又中又英｜Serpent and snake
Some years ago, when I was a TV host and a newspaper columnist, a senior official of a big Hong Kong bank often invited me and other friends to snake dinners during the winter. I always accepted but reminded my host I was allergic to snake meat. He always arranged other dishes for me. If you are allergic to something, it means you have a condition that causes illness or discomfort if you eat certain foods. Many years ago, I had lunch at a Chinese restaurant with colleagues who ordered snake soup without telling me.
I had itches all over my body and felt feverish after eating just a little soup. Luckily, it was not an itchy rash. A rash is a lot of small red spots on the skin. An itchy rash is a rash that causes much itchiness. I asked my colleagues what was in the soup. They said chicken meat but then admitted it was snake meat when they saw I was feeling sick. We have entered the Year of the Snake. I have always wondered if people who celebrate Chinese New Year consider it lucky or unlucky to eat snake in the Year of the Snake. What do you think?
Ancient Egypt had snake charmers. A snake charmer is a person who plays a musical instrument to make a snake perform. India also had snake charmers. Different cultures have different beliefs about snakes. In the Bible, the serpent (snake) is associated with Adam and Eve. The serpent, symbolizing Satan, tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. But Chinese and Indian cultures consider snakes to be wise and good creatures. Happy New Year of the Snake!
好些年前，当我还是电视节目主持人和报章专栏作家时，一间香港大银行的高管在冬季期间常邀请我和其他朋友赴蛇宴。我总是应邀，但会提醒主人家我对蛇肉有食物敏感（allergic）。他总是会安排其他餸菜给我。若你对某食物 allergic，意即你进食某种食物时会引发疾病或不适反应。许多年前，我跟同事们在一间中菜馆共进午餐，同事叫了蛇羹却没有告诉我。
我只是喝了一点羹，便全身发痒，并感到有点发烧。还好，那不是 itchy rash。Rash是出疹，即皮肤上出现许多小小的红点；itchy rash 则是会发痒的皮疹。我便问同事汤里有甚么。他们说鸡肉，但当他们见我不适后便承认那是蛇肉。我们已经迈进蛇年了，我总是好奇，庆祝农历新年的人，会认为在蛇年吃蛇算是会带来好运还是厄运？你认为呢？
古代的埃及有snake charmers，snake charmer就是能用乐器弄蛇，让其舞动表演的人。印度也有弄蛇人（snake charmers）。不同的文化对于蛇有不同的信仰。在圣经中，蛇（serpent）跟亚当和夏娃相关，象征撒但的蛇（serpent）诱惑夏蛙去吃禁果。但在中国和印度文化中，蛇被视为聪明和好的生物。祝大家蛇年快乐！
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Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻
