聖誕襪裡的奇蹟
When it comes to Christmas, there are many beloved customs that people observe to celebrate this holiday, and one of them is hanging stockings by the fireplace.
當講到聖誕節時，人們會從事很多受歡迎的習俗來慶祝這個節日，而其中一個就是在壁爐旁掛聖誕襪。
custom (n.)習俗Customs (n.)海關observe (v.) 觀察,慶祝,遵守
Many people are curious about the origin for this long-held tradition.
很多人對於這個久遠的傳統感到好奇。
be curious about 對……感興趣
Truth be told, there is no single account that defines it.
說實話，沒有單一個原因可以解釋它。
truth be told 說實話account (n.)帳號,理由on account of 因為
One amusing legend related to this tradition involves the story of a widowed father to three daughters.
一個跟這項傳統有關的有趣傳說是跟一名擁有三名女兒的鰥夫有關。
legend (n.)傳說
As they were barely scraping by at Christmas time, the father worried he did not have enough dowry for his daughters.
聖誕節時他們的日子並不好過，那名父親擔心他沒有足夠的嫁妝給他的女兒。
barely (adv.)僅僅scrap by 勉強維持生計dowry 嫁妝
Learning about this poor family when he visited the town, a nobleman dropped a few gold coins down the chimney, which coincidentally found their way into the three girls’ freshly-washed stockings drying by the fire.
一位貴族在進城時得知這個可憐家庭的事情，他便丟了幾枚金幣進煙囪，金幣很湊巧地跑到三位女孩晾在火爐邊剛洗好的襪子裡。
noble (adj.)貴族的,高貴的coincidentally (adv.)巧合地
The girls assumed that it was a Christmas miracle because they did not see anyone enter their room that night.
女孩們假設這是一個聖誕奇蹟，因為她們那晚並沒有看到任何人進到她們的房間。
assume (v.)假設assumption (n.)假設a reasonable assumption 合理的假設
Although the three girls’ stockings were hanging by the fireplace when the miracle took place, the fireplace is not the exclusive option.
雖然當奇蹟發生時三位女孩的襪子都吊在壁爐邊，但壁爐並不是唯一的選項。
miracle (n.)奇蹟exclusive (adj.)唯一的,獨有的exclude (v.)排除,排斥include (v.)包含preclude (v.)杜絕,防止
Since not everyone has a fireplace in their house, many choose to hang their stockings on doorknobs or bedposts.
由於不是每個人的家中都有壁爐，很多人選擇將他們的襪子掛在門把或床柱。
since (conj.)因為,既然post (n.)柱子bedpost (n.)床柱