美國習俗面面觀

With each birthday，Americans not only celebrate growth but also the passing of another year. Thus， candles are symbols of both life and death， as well as both hope and fear. When a person makes a wish over these symbols， he or she invokes powers for good fortune. And when that person snuffs out these symbols， he or she expresses the hope to have a degree of control over whatever lies in store for him or her.

美國人每次過生日時，不僅慶祝年齡又長了一歲，也紀念又一年時光逝去。因此，蠟燭既是生命和死亡的象征，也是希望和恐懼的象征。當過生日的人對著蠟燭許愿時，他/她是在祈求能夠交上好運；當過生日的人吹熄蠟燭時，他/她是在希望自己能掌握即將降臨到自己身上的任何事情。