万圣节的意义英语

万圣节的意义英文

万圣节是西方的一个传统节日，但是万圣节有什么意义呢?下面就由我来跟大家介绍一下吧!

Halloween, or Hallowe’en, is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31.

Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, visiting "haunted houses", carving Jack-o'-lanterns, reading scary stories and watching horror movies.

Irish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century.

Other western countries embraced the holiday in the late twentieth century. Halloween is celebrated in several countries of the Western world, most commonly in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Japan, New Zealand, and occasionally in parts of Australia. In Sweden the All Saints' official holiday takes place on the first Saturday of November.

Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year".

Traditionally, the festival was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores.

The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, now known as Halloween, the boundary between the alive and the deceased dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops.

The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, into which bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown.

Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them.

Along with the celebration of Halloween itself, the traditional Halloween symbols (witches, black cats, pumpkins, ghosts, candles, masks, etc.), found their way to the U.S. during the late 1800s.

In 1848, the potato famine sent millions of Irish immigrants streaming into America, bringing with them a new culture and customs.

In the manner of their Celtic ancestors, they celebrated Halloween, calling it Oidche Shamhna ('Night of Samhain'), and kept up the traditional observances associated with it.

Jack-o-lantern：

The jack-o-lantern has been an indispensable part of the Halloween tradition since the Victorian era, thanks again to our Irish friends.

On Halloween, jack-o-lanterns carved into a scary or funny face with a lighted candle placed inside, are set out on porches or placed in windows, but where once they were created in the hope of frightening away evil spirits that were on the prowl, now they are just a part of the celebration.

Originally, back on their home turf, the Irish would carve out turnips or beets to use as lanterns and use a burning lump of coal or a candle to light them.

Here in America, however, turnips weren't as easy to come by, but there were pumpkins aplenty.

So they substituted pumpkins and discovered that they served the purpose quite nicely.

While there are many legends pertaining to the origin of the Jack-o-lantern, one of the most widely accepted is that of "Stingy Jack."

An Irishman known as a drunken trickster, Jack wound up on the wrong side of both God and the devil. Upon his death his soul was forbidden to enter either heaven or hell and so was doomed to wander the earth in eternal darkness forever.

On his endless travels he carries a turnip with a burning coal to light his way. Fearing this unsavory character, the Irish of old would put jack-o-lanterns on prominent display around their homes on All Hallow's Eve, the purpose being that should Jack happen by, hopefully he would take the light instead of harming the occupants of the house.

Black Cats：

Throughout history black cats have been considered to be spiritual animals by many peoples.

Some have worshiped them believing they have the ability to see spirits. Others have believed them to be reincarnated beings who could predict the future. Over the centuries black cats have also been much maligned.

It was believed that witches owned black cats because they were able to assist them in performing their witchcraft and because they sensed a kindred spirit of darkness within these animals.

During the Middle Ages black cats were feared because it was believed that witches could turn themselves into black cats. Whenever a black cat was seen it was avoided at all costs because it was perceived to be a witch in disguise.

Unfortunately for them, during this time black cats were regularly hunted down and burned alive.

Bats：

Since bats are creepy nocturnal creatures, it's not surprising that they became known as omens of bad luck or evil but there is more to the story concerning their association with Halloween.

The origins of the fear of bats began with the belief that they could communicate with the spirits of the dead, making their link to Halloween seem perfectly natural.

As if to confirm this theory, in ancient times when Halloween was celebrated with huge bonfires it was a guarantee that bats would make an appearance, as if drawn by supernatural forces.

Actually this was a result of the many mosquitoes that would congregate around the fires, providing an easy snack for the bats who would swoop down and snatch them out of the air.

In addition, there was the widely held belief that vampires and witches could transform themselves into bats.

Incidentally, the vampire bat is the only mammal that feeds on blood, thus linking bats to death and sealing their fate as terrifying creatures of the night.

Witches：

Witches and witchcraft go hand-in-hand with Halloween. The image of a witch in black pointed hat riding a broomstick across the night sky is branded in every child's imagination.

In ancient times it was widely believed that witches were able to see the future and to cast spells, both good and bad.

This naturally made people fear and loath them. Since it was believed that supernatural powers were at their peak on Halloween night, it has caused witches to be forever associated with that time of year.

What made things worse for witches was a belief that flourished in the Middle Ages. With Halloween already considered a frightening time, people developed a belief in the existence of a cult of witches who worshiped Satan.

