海外文化：关于万圣节的那些吓人事儿

　　在西方国家，每年的10月31日，有个“Halloween”，辞典解释为“The eve of All Saints'Day”，中文译作：“万圣节之夜”。这一夜是一年中最“闹鬼”的一夜，所以也叫“鬼节”。Hallow 来源于中古英语halwen，与 holy 词源很接近，在¨北欧的某些区域，万圣节仍然被称为 All Hallow Mas，意思是在纪念所有的圣人（Hallow）那一天，要举行的弥撒仪式（Mass）。oween，是 “All Hallow E'en” 的缩写，也叫做“The eve of all Saints' Day"，最终约定俗成演变成了“Halloween”中文意译成了万圣节之夜，类似于平安夜被称为 Christmas Eve。

　　万圣节前夜（Halloween），当晚小孩会穿上化妆服，戴上面具，挨家挨户收集榶果，嘴里喊着："不给糖就捣蛋"（trick or treat）。这个习俗，来源于异教徒相信鬼魂会在每年降临人间的时候给活着的人制造麻烦。为了保护自己不被恶灵伤害，人们穿上看起来像鬼的衣服，并且准备面包、鸡蛋、苹果等食物当供品以求好运。人们戴着面具，穿着迷惑鬼魂的鬼服，挨家挨户收供品。慷慨的人点起灯火，受到良好祝愿，但吝啬的人却受到威胁。

　　继续学习一下关于万圣节的背景文化知识吧！

　　1. The Halloween celebration comes from All Hallows Day or All Saints Day, the 1st of November. This was originally a pagan festival of the dead, but later became a holiday to honor Christian¹ saints.

　　万圣节的庆祝活动来源于每年11月1日的All Hallows Day 或All Saints Day。它原先是异教徒们纪念死者的节日，但是逐渐演变成一个纪念基督圣者的节日。

　　2. The name Halloween comes from a contraction² of All Hallows Eve (Evening)， the day before All Hallows Day. On this night it was believed that the spirits of the dead would try to come back to life!

　　Halloween这个词来自于All Hallows Eve(夜晚)，All Hallows Eve是All Hallows Day前一天的缩写。人们认为在当天晚上，亡者的灵魂会重新复活！

　　3. Dressing³ up in costumes is one of the most popular Halloween customs, especially among children. According to tradition, people would dress up in costumes (wear special clothing, masks or disguises) to frighten the spirits away.

　　Dressing up in costumes是最受欢迎的万圣节风俗之一，尤其是受孩子们的欢迎。按照传统习俗，人们会dress up in costumes(穿戴一些特別的服裝，面具或者装饰)来吓跑鬼魂。

　　4. Popular Halloween costumes include vampires⁴ (creatures that drink blood)， ghosts (spirits of the dead) and werewolves (people that turn into wolves when the moon is full).

　　流行的万圣节服装包括vampires(吸血鬼)，ghosts(死者的灵魂)和werewolves(每当月圆时就变成狼形的人)。

　　5. Trick or Treating is a modern Halloween custom where children go from house to house dressed in costume, asking for treats like candy or toys. If they don't get any treats, they might play a trick (mischief or prank) on the owners of the house.

　　Trick or Treating 是现代万圣节的风俗。孩子们穿着特殊的衣服走街串巷，讨取糖果和玩具之类的赏赐。如果他们得不到任何的赏赐，就可能会对屋主大搞恶作剧或者胡闹了。

　　6. The tradition of the Jack⁵ o' Lantern comes from a folktale about a man named Jack who tricked the devil and had to wander the Earth with a lantern. The Jack o' Lantern is made by placing a candle inside a hollowed-out pumpkin⁶, which is carved to look like a face.

　　Jack o' Lantern 的传统来自于一个民间传说。一个名叫Jack的人戏弄了恶魔，之后就不得不提着一盏灯在地球上流浪。Jack o' Lantern是用雕刻成脸型，中间挖空，再插上蜡烛的南瓜做成的。

　　7. There are many other superstitions⁸ associated with Halloween. A superstition⁷ is an irrational⁹ idea, like believing that the number 13 is unlucky!

　　和万圣节有关的迷信还有很多。迷信是一种不合常理的想法，比如认为13是不吉利的数字！

　　8. Halloween is also associated with supernatural creatures like ghosts and vampires. These creatures are not part of the natural world. They don't really exist... or do they?

　　万圣节还和一些诸如鬼魂和吸血鬼之类的超自然的生物有关。这些生物不是自然界的一部分。他们实际上是不存在的。。或许他们其实真的存在？

　　9. Witches are popular Halloween characters that are thought to have magical powers. They usually wear pointed¹⁰ hats and fly around on broomsticks.

　　女巫是万圣节很受欢迎的人物，人们认为她们具有强大的魔力。他们通常戴着尖顶的帽子，骑在扫把上飞来飞去。

　　10. Bad omens¹² are also part of Halloween celebrations. A bad omen¹¹ is something that is believed to bring bad luck, like black cats, spiders or bats.

　　恶兆也是万圣节庆祝活动的一部分。人们相信恶兆会带给坏运气，黑猫、蜘蛛或者蝙蝠都算是恶兆

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 contraction   

n.缩略词，缩写式，害病

参考例句：

• The contraction of this muscle raises the lower arm.肌肉的收缩使前臂抬起。
• The forces of expansion are balanced by forces of contraction.扩张力和收缩力相互平衡。

3 dressing   

n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料

参考例句：

• Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
• The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。

4 vampires   

n.吸血鬼( vampire的名词复数 )；吸血蝠；高利贷者；（舞台上的）活板门

参考例句：

• The most effective weapon against the vampires is avampire itself. 对付吸血鬼最有效的武器就是吸血鬼自己。 来自电影对白
• If vampires existed, don`t you think we would`ve found them by now? 如果真有吸血鬼，那我们怎么还没有找到他们呢？ 来自电影对白

5 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

6 pumpkin   

n.南瓜

参考例句：

• They ate turkey and pumpkin pie.他们吃了火鸡和南瓜馅饼。
• It looks like there is a person looking out of the pumpkin!看起来就像南瓜里有人在看着你！

7 superstition   

n.迷信，迷信行为

参考例句：

• It's a common superstition that black cats are unlucky.认为黑猫不吉祥是一种很普遍的迷信。
• Superstition results from ignorance.迷信产生于无知。

8 superstitions   

迷信，迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Old superstitions seem incredible to educated people. 旧的迷信对于受过教育的人来说是不可思议的。
• Do away with all fetishes and superstitions. 破除一切盲目崇拜和迷信。

9 irrational   

adj.无理性的，失去理性的

参考例句：

• After taking the drug she became completely irrational.她在吸毒后变得完全失去了理性。
• There are also signs of irrational exuberance among some investors.在某些投资者中是存在非理性繁荣的征象的。

10 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

11 omen   

n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示

参考例句：

• The superstitious regard it as a bad omen.迷信的人认为那是一种恶兆。
• Could this at last be a good omen for peace?这是否终于可以视作和平的吉兆了？

12 omens   

n.前兆，预兆( omen的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The omens for the game are still not propitious. 这场比赛仍不被看好。 来自辞典例句
• Such omens betide no good. 这种征兆预示情况不妙。 来自辞典例句