萬(wàn)圣節(jié)簡(jiǎn)介(中，英文版)
關(guān)于萬(wàn)圣節(jié)有這樣一個(gè)故事。是說(shuō)有一個(gè)叫杰克的愛(ài)爾半蘭人，因?yàn)樗麑?duì)錢(qián)特別的吝嗇，就不允許他進(jìn)入天堂，而被打入地獄。但是在那里他老是捉弄魔鬼撒旦，所以被踢出地獄，罰他提著燈籠永遠(yuǎn)在人世里行走。在十月三十一日愛(ài)爾蘭的孩子們用土豆和羅卜制作“杰克的燈籠”，他們把中間挖掉、表面上打洞并在里邊點(diǎn)上蠟燭。為村里慶祝督伊德神的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)，孩子們提著這種燈籠挨家挨戶(hù)乞計(jì)食物。?這種燈籠的愛(ài)爾蘭名字是“拿燈籠的杰克”或者“杰克的燈籠”，縮寫(xiě)為Jack-o'-lantern ?在拼寫(xiě)為jack-o-lantern。 現(xiàn)在你在大多數(shù)書(shū)里讀到的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)只是孩子們開(kāi)心的夜晚。在小學(xué)校里，萬(wàn)圣節(jié)是每年十月份開(kāi)始慶祝的。孩子們會(huì)制作萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的裝飾品：各種各樣桔紅色的南瓜燈。你可以用黑色的紙做一個(gè)可怕的造形??一個(gè)騎在掃帚把上戴著尖尖帽子的女巫飛過(guò)天空，或者是黑蝙蝠飛過(guò)月亮。這些都代表惡運(yùn)。當(dāng)然黑貓代表運(yùn)氣更差。有時(shí)候會(huì)出現(xiàn)黑貓騎在女巫掃帚后面飛向天空的造形。在萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的晚上，我們都穿著爸爸媽媽的舊衣服和舊鞋子，戴上面具，打算外出。比我們小的孩子必須和他們的母親一塊出去，我們大一點(diǎn)的就一起哄到領(lǐng)居家，按他們的門(mén)鈴并大聲喊道：“惡作劇還是招待!”意思是給我們吃的，要不我們就捉弄你。里邊的人們應(yīng)該出?評(píng)價(jià)我們的化裝。 “噢!這是鬼，那是女巫，這是個(gè)老太婆。” 有時(shí)候他們會(huì)跟我們一起玩，假裝被鬼或者女巫嚇著了。但是他們通常會(huì)帶一些糖果或者蘋(píng)果放進(jìn)我們的“惡作劇還是招待”的口袋里�？墒且菦](méi)人回答門(mén)鈴或者是有人把我們趕開(kāi)該怎么辦呢?我們就捉弄他們，通常是拿一塊肥皂把他們的玻璃涂得亂七八糟。然后我們回家，數(shù)數(shù)誰(shuí)的糖果最多。還有一個(gè)典型的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)花招是把一卷手紙拉開(kāi)，不停地往樹(shù)上扔，直到樹(shù)全被白紙裹起?。除非下大雪或大雨把紙沖掉，紙會(huì)一直呆在樹(shù)上。這并不造成真正的傷害，只是把樹(shù)和院子搞亂，一種萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的惡作劇。
HALLOWEEN One story about Jack, an Irishman, who was not allowed into Heaven because he was stingy with his money. So he was sent to hell. But down there he played tricks on the Devil (Satan), so he was kicked out of Hell and made to walk the earth forever carrying a lantern. Well, Irish children made Jack's lanterns on October 31st from a large potato or turnip, hollowed out with the sides having holes and lit by little candles inside. And Irish children would carry them as they went from house to house begging for food for the village Halloween festival that honored the Druid god Muck Olla. The Irish name for these lanterns was "Jack with the lantern" or "Jack of the lantern," abbreviated as " Jack-o'-lantern" and now spelled "jack-o-lantern." The traditional