The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
—♦— Queen Elizabeth II —♦—
尽管马来西亚不再是英国殖民地，但却是共和联邦（Commonwealth of Nations)成员国之一。
每年的圣诞节，于格林威治标准时间下午3点正，身为英国女皇兼共和联邦元首的伊丽莎白二世女皇，延续英国皇室传统，发表圣诞文告，并在英国皇室Youtube频道全球广播。
伊丽莎白二世女皇是目前在位最久（63年322天）的女皇，在这第63次的圣诞文告中提及尽管2015年发生了许多不如意的黑暗时刻，但务必时刻充满希望，因为光明一直都在黑暗中闪烁着。
☆ 伊丽莎白二世女皇完整版圣诞文告 ☆
At this time of year, few sights evoke more feelings of cheer and goodwill than the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree.
The popularity of a tree at Christmas is due in part to my great-great grandparents, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. After this touching picture was published, many families wanted a Christmas tree of their own, and the custom soon spread.
In 1949, I spent Christmas in Malta as a newly-married naval wife. We have returned to that island over the years, including last month for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders; and this year I met another group of leaders: The Queen’s Young Leaders, an inspirational group, each of them a symbol of hope in their own Commonwealth communities.
Gathering round the tree gives us a chance to think about the year ahead – I am looking forward to a busy 2016, though I have been warned I may have Happy Birthday sung to me more than once or twice.
It also allows us to reflect on the year that has passed, as we think of those who are far away or no longer with us. Many people say the first Christmas after losing a loved one is particularly hard. But it’s also a time to remember all that we have to be thankful for.
It is true that the world has had to confront moments of darkness this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope, often read at Christmas carol services: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’.
One cause for thankfulness this summer was marking 70 years since the end of the Second World War. On VJ Day, we honoured the remaining veterans of that terrible conflict in the Far East, as well as remembering the thousands who never returned.
The procession from Horse Guards Parade to Westminster Abbey must have been one of the slowest ever, because so many people wanted to say ‘thank you’ to them.
At the end of that war, the people of Oslo began sending an annual gift of a Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square. It has 500 light bulbs and is enjoyed not just by Christians but by people of all faiths, and of none. At the very top sits a bright star, to represent the Star of Bethlehem.
The custom of topping a tree also goes back to Prince Albert’s time. For his family’s tree, he chose an angel, helping to remind us that the focus of the Christmas story is on one particular family.
For Joseph and Mary, the circumstances of Jesus’s birth – in a stable – were far from ideal, but worse was to come as the family was forced to flee the country. It’s no surprise that such a human story still captures our imagination and continues to inspire all of us who are Christians, the world over.
Despite being displaced and persecuted throughout his short life, Christ’s unchanging message was not one of revenge or violence but simply that we should love one another. Although it is not an easy message to follow, we shouldn’t be discouraged; rather, it inspires us to try harder: to be thankful for the people who bring love and happiness into our own lives, and to look for ways of spreading that love to others, whenever and wherever we can.
One of the joys of living a long life is watching one’s children, then grandchildren, then great grandchildren, help decorate the Christmas tree. And this year my family has a new member to join in the fun!
The customary decorations have changed little in the years since that picture of Victoria and Albert’s tree first appeared, although of course electric lights have replaced the candles.
There’s an old saying that ‘it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness’.
There are millions of people lighting candles of hope in our world today. Christmas is a good time to be thankful for them, and for all that brings light to our lives.
I wish you a very happy Christmas.
☆ 圣诞文告完结☆
伊丽莎白二世 @ 维基人物百科
伊利沙伯二世于1952年2月6日登基时，为7个独立国家的女王，即英国、加拿大、澳洲、纽西兰、南非、巴基斯坦和锡兰。 1956至1992年间，她的王国数目有所增减。现时，她是英国、加拿大、澳洲、纽西兰、牙买加、巴巴多斯、巴哈马、格林纳达、巴布亚新畿内亚、所罗门群岛、图瓦卢、圣卢西亚、圣文森特和格林纳丁斯、伯利兹、安提瓜和巴布达、圣基茨和尼维斯的女王。伊丽莎白二世是现今于世在位时间第二长的国家元首（仅次于1946年即位的泰国国王蒲美蓬·阿杜德），同时也超越维多利亚女王的63年216天的纪录成为英国于位时间最长的君主，也是世界上在位最长的女性君主。以她为国家元首的英联邦王国中大约生活着1.4亿人，而以她为元首的英联邦的各成员国中则大约生活着23.3亿人。
