野餐从何而来

2016-03-12FionaCAI

新东方英语·中学版 2016年3期

Fiona+CAI

In our world today， picnic simply means a pleasurable outing at which a tasty meal is eaten outdoors， preferably in a beautiful landscape. But did you know that the relaxing and carefree act of eating outdoors and sharing quality time with those you care about has its roots back in medieval times in England？

Picnics evolved from the elaborate1） traditions of outdoor feasts enjoyed by the wealthy. Medieval hunting feasts and Renaissance era country banquets can be credited with laying the foundation of the outdoor dining experiences we enjoy today. The history of picnicking is credited to the Europeans， and nowadays people all around the world enjoy participating in these leisurely outings.

In Europe during the 14th century， the earliest picnics were medieval hunting feasts in England. These feasts before the hunt began were of special importance and the main foods that could be found at these feasts would be hams， baked meats and pastries2）.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary （2nd edition， volume XI， p. 779）， a picnic originally means "a fashionable social entertainment in which each person present contributed a share of the provisions3）； now， a pleasure party including an excursion4） to some spot in The country where all partake of5） a repast6） out of doors： the participants may bring with them individually the viands7） and means of entertainment， or the whole may be provided by someone who 'gives the picnic'".

The oldest print evidence of the word picnic in the English language can be traced back to 1748， according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The word picnic was known in France， Germany and Sweden before it became part of the English society. According to Wikipedia， a free online encyclopedia， "the first usage of the word picnic was traced to a 16th century French text， describing a group of people dining in a restaurant who brought their own wine". A theory has it that the word picnic is based on the verb piquer which means "pick" or "peck" with the rhyming nique perhaps meaning trifle. The 1692 edition of Origines de la Langue Franqoise de Ménage， which mentions "piquenique" as being of recent origin， marks the first appearance of the word picnic in print. The word picnic first appeared in English texts in the mid-1700s， and may have entered the English language from this French word or from the German Picknick.

Hundreds of years ago， a picnic meant a potluck8）， an entertainment at which each person contributed some dishes to a common table for all to share. The change in the meaning of the term， from "everyone bringing some food" to "everyone eating out of doors" seems to have been completed by the 1860s. Dining outdoors with a casual atmosphere， no strict course9） menu and jovial10） company is something that has taken hold of not only the European countries， but in the United States. By the mid-19th century， Americans had also adopted a flair11） for picnicking.

In America， we are a cultural melting pot， and there are many types of foods and cultural practices available to flair a picnic outing. There are many different types of culinary dishes and recipes which can be prepared for a picnic. Your environment might also influence the recipes you decide to make and bring along on your outdoor dining experience. If you are from the north-eastern states， you might decide to bring along a thermos12） of clam chowder13）， a variety of sweet and tasty cheeses and meats， along with your favorite red or white wine. If you are picnicking in the southern states， a hefty14） supply of delicious BBQ and a cooler full of your favorite beers will satisfy you and your guests！ A delicious blend of aromatic15） coffee with a selection of cheeses， cold cut meats and breads would suffice for a pleasant picnic no matter your location. For mid-western states， hamburgers， chili and biscuits and a crisp16）， cold beverage would soothe the soul. For western states， a variety of upscale dining such as lobster or sushi with a heavenly dose of white wine would complete the picnic affair.

Gourmet delicacies no matter your location will supply you with an alternative to the traditional selection of sandwiches and salads. As long as you are relaxing， enjoying the scenery and affable17） company with scrumptious18） foods .... You are practicing the art of picnicking！

春暖花开的阳春三月，或携友结伴而行，或举家出行，带上自己喜爱的便携美食，走进海滨山谷、乡村麦田、林间湖畔、郊外公园……野餐不仅仅是在怡人的美景中享受美食，还是一个与家人、朋友交流感情的机会。那么，野餐这一健康、自然的户外休闲活动是怎么来的呢？一起来了解一下吧！

在当今世界，野餐意味的只是一次愉快的出游，期间在户外吃上一顿美味的餐食，最好还能置身于美景之中。但是你知道吗？在户外用餐并和你在意的人一起享受美好时光，这种无忧无虑的放松行为可以追溯到中世纪的英格兰。