Halloween you can read about in most books was just children's fun night. Halloween celebrations would start in October in every elementary school. Children would make Halloween decorations, all kinds of orange-paper jack-o-lanterns. And from black paper you'd cut "scary" designs ---an evil witch with a pointed hat riding through the sky on a broomstick, maybe with black bats flying across the moon, and that meant bad luck. And of course black cats for more bad luck. Sometimes a black cat would ride away into the sky on the back of the witch's broom. And on Halloween night we'd dress up in Mom or Dad's old shoes and clothes, put on a mask, and be ready to go outside. The little kids (children younger than we were) had to go with thEir mothers, but we older ones went together to nEIghbors' houses, ringing their doorbell and yelling, "Trick or treat!" meaning, "Give us a treat (something to eat) or we'll play a trick on you!" The people inside were supposed to come to the door and comment on our costumes. Oh! here's a ghost. Oh, there's a witch. Oh, here's an old lady. Sometimes they would play along with us and Ptend to be scared by some ghost or witch. But they would always have some candy and maybe an apple to put in our "trick or treat bags." But what if no one come to the door, or if someone chased us away? Then we'd play a trick on them, usually taking a piece of soap and make marks on their windows. .And afterwards we would go home and count who got the most candy. One popular teen-agers' Halloween trick was to unroll a roll of toilet paper and throw it high into a tree again and again until the tree was all wrapped in the white paper. The paper would often stay in the tree for weeks until a heavy snow or rain washed it off. No real harm done, but it made a big mess of both the tree and the yard under it. One kind of Halloween mischief.
萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的由來(lái)
在西方國(guó)家，每年的十月三十一日，有個(gè)Halloween，辭典解釋為 “The eve of All Saints'Day”，中文譯作：萬(wàn)圣節(jié)之夜。
關(guān)于萬(wàn)圣節(jié)，人們或多或少都有了一定的感性認(rèn)知：知道萬(wàn)圣節(jié)期 間，許多公共場(chǎng)所乃至居家院落，都會(huì)布置上很多裝璜，諸如各式鬼怪 呀、南瓜燈呀、還有黑貓以及巫婆的掃帚之類(lèi);孩子們會(huì)穿上每年不一 樣的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)服裝，拎著南瓜燈的提簍去挨家挨戶(hù)地討糖，說(shuō)是“trick or treak”。除此之外，你還想多知道一點(diǎn)嗎?我們?cè)诖撕?jiǎn)單介紹一下 萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的由來(lái)與習(xí)俗。
