偶然。除了促进国家之间对话以外，英联邦运动会还开创了在每天的比赛项目中都加入残疾运动项目的先河。

As with the Invictus Games that followed, the courage, determination and talent of the athletes captured our imagination as well as breaking down divisions.

在之后的不可征服运动会中，运动员们的勇气，决心和天赋不但吸引着我们的目光，同时还打破了隔阂。

The benefits of reconciliation were clear to see when I visited Belfast in June. While my tour of the set of Game Of Thrones may have gained most attention, my visit to the Crumlin Road Gaol will remain vividly in my mind.

今年六月份我访问贝尔法斯特时就清楚的看到了和解的好处。虽然我参观《权力的游戏》拍摄地的新闻吸引了大部分人的注意力，但对克拉姆林路监狱的参观却让我记忆犹新。

What was once a prison during the Troubles is now a place of hope and fresh purpose; a reminder of what is possible when people reach out to one another, rather like the couple in the sculpture.

这个在北爱尔兰动乱期间的监狱如今充满了希望和新目标；让人们认识到，当人们伸出手互相帮助时，什么事都是有可能的，就像雕塑里的那对夫妇一样。

Of course, reconciliation takes different forms. In Scotland after the referendum many felt great disappointment, while others felt great relief; and bridging these differences will take time.

当然，和解有很多方式。苏格兰公投后，很多人觉得很失望，有的人却觉得很宽慰，弥合这些分歧尚需时日。

Bringing reconciliation to war or emergency zones is an even harder task, and I have been deeply touched this year by the selflessness of aid workers and medical volunteers who have gone abroad to help victims of conflict or of diseases like Ebola, often at great personal risk.

在战争中或者紧急突发地带取得和解更是困难，今年，救援人员和医疗志愿者们不顾个人安危、奔赴国外帮助冲突地区的受害人员或者饱受疾病（例如埃博拉）困扰的病人。我深为所动。

For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate today, is an inspiration and an anchor in my life.

今天是耶稣基督，和平之主的诞辰，庆祝他的生日对我来说是一种鼓舞，是我生命中的一个精神支柱。

A role model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. Christ's example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people, of whatever faith or none.

作为和解和宽恕的榜样，他伸出充满爱、接纳和弥合的手。耶稣教会我尊重和珍视每一个人，无关信仰。

Sometimes it seems that reconciliation stands little chance in the face of war and discord. But, as the Christmas truce a century ago reminds us, peace and goodwill have lasting power in the hearts of men and women.

有时候和解在战争与冲突面前似乎无力反击。但，正如一百年前的圣诞节停战协定，和平和美好的希望在世人心里拥有持久的影响力。

On that chilly Christmas Eve in 1914 many of the German forces sang Silent Night, its haunting melody inching across the line.

1914年的圣诞节前夜很寒冷，德国士兵们吟唱的《平安夜》穿过交火线，让人难以忘怀。

That carol is still much-loved today, a legacy of the Christmas truce, and a reminder to us all that even in the unlikeliest of places hope can still be found.

今天，这首圣诞歌曲依然受欢迎，它是圣诞节停战协定的延续，也提醒着我们，即使在最不可能的地方，依然可以找到希望。

A very happy Christmas to you all.

祝各位圣诞快乐。