野餐是从富人们所喜爱的户外宴会这一讲究的传统演变而来的。我们现在所喜爱的户外用餐体验，其基础的奠定都可以归功于中世纪的狩猎宴会以及文艺复兴时期的乡村宴会。野餐的历史要归功于欧洲人，现如今全世界的人们都喜欢参加这种悠闲的出游活动。

在14世纪的欧洲，最早的野餐是英格兰的狩猎宴会。这些在狩猎开始前举办的宴会有其独特的重要性，在这些宴会上，人们可以看到的食物主要是火腿、烤肉以及点心。

根据《牛津英语大词典》（第二版，第11卷，第779页），“野餐”原指“一种时髦的社交娱乐活动，每位出席者都贡献一份食物；现指一次愉快的聚会，包括去乡村的某个地方远足，所有人都会在那里享用一顿户外的餐食：参与者可以自行准备食物，设计娱乐活动的形式，或者这一切也可以都由‘野餐组织者来提供”。

根据《牛津英语大词典》，英语中“picnic”一词最早存在的印刷证据可以追溯到1748年。“野餐”一词在成为英国社会的一部分之前，已经在法国、德国和瑞典为人所知。按照免费在线百科全书维基百科的说法，“‘野餐一词的第一次使用可以追溯到16世纪的一篇法语文章中，那篇文章描述了一群自带葡萄酒去饭店吃饭的人”。还有一种观点认为“picnic”一词是基于（法语）动词“piquer”（意为“拿起”或者“啄起”），并带有押韵词“nique”（可能意为“琐碎的东西”）。1692年版的《法语的起源》提及“piquenique”一词并指出其新近才出现，这标志着“野餐”一词首次在出版物中亮相。“野餐”一词首次出现在英语文本中则是在18世纪中叶，它可能是从这个法语单词或者德语单词“Picknick”演变而来，并成为英语词汇的。

几百年前，野餐指的是一顿百乐餐，一种每个人都为共同的餐桌贡献一些菜肴供所有人享用的娱乐活动。在19世纪60年代，这个词语的意思似乎完成了从“每个人带一些食物来”到“所有人在户外吃饭”的转变。在户外放松的氛围中进餐，没有严格上菜次序的餐食却有愉快的陪伴，这种方式不仅在欧洲国家深入人心，在美国亦是如此。到19世纪中叶，美国人也接纳了这种对野餐的热爱。

美国是一个文化的大熔炉，有各种类型的食物和文化习俗可以使户外野餐新颖、独特，还有很多不同类型的可备野餐之用的美味佳肴和菜谱。你所处的环境可能也会影响你决定在户外野餐之旅中做什么吃的和带什么吃的。如果你来自东北部那些州，你可能会带上一保温瓶的蛤蜊浓汤、各种香甜美味的奶酪和肉类，以及你最喜欢的红葡萄酒或白葡萄酒。如果你在南方那些州野餐，管够的美味烤肉再加上满满一保温箱你最爱喝的啤酒会让你和你的宾客们觉得心满意足。不论你身在何处，香浓的咖啡配上精心挑选的奶酪、冷切肉和面包，这样美味的搭配对于一次愉快的野餐而言足矣。对于中西部的州而言，汉堡包、辣椒酱、饼干以及凉爽的冷饮便可以让心灵得到抚慰。至于西部各州，诸如配有海量白葡萄酒的龙虾或者寿司之类的各种高档料理将会让野餐十分完美。

不论你身在何处，美味佳肴都为你提供了一种可以替代三明治配沙拉这种传统野餐菜肴的选择。只要你能够放轻松，享受美景、美食，有令人愉快的人相伴……你就是在实践野餐的艺术！

1.elaborate [??l?b?r?t] adj. 精致的，讲究的

2.pastry [?pe?stri] n. 烤焙花式食品（如蛋糕、小甜面包等）

3.provision [pr??v??n] n. 供应品（尤指食物及其他生活必需品）

4.excursion [?k?sk???n] n. 远足；短途旅行

5.partake of：分食

6.repast [r??pɑ?st] n. 餐

7.viands [?vai?nds] n. [复]各种食品（尤指美食）

8.potluck [p?t?l?k] n. 参加聚餐的每个人各带一味菜肴供共享的）百乐餐

9.course [k??s] n. 一道菜；餐

10.jovial [?d???vi?l] adj. 快乐的

11.flair [fle?（r）] n. 癖好；热情。vt. 使新颖、独特