孩子们喜欢在天还黑时醒来，悄悄地溜进起居室看看礼物，摇摇看里面装的是什么，然后回到床上假装熟睡……

　　Ah! Christmas morning! Children like to wake up early while it's still dark and sneak¹ into the living room to check the presents----find any with their name on it, shake them to guess what's inside, and then maybe they'll go back to bed and pretend² they are still asleep when their parents come to wake them with a "Merry Christmas!"

　　But almost no one I know gets completely³ dressed or eats a regular breakfast first thing Christmas morning. They just put on a robe⁴ or wear their pajamas⁵ and go to see what's under the Christmas tree. Some Christian⁶ families have a tradition of reading the Bible⁷ story of Jesus' birth. Maybe it's to remind the children that Christmas is Jesus' birthday.

　　Someone will begin to take the presents out from under the tree, see whose name is on the package, and then pass them around. Some families wait until all the presents have been given out before opening any of them, while others open each one as it comes to them. There are many "thank you" to the ones who gave the gifts, new clothes are tried on to see if they fit, and of course the most interesting toys will immediately be played with.

　　Usually among the Christmas gifts will be some especially delicious candy or cake or cookies which everyone tastes. These sweet things may be the only breakfast many people eat Christmas morning. After the gifts have been opened, the room will be tidied up[5] except where the children are playing with their toys. Everyone will wash and get dressed for the day.

　　Some people may go to a Christmas morning church service around ten o'clock if their church didn't have one on Christmas Eve. But most people will just watch TV. Well, most men will. The children may play outside or inside with their new toys, but the mothers will be in the kitchen preparing Christmas Dinner.

参考译文

　　啊，圣诞节的早晨！孩子们喜欢在天还黑时醒来，悄悄地溜进起居室看看礼物——如果发现上面有自己名字的，就摇摇看里面装的是什么。然后回到床上假装熟睡，等着爸爸妈妈叫醒他们，祝他们“圣诞快乐”。

　　据我所知，圣诞日清晨的第一件事从来不是完整着装或吃一顿正规的早餐。他们只是穿着袍子或睡衣去看看圣诞树下有什么。有些基督家庭有读耶稣出生的圣经故事的传统。可能是想让孩子们记住圣诞节是耶稣的生日。

　　有人开始从圣诞树下拿出礼物，看看谁的名字在上面，彼此传递。有些家庭等礼物全被分发完毕才打开礼物，而有些家庭的人一拿到礼物就打开。对送礼物的人总是声声“谢谢！”，新衣服穿上看是否得体，当然最有趣的玩具会马上拿出来玩。

　　圣诞礼物通常是符合每个人口味的美味糖果，蛋糕和甜饼。这些甜甜的东西可能是许多人圣诞节早餐的唯一内容。礼物被打开之后，除了孩子们玩玩具的地方屋子要彻底打扫。每个人都开始洗漱，为这一天穿着打扮。

　　圣诞前夜教堂里不举行宗教仪式的人可能会在圣诞日十点钟去参加一个晨宗教仪式。但是大多数人会看电视。噢，是大多数男士。孩子们会在屋外或屋内玩玩具，母亲们在厨房里准备圣诞正餐。