Halloween means Hallows' Evening. It is the evening before All Hallows' Day (now called All Saints'Day) , a Christian holiday, celebrated on the November 1st.
History traces Halloween back to the ancient religion of the Celtics. The Celts were the ancestors of the present-day Irish, Welsh and Scottish people. In the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31st. On the November 1st, Celtic peoples celebrated the festival of Samhain,which marked the beginning of winter and the Celtic New Year. Celts thought the division between the natural world and the supernatural world became very thin and all time and space was abruptly suspended on October 31st, and then the spirits of the died would come back and move freely looking for living bodies to possess.
Do you know Halloween? I think with the increasing of international communication, most people must be familiar with it. It has become one of the most popular festivals inEurope. It falls on the last day of October. People will celebrate it from the midnight of October, 31 to November first.
你知道万圣节吗?我觉得随着国际交流的密切,大多数人都是很熟悉的。它已成为欧洲国家最受欢迎的节日之一。圣诞节是在十月的最后一天。人们会从十月三十一日的午夜就一直开始庆祝到十一月一日。
At first, it is celebrated to praise autumn. So it falls on the late autumn. It also has another legend. Since a long time ago, Halloween has been connected with the ghosts. People consider that the ghosts who have no home to go will go out for food on the night of October, 31. No matter this story is true or not, people will feel afraid only hearing it. So they decide to have celebration on that day. They will light up lights to frighten the ghosts.
一开始庆祝它主要是为了赞美秋天。所以这个节日是在深秋。它还有另一个传说。很久以前,万圣节都是与鬼魂相关联的。人们认为那些无家可归的鬼魂会在10月31日晚上出来找食物。不管这个传书是真的还是假的,单单听说人们就会感到害怕了。所以,他们决定在那一天庆祝。他们会把灯点亮来吓唬鬼魂。
However, after a long time, Halloween become the day mainly for kids. Every Halloween children will put on strange masks and frightening costumes. Most children will make themselves become the monster or hero in the movie or legend that they like. When they finish the make up, they will carry bags from house to house to play the game, “Trick or treat”. The adults will put the treat candy into their bags. Thus, Halloween is the most favorable festival for children.
然而,经过很长一段时间后,万圣节主要成为了孩子们的节日。每年万圣节前夕,孩子都会戴上奇怪的面具,穿上吓人的服装。大多数孩子会扮成电影中或者传说他们喜欢的英雄或怪物。当他们化妆完后,他们会带着袋子挨家挨户去玩“不给糖就捣蛋”的游戏。大人们就会把准备好的糖果放进他们的袋子里。所以说,万圣节是孩子们最喜欢的节日。
Not only the kids like the festival, but also some grown-ups love it. They will join parties after making up. This brings them the satisfaction of being young. How about you? Do you love it?
不仅小孩喜欢这个节日,连大人也喜欢。大人们会在画完妆后参加聚会。这可以给他们带来年轻的快感。你呢?你喜欢万圣节吗?