爱思英语编者按：每到六月，牛津就会出现一种奇怪的现象——事实上它发生在大部分的英国大学。突然间，你至少一半的朋友都在同一星期步入二十一岁。
英国大学生的奇葩习惯之21岁生日季
每到六月，牛津就会出现一种奇怪的现象——事实上它发生在大部分的英国大学。突然间，你至少一半的朋友都在同一星期步入二十一岁。更准确地说，都在他们期末考试结束后的第二天。奇怪的是，你确切地记得他们去年的生日都在四月底、五月或六月初……欢迎来到“毕业生季日会”！
Something odd happens mid-June in Oxford – and indeed, at most British universities. Suddenly, it transpires that at least half of your friends turn 21 in exactly the same week – more specifically, exactly two days after their last exam finishes. Rather peculiar, as you’re sure that last year their birthday fell in late April, or May, or early June… Welcome to the “Finalist Birthday”.
对于所有不幸出生在夏季学期的可怜人来说，想要在真实生日当天庆祝二十一岁是不大可能的。就算他们自己有足够信心，不用花时间为考试复习，他们也没法说服那些埋头苦学的朋友们抽空来派对。因此，许多四月出生的学生神奇地暂时“忘记”了自己的二十一岁生日，直到期末考试全部结束——然后就是真正的派对时间！
但是你要如何理直气壮地办一场“期末生日会”呢？作为一个出生于五月六号——也就是期末考试开始前十三天的悲惨学子，让我用亲身经历告诉你，这并不简单！
For all those poor souls unfortunate enough to be born in summer term, celebrating a 21st birthday on the actual anniversary of their birth is out of the question. Even if they feel confident enough about exams themselves to take time off revising, they’re unlikely to convince many friends to emerge from their studying caves for a party. Thus many spring-born finalists magically “forget” to turn 21 until all their exams are out of the way – and it’s time for a real party.
But how do you convincingly have a “Finalist Birthday”? As someone whose birthday fell on May 6th – exactly 13 days before my final exams started – let me tell you, it’s not easy…
必做事项
首先，一定要选择你所有朋友都能来的一天作为自己的“生日”。我的考试比我最好的朋友的考试早三周结束，但我在决定派对时间时并没有考虑到这一点。结果就是，我的生日派对正好在她第一场考试的前一天！当然最终她还是原谅我了……
... pick a “birthday” that all your friends can come to. My exams finished three weeks before my best friend’s did – something I hadn’t bargained on when I announced my party. It turned out to be the night before her first exam. She forgave me – eventually…
禁忌事项
别让你的“生日”和舞会之类的大日子撞上。这看上去是个好主意——大家都打扮得很漂亮，自己掏钱买了食物和饮料，还会有很多娱乐活动——但你将不会成为派对上人人关注的焦点！毕竟这本来就是生日派对的意义！
... coincide your “birthday” with a big event like a ball. It seems like a good idea – everyone will be dressed up, have paid for their own food and drink, and there’ll be lots of entertainment – but you won’t be the centre of attention. And what else are birthdays for?
必做事项
接受一个残酷的现实吧，那就是扫兴的家伙们不会安分待着，他们会不停地戳穿你的假生日派对。在我的生日派对上，一个平时就不怎么受欢迎的熟人固执地不断提醒我：“这并不是你真正的二十一岁生日吧？？是吗？？”遇上这种悲剧，你只能试着无视，别管他们怎么说。。。
... accept that party poopers will try to ruin your fake birthday by refusing to play along. A slightly obnoxious acquaintance persistently reminded me at my own party that, “of course, it’s not actually your 21st birthday, is it?” Such miseries should be ignored. And whatever happens…
禁忌事项
别克制自己，一定要办一场奢侈放肆的生日派对！我的意思是，一定要买一个有二十一根蜡烛的生日蛋糕，一定要坚持整晚戴着派对帽子或者巨大的21字徽章，特别是一定要坚持让大家对你唱生日歌！至少两次！
... refrain from having an extravagant “birthday”. By which I mean, do get a cake with 21 candles, do insist on wearing a party hat or giant 21 badge all night, and definitely insist on everyone singing Happy Birthday to you. At least twice.
必做事项
记得告诉你的死党们，等到派对当天再送你礼物，特别是如果你想收到一个精心准备的生日礼物，而不是在自习休息时匆匆买下的毫无诚意的代金礼券。
... ask your close friends to leave present giving until the party, especially if you want a thoughtful gift, rather than a voucher hastily purchased in a five-minute library break.
禁忌事项
不过，可别指望你的父母也配合你演这出期毕业生季日会的戏码，并在“生日”当天给你送上礼物或者真挚的祝福。就算你把facebook主页上的生日都改了，也别指望这两位含辛茹苦把你生出来的亲人“忘记”你的二十一岁生日。
... however, expect your parents to also leave any presents or general well wishing until your “Finalist Birthday”. Even if you change your birthday on Facebook, you will not convince the people present on your actual day of birth to ‘forget’ when you turn 21.
必做事项
最后，记得熟练运用这次推迟生日的成功经验，之后你就能轻车熟路地“忘记”让自己又老一岁的生日了！这样你就永远不会迈入三十岁，青春永驻，年轻万岁！
... acknowledge that a successful delay of your birthday sets a precedent. Become an expert at ‘forgetting’ when you become a year older, and you will never have to admit to being 30. Eternal youth is at your fingertips…
