导言：‘trick or treat’（不给糖，就捣蛋），这句从门前突然出现的孩子们口中冒出的话语可别让你措手不及啦，他们可是为了这一天（10月31日）翘首以盼整整一年呢！在西方很多国家，Halloween（万圣节前夜）已成为一年中最流行、最受欢迎的节日之一。有关它的起源和常见的庆祝方式你又了解多少呢？下面节选的部分内容会给大家提供一些相关的信息。.
Halloween
Background
Halloweenoriginated as apaganfestival in parts of Northern Europe, particularly around what is now the United Kingdom. Many European cultural traditions hold that Halloween is a time when magic is mostpotentandspiritscan make contact with the physical world. In Christian times, it became a celebration of the evening beforeAll Saints’ Day.Immigrantsfrom Scotland and Ireland brought the holiday to the United States.
What do people do?
Halloween is usually celebrated amongst family, friends and, sometimes,co-workers. However, some areas hold largecommunity events. Parties and other events may be planned on October 31 or in the weekends before and after this date. Adults may celebrate by watching horror films, holdingcostume partiesor creatinghaunted housesorgraveyards.
Many children dress up infancycostumes and visit other homes in the neighborhood. At each house, they demand sweets, snacks or a small gift. If they do not get this, they threaten to do some harm to theinhabitants of the house. This is known as playing 'trick-or-treat' and is supposed to happen in a friendly spirit, with nonastyor mean tricks being carried out.
Some familiescarvelanterns with 'scary' faces out of pumpkins or other vegetables ordecoratetheir homes and gardens in Halloween style. These were traditionally intended toward offevil spirits. If you are at home on Halloween, it is a good idea to have a bowl of small presents or sweets to offer to anyone who knocks on your door. This will help you to pleasethe little spiritsin your neighborhood!
Phrases & Expressions
originate:起源
pagan:异教徒
potent:效力强的
spirits:幽灵
immigrant:移民
co-worker:同事
community:社区
graveyard:墓地
fancy:奇特的
inhabitant:住户
nasty:令人不愉快的
carve:雕刻
lantern:灯笼
decorate:装饰
All Saints’ Day：万圣节
costume parties:化装舞会
haunted houses:鬼屋
ward off:挡住
the little spirits:小鬼头们（孩子们）
（来源：http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/halloween 编稿:刘新平）
更多相关信息请参阅网址：https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween
