圣诞精神大展示

By Kirstie Allsopp

Reporter： Its less than three weeks until the big day， but dont worry， Ive got it sorted. Ill be going on a fairy tale trip across the big pond from North Devon to New York.

The Americans rock the holiday season like no other. U.S. giant Coca Cola made famous the iconic image of a fat man in a red and white suit， and New York is the birthplace of the electric fairy light.

In America， they take the holiday season very seriously， and competition is fierce for the best displays. Its not just Manhattan thats lit up like a Christmas tree. New York suburbs are notorious for going crazy for Christmas. So， where better to get inspiration for decoration？ Across the water， on 1）Staten Island， theres one home that outshines them all.

And it is quite extraordinary！ It is…its just…Im just looking around me， and Ive never seen anything like it.

And its the work of just one man. Steve Pancicnis passion for Christmas started in his teens， and hes been collecting both new and vintage animations ever since.

Theres so much to see. How long does it take you to set this all up？

Steve： It took 21 days.

Reporter： Theres a very antique feel to what you do here.

Its not just about the lights…

Steve： Thats correct.

Reporter： …but some of the figures stand out more than others. How much does it cost you？

Steve： Each year is anywhere between…between $10，000 and $15，000.

Reporter： Ten and fifteen thousand dollars！ Wow！

Steves a Christmas icon， with folk coming from far and wide and donating money， which he gives to charity. What does your wife say about all of this？

Steve： Shes OK with it. She doesnt complain about it. You know， weve had our differences， but it works out OK.

Reporter： She must be more understanding than Id be. It costs over two grand just to power the 50，000 lights.

What is it about Christmas that makes you put so much energy and time and money into this？

Steve： I love the look on peoples faces.

Reporter： When they see it.

Steve： Yes. Started out with little two footers， and now， as you can see， the bigger， the better.

Reporter： Are there any neighbours that are anti-the whole thing？

Steve： Absolutely not.

Reporter： None.

Steve： None.

Reporter： Cause it must cause traffic， so…

Steve： It…it causes traffic， but theyre OK with it.

Matter of fact， they help me.

Reporter： Steves collected around 400 animations over 23 years， and he has his favorites.

Steve： I would say， would be the talking 2）reindeer and the talking snowman.

Reporter： That snowman talks to that reindeer？

Steve： That is correct.

Reporter： So where do you get it all？

Steve： Oh， a lot on 3）auction websites.

Reporter： Im truly inspired by the care and attention Steve gives to each of his characters， which he brings out year after year. Hes a real proponent of a genuine Christmas spirit.

记者：离那个重要的日子只剩下不到三个星期了，不过别担心，我已把一切安排好了。我会跨过大西洋，从英国的北德文到美国纽约，进行一次童话般的旅行。

美国人对圣诞节狂欢的热情无人可比。那个身穿红白衣的胖胖圣诞老人是圣诞节的标志性形象，使之广为人知的正是美国大公司可口可乐，而纽约市则是圣诞电光展示的起源地。

在美国，人们对圣诞节这个节日可是非常认真对待的，在节日展示方面的竞争异常激烈。在这里，不仅仅是曼哈顿看起来像一棵点亮的圣诞树，纽约郊区对圣诞节展示的疯狂程度也是出了名的。那么，哪里才是寻找圣诞装饰灵感的好去处呢？到对岸的斯塔腾岛吧，岛上有一个家庭的圣诞展示足以让所有人的展示失色。

这一切太不同寻常了。这……这真是……我正在看我周围的景象，我从来没有见过能与之相比的东西。

而这一切都是一个人的杰作。史蒂夫·潘辛尼对圣诞节的满腔激情始于他的少年时代，从那个时候起，他一直都在收集新潮的和怀旧的圣诞饰品。

这里可看的东西太多了，你花了多长时间把这个弄起来？史蒂夫：21天。

记者：你在这里搞的展示给人一种古色古香的感觉，它不仅仅是灯光……史蒂夫：对。

记者：……不过有些形象比其他一些更为突出。这个展示花了你多少钱？史蒂夫：每年的花费在一万到一万五千美元之间。

记者：一万到一万五千美元！天啊！

史蒂夫已经成为圣诞节的一个偶像，各地的人们都来此参观展示，向他捐款，他则会把款项捐给慈善机构。你妻子对这一切有什么看法？

史蒂夫：她对此没有意见，也不会抱怨。你知道，我们之间有不同的意见，但问题都得到了解决。

记者：她肯定比我更通情达理，因为光是五万盏灯的电费就超过两千美元。

文化交流站

Coca Cola and Santa Claus可口可乐与圣诞老人

19世纪初，圣诞老人保留着浓郁的欧洲风味——个子高矮不一，身材有胖有瘦，衣服有红有黄有蓝，脸上时常会挂着悲天悯人的微笑，偶尔也会带上知识分子式的沉思。从上世纪30年代初开始，可口可乐公司推出了一系列身穿大红袍、蓄了大白胡子的慈祥老人乐呵呵地畅饮可口可乐的广告。自此，穿着可口可乐招牌的红白两色、挺着发胖的肚子、白胡子白头发的老祖父模样的老人，就成了今日世人心目中的圣诞老人。