书城外语课外英语-美国各州小知识(八)(双语版)
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第14章 新墨西哥州(3)

State Flag州旗

本州州旗是以一片黄色为背景色,上面有红色象征物,它们都是代表西班牙的颜色。1540年西班牙殖民者首次将此旗带到新墨西哥州。在新墨西哥州上,我们可以看到光芒四射的太阳。太阳的四道光芒象征:东西南北,春夏秋冬,日出、正午、傍晚和夜晚,孩童时期、青春时期、中期时期和老年时期。

The first flag of New Mexico statehood(州的状态或地位)was designed by New Mexico historian Ralph Emerson Twitchell,as authorized in 1915.It consisted of a blue field with a miniature(微型的,缩小的)United States flag in the upper left corner,the state’s great seal in the lower right corner and New Mexico embroidered diagonally(对角地)across the field from the lower left to the upper right corner.

In 1920,the New Mexico Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution(D.A.R.)advocated the adoption of a flag representative of New Mexico’s unique character.Three years later,the D.A.R.conducted a design competition which was won by the distinguished Santa Fe physician and archeologist(考古学家),Dr.Harry Mera.The doctor’s wife,Reba,made the winning flag design with a symbolic(象征的,符号的)red Zia on a field of yellow.In March of 1925,Governor Arthur T.Hannett signed the legislation which proclaimed(宣布,声明)the Mera design as the official state flag.

The State Flag of New Mexico has a modern interpretation(解释,阐明)of an ancient symbol of a sun design as seen on a late 19th century water jar from Zia Pueblo.This pueblo(印第安人村庄)is thought to have been one of the Seven Golden Cities of Cibola,which explorer Vasquez de Coronado sought.The red sun symbol was called the Zia and is shown on a field of yellow.This distinctive design reflects the pueblo’s tribal philosophy,with its wealth of pantheistic(泛神论的)spiritualism(唯心论,招魂说,灵性)teaching the basic harmony(协调,融洽)of all things in the universe.Four is the sacred number of Zia,and the figure is composed of a circle from which four points radiate.To the Zia Indian,the sacred number is embodied(具体表达)in the earth with its four main directions;in the year with its four seasons;in the day,with sunrise,noon,evening and night;in life,with its four divisions—childhood,youth,adulthood(成人期)and old age.Everything is bound together in a circle of life,without beginning,without end.The Zia believe,too,that in this great brotherhood of all things,man has four sacred obligations:he must develop a strong body,a clear mind,a pure spirit,and a devotion to the welfare of his people.

The red and yellow are the colors of Isabel of Castilla which the Spanish Conquistadors(西班牙征服者)brought to the New World.The symbol’s proportions are fixed by legislative act,with the four groups of rays set at right angles,the two inner rays onefifth longer than the outer rays.The diameter of the circle in the center is one third the width of the symbol.

The flags of Spain,the Republic of Mexico,the Confederate States((美国南北战争时的)南部邦联)of America,and the United States of America have all flown over the land of Enchantment during the long history of the state.

The words to the salute(行礼致敬,敬礼)were composed by Mrs.T.K.Martin,Mrs.W.B.Oldham,Mrs.Thomas E.Mears,Jr.,and Mrs.James D.Turner of the Portales Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.Mr.Thomas E.Mears,Jr.wrote the proposal for presentation to the 26th Legislature which adopted the salute on March 13,1963.The Spanish version was translated by Maria E.Naranjo of Larragoite School in Santa Fe,and adopted by the 31st Legislature in 1973.

State Song州歌

O,Fair New Mexico

Under a sky of azure(天蓝色,碧空),

Where balmy[(空气)温和的]breezes blow,

Kissed by the golden sunshine,

Is Nuevo Mejico.

Land of the Montezuma,

With firey hearts aglow(通红的,发红的),

Land of the deeds historic,

Is Nuevo Mejico.

O,Fair New Mexico,

We love,we love you so,

Our hearts with pride o’reflow,

No matter where we go.

O,Fair New Mexico,

We love,we love you so,

The grandest state to know

New Mexico.

Rugged and high sierras([地]齿状山脊,[鱼]马鲛),

With deep canyons((瑞士市镇尼翁制造的)尼翁陶器)below,

Dotted with fertile valleys,

Is Nuevo Mejico.

Fields full of sweet alfalfa([植]紫花苜蓿),

Richest perfumes bestow(给予,安放),

State of apple blossoms(开花),

Is Nuevo Mejico.

O,Fair New Mexico,

We love,we love you so,

Our hearts with pride o’reflow,

No matter where we go.

O,Fair New Mexico,

We love,we love you so,

The grandest state to know

New Mexico.

Days that are full of heartdreams,

Nights when the moon hangs low;

Beaming its benedictions(祝福),

O’er Nuevo Mejico.

Land with its bright manana,

Coming through weal and woe;

State of esperanza(埃斯波兰萨分级机),

Is Nuevo Mejico.

O,Fair New Mexico,

We love,we love you so,

Our hearts with pride o’reflow,

No matter where we go.

O,Fair New Mexico,

We love,we love you so,

The grandest state to know

New Mexico.

Facts and Trivia相关资料

1.Santa Fe is the highest capital city in the United States at 7,000feet above sea level.

2.The province that was once Spanish New Mexico included all of present day New Mexico,most of Colorado and Arizona,and slices(部分))of Utah,Texas,Oklahoma,Kansas and Wyoming.The Original American Territory of New Mexico that congress created in 1850included all of New Mexico and Arizona plus parts of Colorado,Nevada,and Utah.The boundaries of present day New Mexico were drawn by congress in 1863but New Mexico didn’t become a state until 1912.

3.Each October Albuquerque hosts the world’s largest international hot air balloon fiesta(节日(特指在西班牙和拉丁美洲以游行和舞蹈来庆祝的节日),祭典,圣日,假日).

4.Las Cruces makes the world’s largest enchilada(以辣椒调味之一种墨西哥菜)the first weekend in October at the“Whole Enchilada Fiesta”.

5.Lakes and Rivers make up only 0.002%of the state’s total surface area.The lowest watertoland ratio of all 50states.Most of New Mexico’s lakes are manmade reservoirs.A dam on the Rio Grande formed the Elephant Butte Reservoir the state’s largest lake.

6.The Rio Grande[(美国和墨西哥之间的)格兰德河)is New Mexico’s longest river and runs the entire length of New Mexico.

7.The world’s first Atomic Bomb was detonated(引爆)on July 16,1945on the White Sands Testing Range near Alamogordo.North of the impact point a small placard(布告)marks the area known as Trinity Site.The bomb was designed and manufactured in Los Alamos.

8.White Sands National Monument is a desert,not of sand,but of gleaming white gypsum([矿]石膏,[农]石膏肥料)crystals(水晶,晶体).

9.Hatch is known as the“Green Chile capital of the world”.

10.New Mexico is home of Philmont Scout Ranch located in Cimarron.