一、萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的由來(lái)：
關(guān)于萬(wàn)圣節(jié)由來(lái)的，傳說(shuō)最多的版本認(rèn)為，那是源于基督誕生前的古西歐國(guó)家，主要包括愛(ài)爾蘭、蘇格蘭和威爾士。這幾處的古西歐人叫德魯伊特人。德魯伊特的新年在十一月一日，新年前夜，德魯伊特人讓年輕人集隊(duì)，戴著各種怪異面具，拎著刻好的蘿卜燈(南瓜燈系后期習(xí)俗，古西歐最早沒(méi)有南瓜)，他們游走于村落間。這在當(dāng)時(shí)實(shí)則為一種秋收的慶典;也有說(shuō)是“鬼節(jié)”，傳說(shuō)當(dāng)年死去的人，靈魂會(huì)在萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的前夜造訪人世，據(jù)說(shuō)人們應(yīng)該讓造訪的鬼魂看到圓滿(mǎn)的收成并對(duì)鬼魂呈現(xiàn)出豐盛的款待。所有篝火及燈火，一來(lái)為了嚇走鬼魂，同時(shí)也為鬼魂照亮路線(xiàn)，引導(dǎo)其回歸。 在中世紀(jì)的中歐，曾有過(guò)基督教摧毀異教徒的歷史�？墒切履暌骨暗募漓霊c典從未真正消除，不過(guò)以巫術(shù)的形式出現(xiàn)。這也就是為什么我們現(xiàn)在的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)里，還留有巫婆的掃帚、黑貓、咒語(yǔ)等痕跡。
二、Halloween一詞的產(chǎn)生：
很多民族都在萬(wàn)圣節(jié)前夜有慶典聚會(huì)，這又被叫做“All Hallow E'en”、“The Eve of All Hallows”、“Hallow e'en”，或者“The eve of All Saintas'Day”。最終約定俗成演變成了“Halloween”，中文意譯成了萬(wàn)圣節(jié)之夜。
三、“Trick or treat”的傳說(shuō)：
孩子們今天著裝挨家要糖的習(xí)俗，據(jù)說(shuō)起源于愛(ài)爾蘭。古西歐時(shí)候的愛(ài)爾蘭異教徒們，相信在萬(wàn)圣節(jié)前夜鬼魂會(huì)群集于居家附近，并接受設(shè)宴款待。因而，在“宴會(huì)”結(jié)束后，村民們就自己扮成鬼魂精靈，游走村外，引導(dǎo)鬼魂離開(kāi)，避邪免災(zāi)。于此同時(shí)，村民們也都注意在屋前院后的擺布些水果及其他食品，喂足鬼魂而不至于讓它們傷害人類(lèi)和動(dòng)物或者掠奪其他收成。后來(lái)這習(xí)俗一直延續(xù)下來(lái)，就成了孩子們?nèi)⌒Σ豢犊业耐嫘ΑＶ劣谀瞎蠠粢仓辽儆袃煞N說(shuō)法。一種說(shuō)是人挖空了南瓜又刻上鬼臉點(diǎn)上燭火用以驅(qū)散鬼的;另一種說(shuō)是鬼魂點(diǎn)上的燭火，試圖騙取人們上當(dāng)而跟著鬼魂走，所以人們就在南瓜表面刻上一個(gè)嘲諷的臉面，用以調(diào)笑鬼魂：哼!傻瓜才會(huì)上你的當(dāng)。傳說(shuō)因?yàn)槭子媚瞎系氖且晃粣?ài)爾蘭人Jack，所以人們又將鬼臉南瓜燈叫做Jack-O-Lantern。
四、現(xiàn)在的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)
萬(wàn)圣節(jié)流傳到今天已經(jīng)完全沒(méi)有了宗教迷信色彩，它成了一個(gè)孩子們的節(jié)目，也是年輕人化裝舞會(huì)的節(jié)目。
社會(huì)對(duì)節(jié)日的活動(dòng)也一直做著正面的引導(dǎo)：要求大人教育孩子們不做恐嚇性的惡作劇，也要求大人帶孩子一起出門(mén)(一般是大人架車(chē)停在路邊，小孩去敲門(mén)討糖)。大人應(yīng)該要求孩子只許去門(mén)口有節(jié)日布置的并點(diǎn)了燈的人家，否則不去打擾。另外討糖過(guò)程的始終必須站在大門(mén)口等待，不許進(jìn)屋，討回的糖也要交大人檢查后才許吃。對(duì)接待孩子的人家也要求不給自家制作的食品也不給未包裝的食品。
公共場(chǎng)合以及居家周?chē)墓?jié)日布置都是自愿的。鬼臉南瓜燈、白網(wǎng)黑蜘蛛等，都是節(jié)日的裝點(diǎn)，已全然沒(méi)有駭人之鬼魅色彩。有的女學(xué)生還端端在這時(shí)候會(huì)買(mǎi)一對(duì)南瓜或者鬼骷髏的耳環(huán)來(lái)佩帶。如果有哪家的布置做得過(guò)分恐怖了，會(huì)遭到有關(guān)方面的制止，媒體也會(huì)令其暴光，讓公眾指責(zé)。
萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的服裝，也是萬(wàn)人萬(wàn)相，不是單調(diào)的大鬼小鬼了。有許多渠道教授人們?nèi)绾沃谱魅f(wàn)圣節(jié)服裝。比如說(shuō)制作最簡(jiǎn)單的鬼服就用一張白床單頂在頭上，別忘了扣兩個(gè)洞留出眼睛就是;若是要扮演魔術(shù)師，就穿上黑衣黑褲，再戴上黑禮帽，并在禮帽與頭頂之間藏一只絨毛小兔備用;還教大人如何把孩子打扮成小天使，白衣白褲，再?gòu)谋澈笤趺唇壱粋�(gè)手電筒在頭上;也有教如何把孩子打扮成他們喜歡的卡通形象的。當(dāng)然服裝、道具業(yè)的商人們，就更有文章可做了。
學(xué)校在萬(wàn)圣節(jié)是不放假的。有時(shí)學(xué)校出面組織晚會(huì)，有時(shí)不甘寂寞的學(xué)生們也會(huì)自己主辦小型晚會(huì);而朋友、家人間互寄賀卡祝萬(wàn)圣節(jié)快樂(lè)則成為每年十月間流行的習(xí)俗。如今網(wǎng)際網(wǎng)路的發(fā)達(dá)使得送萬(wàn)圣卡更為方便經(jīng)濟(jì)，有的網(wǎng)站還別出心裁地設(shè)計(jì)了各種具有聲響動(dòng)畫(huà)效果的萬(wàn)圣卡 總之，萬(wàn)圣節(jié)已成為西方人一個(gè)很普通的季節(jié)性節(jié)日。有很多人將此看作秋的結(jié)束以及冬的到來(lái)。萬(wàn)圣節(jié)一過(guò)，人們就開(kāi)始期盼感恩節(jié)、圣誕節(jié)乃至新年了。
萬(wàn)圣節(jié)
萬(wàn)圣節(jié)在西方又稱(chēng)為"鬼節(jié)"，為每年的十月三十一日，現(xiàn)在"南瓜燈"、"巫婆的掃帚"、"黑貓"以及各式鬼怪的服裝都已成為萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的標(biāo)志，萬(wàn)圣節(jié)已演變成除了圣誕節(jié)、感恩節(jié)之外的西方歷史悠久的第三大節(jié)日，許多地方在這一天到來(lái)之際舉辦盛大的化妝舞會(huì)來(lái)慶祝。
萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的起源
最早是公元前，那時(shí)的新年是十一月一日，在這一天的前一夜稱(chēng)為圣夜，所有的靈魂會(huì)在萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的前夜造訪人世，造訪的鬼魂看到圓滿(mǎn)的收成并有豐盛的款待才不會(huì)在人間鬧事。所有篝火及燈火，一來(lái)為了嚇走鬼魂，同時(shí)也為鬼魂照亮路線(xiàn)，引導(dǎo)其回歸。住在英倫三島、愛(ài)爾蘭、法國(guó)一帶的凱爾特人每逢10月31日舉行慶�；顒�(dòng)。這一天晚上，他們預(yù)備了許多美味佳肴，讓善良的鬼來(lái)吃，或者在曠野的山丘上燃起篝火，讓明亮的火焰招來(lái)善鬼，驅(qū)走惡魔，這些大概是鬼節(jié)的最早形式了。后來(lái)，"鬼節(jié)"與基督教相結(jié)合，成為圣徒們的一個(gè)傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日，才成為現(xiàn)在的"萬(wàn)圣節(jié)"。
萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的活動(dòng)
現(xiàn)在的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的活動(dòng)多種多樣，19世紀(jì)末，最早的愛(ài)爾蘭和蘇格蘭人民開(kāi)始過(guò)萬(wàn)圣節(jié)前夜，愛(ài)爾蘭移民把萬(wàn)圣節(jié)前夜的習(xí)俗帶到了美國(guó)，后來(lái)又傳入哥侖比亞及其它拉丁美洲國(guó)家。大部分是在教堂里進(jìn)行的。而美國(guó)和加拿大的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)成了孩子們的天堂，墨西哥的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)卻又不同于這些國(guó)家，在北京許多商家也不錯(cuò)過(guò)這樣的好機(jī)會(huì)�，F(xiàn)在北京過(guò)萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的人們?cè)絹?lái)越多，不少外國(guó)友人將家安在了北京，但是不會(huì)忘記這個(gè)節(jié)日，他們大多會(huì)在家里過(guò)節(jié)，而在北京的酒吧則熱鬧非常。
萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的節(jié)目
電視臺(tái)在萬(wàn)圣節(jié)期間也相繼播出一些科學(xué)探險(xiǎn)活動(dòng)以及不解之迷，更增加了神秘的節(jié)日氣氛，有關(guān)萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的節(jié)目請(qǐng)您關(guān)注這里。
萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的起源
關(guān)于萬(wàn)圣節(jié)起源，傳說(shuō)最多的版本認(rèn)為，那是源于基督誕生前的古西歐國(guó)家，主要包括愛(ài)爾蘭、蘇格蘭和威爾士。這幾處的古西歐人叫德魯伊特人。德魯伊特的新年在十一月一日，新年前夜，德魯伊特人讓年輕人集隊(duì)，戴著各種怪異面具，拎著刻好的蘿卜燈(南瓜燈系后期習(xí)俗，古西歐最早沒(méi)有南瓜)，他們游走于村落間。這在當(dāng)時(shí)實(shí)則為一種秋收的慶典;也有說(shuō)是"鬼節(jié)"，傳說(shuō)當(dāng)年死去的人，靈魂會(huì)在萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的前夜造訪人世，據(jù)說(shuō)人們應(yīng)該讓造訪的鬼魂看到圓滿(mǎn)的收成并對(duì)鬼魂呈現(xiàn)出豐盛的款待。所有篝火及燈火，一來(lái)為了嚇走鬼魂，同時(shí)也為鬼魂照亮路線(xiàn)，引導(dǎo)其回歸。
在中世紀(jì)的中歐，曾有過(guò)基督教摧毀異教徒的歷史�？墒切履暌骨暗募漓霊c典從未真正消除，不過(guò)以巫術(shù)的形式出現(xiàn)。這也就是為什么我們現(xiàn)在的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)里，還留有巫婆的掃帚、黑貓、咒語(yǔ)等痕跡。
Halloween一詞的產(chǎn)生：
很多民族都在萬(wàn)圣節(jié)前夜有慶典聚會(huì)，這又被叫做"All Hallow E'en"、"The Eve of All Hallows"、"Hallow e'en"，或者"The eve of All Saintas'Day"。最終約定俗成演變成了"Halloween"，中文意譯成了萬(wàn)圣節(jié)之夜。
"Trick or treat"的傳說(shuō)：
孩子們今天著裝挨家要糖的習(xí)俗，據(jù)說(shuō)起源于愛(ài)爾蘭。古西歐時(shí)候的愛(ài)爾蘭異教徒們，相在萬(wàn)圣節(jié)前夜鬼魂會(huì)群集于居家附近，并接受設(shè)宴款待。因而，在"宴會(huì)"結(jié)束后，村民們就自己扮成鬼魂精靈，游走村外，引導(dǎo)鬼魂離開(kāi)，避邪免災(zāi)。于此同時(shí)，村民們也都注意在屋前院后的擺布些水果及其他食品，喂足鬼魂而不至于讓它們傷害人類(lèi)和動(dòng)物或者掠奪其他收成。后來(lái)這習(xí)俗一直延續(xù)下來(lái)，就成了孩子們?nèi)⌒Σ豢犊业耐嫘Α?/p>
至于南瓜燈也至少有兩種說(shuō)法。一種說(shuō)是人挖空了南瓜又刻上鬼臉點(diǎn)上燭火用以驅(qū)散鬼魂的;另一種說(shuō)是鬼魂點(diǎn)上的燭火，試圖騙取人們上當(dāng)而跟著鬼魂走，所以人們就在南瓜表面刻上一個(gè)嘲諷的臉面，用以調(diào)笑鬼魂：哼!傻瓜才會(huì)上你的當(dāng)。傳說(shuō)因?yàn)槭子媚瞎系氖且晃粣?ài)爾蘭人Jack，所以人們又將鬼臉南瓜燈叫做Jack-O-Lantern。
萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的活動(dòng)
現(xiàn)在的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的活動(dòng)多種多樣，大部分是在教堂里進(jìn)行的。整個(gè)歐洲，人們都把萬(wàn)圣節(jié)前夜看作盡情玩鬧、講鬼故事和互相嚇唬的好機(jī)會(huì)。姑娘們?cè)谌f(wàn)圣節(jié)前夜努力用嘴叼起浮在水盆上的蘋(píng)果，據(jù)說(shuō)如果她們把蘋(píng)果放在枕頭下睡，就能看到將來(lái)的夫婿。好惡作劇的人偷走別人的大門(mén)、家具或招牌等物，讓他們以為是惡鬼偷走的。當(dāng)然，在萬(wàn)圣節(jié)前夜誰(shuí)也不到墓地去，因?yàn)槟翘煲估�，鬼魂都從墳�(zāi)估锱莱鰜?lái)!今天，我們利用這些迷信作為在萬(wàn)圣節(jié)玩鬧的手段。
美國(guó)和加拿大的孩子們?cè)谶@天穿戴上古怪的服飾去按鄰居家的門(mén)鈴，并按傳統(tǒng)發(fā)出"是款待我還是要我�；ㄕ�"的威脅。鄰居們不管是否被嚇著，總是準(zhǔn)備了一些糖果、蘋(píng)果等點(diǎn)心，孩子們則一一收入自己的袋內(nèi)。
