【英文原文】
Owl The owl has a weird hooting or screeching call that sounds very ghostly in the silent night. So some people associated it with death. In the Middle Ages some people called the owl "night hag"; it was said to be a witch in the form of a bird. The owl is still associated with witches in the symbolism of Halloween.
【中文译文】
猫头鹰 在寂静的夜里,猫头鹰古怪的叫声令人毛骨悚然。所以人们将它与死亡联系在一起。中世纪,人们称之为“夜之巫”,据说是女巫变的。直到今天,猫头鹰仍在万圣节前夜众多妖魔鬼怪之列。
【题外话】
有人说在西方猫头鹰是智慧的象征,此话不假,因为它是智慧女神雅典娜的圣鸟。但在西欧民间,雅典娜属外来文化。猫头鹰不吉利,中西民间看法大致相同。
下一篇: 海外文化:英美民俗-日常生活中的其他迷信
Hukou reform expected to be a gradual process
Women's congress aims to close income gap, lift status
Tragedy leads to calls for school safety
Ancient Chinese built Forbidden City with stones dragged on ice
Leadership charts path
Xi thanks Clinton for furthering ties
30,000 turn out in Beijing Marathon
Market for English courses surges
Diabetes has its day on stage
Newspaper offers apology after detained journalist's confession
Nation ‘a strong Games candidate’
Xi calls for targeted policies to fight poverty
China, Russia reach big oil deal
Xi offers support to overseas Chinese
Yili looks to Italy for better milk
India launches exploratory spacecraft to red planet
Family healthcare offered to eco-city residents
Report shows jump in Chinese students going to the US
Museums look to innovation for future
Kerry will visit Israel to discuss Iran nuclear issue
Electric car buyers must try their luck in lottery
Shuttle bus makes time fly for Beijing commuters
Far horizons beckon as agencies eye Chinese
Chongqing launches 72-hour visa-free stays
Tickets for 9 yuan offered on new Hebei air route
17 accused of making and selling fake drugs
Democrats win NYC and Virginia
Human Library gets people talking
Giant duck to exit after drawing crowds
Spain seeks time zone change