Holy Bath

A paper suit is a risky thing to wear to the beach．It' s even riskier if you plan to go into the water．But that doesn' t matter to the people of Oporto'1），northern Portugal．Every year on the eve of Saint Bartholomew's Day which is due on August ２４，they happily don their colorful paper outfits and swarm2） down to the strand3） en masse．One costumed man，designated Neptune――for a day――presides over a mock battle between paper－clad"pirates"and equally paper－clad"landlubbers．"Afterwards，"Neptune4）"rides his carriage straight into the waves and everyone piles in after him．Locals maintain that their festival，flimsy garb and all，is of ancient origin，and that the communal5） dip taken this day is a "holy bath，"worth seven ordinary baths in its power to cleanse the swimmer of evil and sin．

圣 浴 节

穿纸装去海滩是件很冒险的事情，如果你打算穿着它到水里风险就更大了。但葡萄牙北部波尔图市的人对此并不在意。每年，在８月２４日的圣巴托罗缪节的前夕，他们愉快地穿上五彩缤纷的纸制的服装，成群结队涌上海滩。其中一个人在这一天里装扮成海神尼普顿，主持身着纸服的海盗和旱鸭子之间的一场模拟决斗。之后，海神驾着马车直冲海浪，所有的人都蜂拥其后。当地人认为他们的节日，包括薄纸做的服装等习俗都源远流长，并认为这天这种集体性的洗浴是"圣浴"，其洗清游泳者邪恶和罪行的力量相当于普通洗浴的７倍。

NOTE 注释：

1. Oporto (=Porto)波尔图(葡萄牙港市)

2. swarm v.一大群涌往

3. strand n. 海滨，海岸

4. Neptune n. [天]海王星

5. communal adj. 公共的, 公社的
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