They held meetings at certain times of the year called Witches Sabbaths, and the most important of these was on All Hallows' Eve.

It was then that the Prince of Darkness, old Satan himself would appear to his loyal followers.

Ghosts：

The connection of ghosts with Halloween evolved with the ancient Celts, who celebrated Samhain -- the festival of the dead -- on the eve of their new year which began November 1st.

Their belief held that spirits of the dead could return to earth as the boundaries between the lands of the living and the dead were blurred during this time.

So it seems only right that ghosts became an integral part of Halloween.

Apples：

Apparently the reason for the custom of ducking, dooking or bobbing for apples -- attempting to bite an apple floating in a bucket of water, or hanging from a string -- was that if a person managed to get a bite from an apple they would have good fortune.

For unmarried people, the first person to take a bite out of an apple was considered to be the next to marry.

Also, peeling an apple and tossing the peel over your shoulder was supposed to reveal the initial of one's future spouse.

Masks and Costumes：

The custom of wearing costumes, although done in a more cheerful manner nowadays, originated with the Celts.

While celebrating Samhain the Celts would wear costumes made from animal skins.

This was in accordance with their belief that during this time the veil between the world of the dead and earth was at its thinnest and, ancestral spirits, or ghosts could roam freely here on earth.

They hoped that the costumes would make them appear dead to avoid being harassed by these spirits.

Wearing costumes and masks for Halloween became popular here in America in the early 1900s.

Stores began carrying Halloween costumes in the 1950s when trick-or-treating became popular throughout the United States.

万圣节英文介绍

万圣节是欧美国家的传统节日，现如今万圣节在中国也开始流行起来了，下面是我给大家准备的关于万圣节的介绍，一起来看一下吧!

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on October 31. By tradition, Halloween begins after sunset. Long ago, people believed that witches gathered together and ghosts roamed the world on Halloween. Today, most people no longer believe in ghosts and witches. But these supernatural beings are still a part of Halloween.

The colors black and orange are also a part of Halloween. Black is a symbol for night and orange is the color of pumpkins. A jack-o’-lantern is a hollowed-out pumpkin with a face carved on one side. Candles are usually placed inside, giving the face a spooky glow.

Dressing 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.

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

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.

The tradition of the Jack 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 pumpkin, which is carved to look like a face.

There are many other superstitions associated with Halloween. A superstition is an irrational idea, like believing that the number 13 is unlucky!

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?

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

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

万圣节是每年西方国家的传统节日。这一夜是一年中人们认为会“闹鬼”的一夜，所以也叫“鬼节”。华语地区常将万圣夜误称为万圣节。

“Hallow”来源于中古英语halwen，与holy词源很接近，在苏格兰，英格兰和加拿大的某些区域，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)。

关于万圣节由来的，版本繁多，流传较广的是：

两千多年前，欧洲的基督教会把11月1日定为“天下圣徒之日” (ALL HALLOWSDAY) 。“HALLOW” 即圣徒之意。传说自公元前五百年，居住在爱尔兰、苏格兰等地的凯尔特人 (CELTS) 把这节日往前移了一天，即10月31日。他们认为该日是夏天正式结束的日子，也就是新年伊始，严酷的冬季开始的`一天。

那时人们相信， 故人的亡魂会在这一天回到故居地在活人身上找寻生灵，借此再生，而且这是人在死后能获得再生的唯一希望。而活着的人则惧怕死人的魂灵来夺生，于是人们就在这一天熄掉炉火、烛光，让死人的魂灵无法找到活人，又把自己打扮成妖魔鬼怪把死人的魂灵吓走。之后，他们又会把火种、烛光重新燃起，开始新的一年的生活。

万圣节原本其实是赞美秋天的节日，就好像五月节是赞美春天一样。古代高卢、不列颠和爱尔兰的祭司——德鲁伊德有一个赞美秋天的盛大节日，从10月31日的午夜到次日11月1日，持续整整一天。

他们认为，在那天晚上他们伟大的死神——萨曼把那年死去人的鬼魂统统召来，这些恶鬼要受到托生为畜类的惩罚。当然，只要想到这种鬼魅的聚会，就足以令当时那些头脑简单的愚民胆战心惊了。于是他们点起冲天的篝火，并严密监视这些恶鬼。