美國(guó)的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)是由歐洲人傳入的，特別是愛(ài)爾蘭人傳入的。不過(guò)宗教色彩已很淡薄，目前成為美國(guó)兒童最喜愛(ài)的節(jié)日。10月31日當(dāng)夜幕徐徐降落以后，每家每戶(hù)在門(mén)口擺上一個(gè)用南瓜雕成的鬼臉，里面點(diǎn)上蠟燭。晚飯以后孩子們興高彩烈地戴上早已準(zhǔn)備好的假面具，有披頭散發(fā)面目猙獰的妖魔，也有牙咧嘴、橫眉立目的鬼怪，使人看了不寒而栗。近幾十年來(lái)也有的孩子化裝成強(qiáng)盜或警察、米老鼠和唐老鴨以及戴羽毛頭飾的印第安人等。孩子們?cè)诩议L(zhǎng)的陪伴下走街串戶(hù)，所到之外主人都必須熱情款待，準(zhǔn)備好的糖果任他們吃、拿，否則就要鬧個(gè)天翻地覆。
在美國(guó)萬(wàn)圣節(jié)不僅僅是孩子們的節(jié)日，也是青年們的又一個(gè)狂歡節(jié)。華盛頓、紐約等大城市都是萬(wàn)圣節(jié)前夜最熱鬧的地方。青年們象孩子一樣頭戴各式面具，越令人恐懼越好。三五成群地聚集在一起走向市中心，"魔鬼"們狹路相逢時(shí)還相互問(wèn)候。有的人還化裝成總統(tǒng)或名人發(fā)表即興"演講"。在市中心廣場(chǎng)人們盡情歡樂(lè)，構(gòu)成一幅群魔亂舞的場(chǎng)面，直鬧到深夜。
每年10月31日的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)是一個(gè)在美國(guó)、加拿大和不列顛群島慶祝的節(jié)日。傳統(tǒng)的規(guī)定是 ：孩子們穿上各式服裝，挨家挨戶(hù)敲門(mén)索要糖果和玩小把戲的。對(duì)于老年人來(lái)說(shuō)，萬(wàn)圣節(jié)是一次舉行聚會(huì)并把自己打扮得越可怕越好的機(jī)會(huì)。網(wǎng)絡(luò)上有很多關(guān)于如何慶祝這一節(jié)日的材料，如果你提前一個(gè)月左右加入郵遞單，你將會(huì)讀到大量能增長(zhǎng)萬(wàn)圣節(jié)經(jīng)歷的好點(diǎn)子。
墨西哥的鬼節(jié)是在11月2日，在?天家家??舳家?嬋徑?鐫煨偷拿姘?、煮雞肉、熱巧克力和甜玉米，并在供桌上面要擺上一些玩具，因?yàn)槟鞲缛讼嘈潘廊サ暮⑼瘋�，�?huì)在午夜時(shí)分回到自己的家中玩耍;而為死去的長(zhǎng)輩們所準(zhǔn)備的供桌上，則會(huì)陳列亡者的東西、鮮花、水果、照片和彩繪的骷頭。
Halloween
October 31st (western countries)Halloween is one of the oldest holidays with origins going back thousands of years.
The holiday has had many influences from many cultures over the centuries. From the Roman's Pomona Day, to the Celtic festival of Samhain,to the Christian holidays of All Saints and All Souls Days. Hundreds of years ago in what is now Great Britain and Northern France, lived the Celts (凱爾特人), who worshipped nature and had many gods, with the sun god as their favorite. They celebrated their New Year on November 1st which was made every year with a festival and marked the end of the "season of the sun" and the beginning of "the season of darkness and cold. "On October 31st after the crops were all harvested and stored for the long winter the cooking fires in the homes would be extinguished. The Druids, the Celtic priests, would meet in the hilltop in the dark oak forest (oak trees were considered sacred). They would light new fires and offer sacrifices of crops and animals. As they
danced around the fires, the season of the sun passed and the season of darkness would begin. When the morning arrived the Druids would give an ember from their fires to each family who would then take them home to start new cooking fires. These fires would keep the homes warm and free from evil spirits.The November 1st festival was called Samhain pronounced "sow-en"). The festival would last for 3 days. Many people would parade in costumes made from the skins and heads of their animals. This festival would become the first Halloween.
The Celtics would carry a lantern when they walked on the eve of October 31. These lanterns were carved out of big turnips (大頭菜) and the lights were believed to keep the evil spirits away. Children would carve faces in the turnips. These carved turnips were called "jack-o-lanterns. It is said that the jack-o-lantern" got its name from a stingy and mean old man, named Jack, who when he died was too mean to get into heaven. When Jack went to hell he was meet by the Devil who gave him a piece of burning coal and sent him away. Jack placed the burning coal in a turnip to use as a lantern to light his way. The legends claim that Jack is still walking with the lantern looking for a place to stay.When the early settlers came to America they found the big round orange pumpkin. Being larger and much more colorful than turnips, the pumpkin made great "jack-o-lanterns". Eventually the pumpkin would replace the turnip. Eventually the Pumpkin would become the most widely recognized symbol of the Halloween holiday. The history of "Trick'O'Treating" can be traced back to the early celebrations of All Soul's Day in Britain. The poor would go begging and the housewives would give them special treats called "soulcakes". This was called "going a-souling", and the "soulers" would promise to say a prayer for the dead.Over time the custom changed and the town's children became the beggars. As they went from house to house they would be given apples, buns (圓形的小甜面包), and money. During the Pioneer days of the American West, the housewives would give the children candy to keep from being tricked. The children would shout "Trick or Treat!".
