[10-20 18:25:08] 来源：http://www.67xuexi.com 写作模板 阅读：85849次
"Trick or treat"的传说：
孩子们今天着装挨家要糖的习俗，据说起源于爱尔兰。古西欧时候的爱尔兰异教徒们，相在万圣节前夜鬼魂会群集于居家附近，并接受设宴款待。因而，在"宴会"结束后，村民们就自己扮成鬼魂精灵，游走村外，引导鬼魂离开，避邪免灾。于此同时，村民们也都注意在屋前院后的摆布些水果及其他食品，喂足鬼魂而不至于让它们伤害人类和动物或者掠夺其他收成。后来这习俗一直延续下来，就成了孩子们取笑不慷慨之家的玩笑。
至于南瓜灯也至少有两种说法。一种说是人挖空了南瓜又刻上鬼脸点上烛火用以驱散鬼魂的;另一种说是鬼魂点上的烛火，试图骗取人们上当而跟着鬼魂走，所以人们就在南瓜表面刻上一个嘲讽的脸面，用以调笑鬼魂：哼!傻瓜才会上你的当。传说因为首用南瓜的是一位爱尔兰人Jack，所以人们又将鬼脸南瓜灯叫做Jack-O-Lantern。
万圣节的活动
现在的万圣节的活动多种多样，大部分是在教堂里进行的。整个欧洲，人们都把万圣节前夜看作尽情玩闹、讲鬼故事和互相吓唬的好机会。姑娘们在万圣节前夜努力用嘴叼起浮在水盆上的苹果，据说如果她们把苹果放在枕头下睡，就能看到将来的夫婿。好恶作剧的人偷走别人的大门、家具或招牌等物，让他们以为是恶鬼偷走的。当然，在万圣节前夜谁也不到墓地去，因为那天夜里，鬼魂都从坟墓里爬出来!今天，我们利用这些迷信作为在万圣节玩闹的手段。
美国和加拿大的孩子们在这天穿戴上古怪的服饰去按邻居家的门铃，并按传统发出"是款待我还是要我耍花招"的威胁。邻居们不管是否被吓着，总是准备了一些糖果、苹果等点心，孩子们则一一收入自己的袋内。
美国的万圣节是由欧洲人传入的，特别是爱尔兰人传入的。不过宗教色彩已很淡薄，目前成为美国儿童最喜爱的节日。10月31日当夜幕徐徐降落以后，每家每户在门口摆上一个用南瓜雕成的鬼脸，里面点上蜡烛。晚饭以后孩子们兴高彩烈地戴上早已准备好的假面具，有披头散发面目狰狞的妖魔，也有牙咧嘴、横眉立目的鬼怪，使人看了不寒而栗。近几十年来也有的孩子化装成强盗或警察、米老鼠和唐老鸭以及戴羽毛头饰的印第安人等。孩子们在家长的陪伴下走街串户，所到之外主人都必须热情款待，准备好的糖果任他们吃、拿，否则就要闹个天翻地覆。
在美国万圣节不仅仅是孩子们的节日，也是青年们的又一个狂欢节。华盛顿、纽约等大城市都是万圣节前夜最热闹的地方。青年们象孩子一样头戴各式面具，越令人恐惧越好。三五成群地聚集在一起走向市中心，"魔鬼"们狭路相逢时还相互问候。有的人还化装成总统或名人发表即兴"演讲"。在市中心广场人们尽情欢乐，构成一幅群魔乱舞的场面，直闹到深夜。
每年10月31日的万圣节是一个在美国、加拿大和不列颠群岛庆祝的节日。传统的规定是 ：孩子们穿上各式服装，挨家挨户敲门索要糖果和玩小把戏的。对于老年人来说，万圣节是一次举行聚会并把自己打扮得越可怕越好的机会。网络上有很多关于如何庆祝这一节日的材料，如果你提前一个月左右加入邮递单，你将会读到大量能增长万圣节经历的好点子。
墨西哥的鬼节是在11月2日，在?天家家??舳家?婵径?镌煨偷拿姘?、煮鸡肉、热巧克力和甜玉米，并在供桌上面要摆上一些玩具，因为墨西哥人相信死去的孩童们，会在午夜时分回到自己的家中玩耍;而为死去的长辈们所准备的供桌上，则会陈列亡者的东西、鲜花、水果、照片和彩绘的骷头。
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 (凯尔特人), 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 (大头菜) 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 (圆形的小甜面包), 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!".