万圣节前夜到处有女巫和鬼魂的说法就是这么开始的。至今在欧洲某些与世隔绝的地区，还有人相信这是真的。

古罗马人在11月1日也有一个节日，那是用来向他们的波莫娜女神表示敬意的。他们在熊熊的篝火前烤坚果和苹果。我们的万圣节似乎就是由古罗马人的节日与德鲁伊德的节日揉合而成的。

万圣节的活动原来是非常简单的，而且大部分是在教堂里进行。但在整个欧洲，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。于是人们不再把这节日用来赞美秋天，却让它变成神怪、巫婆和鬼魂的节日。

感恩节11月的第四个星期四是感恩节。感恩节是美国人民独创的一个古老节日，也是美国人合家欢聚的节日，因此美国人提起感恩节总是倍感亲切。美国国定假日中最地道、最美国式的节日( holiday )，它和早期美国历史最为密切相关。1620年，一些朝拜者乘坐"五月花"号船去美国寻求宗教自由。他们在海上颠簸了两个月之后，终于在酷寒的十一月里，在现在的马莎塞州的普里茅斯登陆。在第一个冬天，半数以上的移民都死于( die )饥饿和传染病，活下来的人们在第一个春季即1621年开始播种。整个夏天( summer )他们都热切地盼望著丰收的到来，他们深知自己的生存以及殖民地的存在与否都将取决于即将到来的收成。后来( finally )，庄稼获得了意外的丰收，为了感谢上帝赐予的丰收，举行了3天的狂欢活动。从此，这一习俗就沿续下来，并逐渐风行各地。1863年，美国总统林肯宣布每年十一月的第四个星期四为感恩节。感恩节庆祝活动便定在这一天，直到如今.届时，家家团聚，举国同庆，其盛大、热烈的情形，不亚于中国人过春节。感恩节庆祝模式许多年来从未改变。丰盛的家宴早在几个月之前就开始着手准备。人们在餐桌上可以吃到苹果、桔子、栗子、胡桃和葡萄，还有葡萄干 布丁、碎肉馅饼、各种其他食物以及红莓苔汁和鲜果汁，其中最妙和最吸引人的大菜是烤火鸡( roast turkey )和南瓜馅饼( pumpkin pie )，这些菜一直是感恩节中最富于传统和最受人喜爱的食品( food )。人人都赞成感恩节大餐必需以烤火鸡为主菜。火鸡在烘烤时要以面包作填料以吸收从中流出来的美味汁液，但烹饪技术常因家庭和地区的不同而各异，应用什么填料也就很难求得一致。万圣节在西方国家，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”。万圣节是西方国家的传统节日。这一夜是一年中最“闹鬼”的一夜，所以也叫“鬼节”。两千多年前，欧洲的天主教会把11月1日定为“天下圣徒之日” (ALL HALLOWS DAY) 。“HALLOW” 即圣徒之意。传说自公元前五百年，居住在爱尔兰、苏格兰等地的凯尔特人 (CELTS)把这节日往前移了一天，即10月31日。他们认为该日是夏天正式结束的日子，也就是新年伊始，严酷的冬季开始的一天。那时人们相信，故人的亡魂会在这一天回到故居地在活人身上找寻生灵，借此再生，而且这是人在死后能获得再生的唯一希望。而活着的人则惧怕死魂来夺生，于是人们就在这一天熄掉炉火、烛光，让死魂无法找寻活人，又把自己打扮成妖魔鬼怪把死人之魂灵吓走。之后，他们又会把火种烛光重新燃起，开始新的一年的生活。传说那时凯尔特人部落还有在10月31日把活人杀死用以祭奠死人的习俗。到了公元1世纪，占领了凯尔特部落领地的罗马人也渐渐接受了万圣节习俗，但从此废止了烧活人祭死人的野蛮做法。罗马人庆祝丰收的节日与凯尔特人仪式结合，戴着可怕的面具，打扮成动物或鬼怪，则是为了赶走在他们四周游荡的妖魔。这也就是今天全球大部分人以古灵精怪的打扮，来庆祝万圣节的由来。时间流逝，万圣节的意义逐渐起了变化，变得积极快乐起来，喜庆的意味成了主流。死魂找替身返世的说法也渐渐被摒弃和忘却。到了今天，象征万圣节的形象、图画如巫婆、黑猫等，大都有友善可爱和滑稽的脸。