英語晨讀精華 Week 3 Day 6 Hallowe’en 萬圣節(jié)
Hallowe’en
到神秘的鬼屋去探險，拜訪那些可愛的精靈鬼怪，聽聽那些古老的或新鮮的鬼故事，學學做個嚇人的南瓜燈籠，咬一口吊在空中的蘋果?？鞓穪淼镁瓦@么簡單，這就是萬圣節(jié)！
Hallowe’en is a popular festival in many countries all over the world, and every year it seems to get bigger.
It’s getting dark earlier and it’s starting to get cold. Christmas is still a long way away. We need something to cheer us up and take our minds of the fact that winter is nearly here. See how much you know about the traditional festival of Hallowe’en.
The origins of the name
The festival of Hallowe’en has its roots in Celtic and Roman traditions. Over 2,000 years ago the Celts in Britain, Ireland and parts of France celebrated Samhain to mark the beginning of winter. When the Romans invaded, they merged this with Feralia, their celebration of the passing of the dead. As Christianity spread, the Church tried to replace these pagan feasts with official Church holy days. One of these was November 1. It was called “All Hallows”, and October 31 was known as “All Hallows’ Eve”, and then Hallowe’en.
Hallowe’en traditions
In the past there was a tradition called “souling”. Poor people went around houses asking for food. In exchange, they promised to say prayers for the dead. People no longer go souling, but the habit has been transformed into a modern Hallowe’en game for children in America, who dress up as ghosts, witches and monsters and go around people’s houses.
Witches
Hallowe’en wouldn’t be fun without witches. Witches have always been part of popular folklore. Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” opens with three witches. A witch was someone — usually a woman— who had special powers and had dealings with the devil. The American town, Salem, is famous for the “witchcraft trials”, which took place there in 1692.
Pumpkins
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The pumpkin has become a symbol of Hallowe’en. People empty a pumpkin, cut a face into the side, and put a candle inside to make a lamp. It’s known as a Jack O’ Lantern, from a story about a man called Jack, who made a deal with the devil.
Animals
Black cats, frogs, mice and spiders are just some of the animals associated with Hallowe’en. Generally, the more unpleasant the animal, the stronger the Hallowe’en connection. Nocturnal animals like bats are particular favourites, and if, as is the case with vampire bats, they like
drinking blood, they are high on the Hallowe’en list.
[注釋]：
Hallowe’en: 萬圣節(jié)前夕（10 月31 日夜）
Celtic and Roman traditions: 在古代，凱爾特人要在夏末舉行儀式感謝上蒼和太陽的恩惠。
當時的占卜者點燃燈籠并施巫術以驅趕據說在四周游蕩的妖魔鬼怪。后來，凱爾特人的
10 月31 日與羅馬人用果仁和蘋果來慶祝的豐收節(jié)融合了?！?br />
Samhain：也就是古代凱爾特人慶祝的節(jié)日（10 月31 日），意為“夏末”
merge: to blend together, especially in gradual stages 融合
Feralia：古代的一個宗教節(jié)日
pagan: one who has no religion 異教徒
witch: a woman popularly believed to have supernatural powers and practice sorcery, and often
believed to be aided by spirits or a familiar 巫師，女巫
monster: 怪物，妖怪
folklore: the traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people, transmitted orally 民間
傳說
Macbeth: king of Scotland 麥克白 (莎士比亞悲劇《麥克白》中的主人公)
Salem: 塞勒姆，美國東北部城市，因1692 巫師審判及N.霍桑的“匕墻之房”而著名
pumpkin: a coarse, trailing vine (Cucurbita pepo) widely cultivated for its fruit 南瓜
spider: 蜘蛛
nocturnal: of, relating to, or occurring in the night 夜的，夜曲的
vampire: a reanimated corpse that is believed to rise from the grave at night to suck the blood of
sleeping people 吸血鬼
萬圣節(jié)期間，許多公共場所乃至居家院落，都會布置上很多裝飾，諸如各式鬼怪、南瓜燈、黑貓以及巫婆的掃帚之類。孩子們則會穿上不同的萬圣節(jié)服裝，拎著南瓜燈挨家挨戶地敲門并說“trick or treat”，向主人討糖（或其他小東西）。給的話就是“treat”(請客)，不給的話他們就會用“trick”（砸玻璃、涂門啊之類惡作劇）來搗亂。
