Background introduction: Halloween activities

Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or the related guising), attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, and watching horror films. In many parts of the world, the Christian religious observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and lighting candleson the graves of the dead, remain popular, although elsewhere it is a more commercial and secular celebration. Some Christians historically abstained from meat on All Hallows' Eve, a tradition reflected in the eating of certain vegetarian foods on this vigil day, including apples, potato pancakes, andsoul cakes.

Para. 1

Christ—Jesus Christ 耶稣·基督 

Celts — 凯尓特人The Celts were a group of peoples that occupied lands stretching from the British Isles to Galatia. The Celts had many dealings with other cultures that bordered the lands occupied by these peoples. 历史学家们推断，凯尓特人是英国最早的土著，他们过着原始生活，有自己的语言。

Inhabitant—person living in a place 

the British Isles 不列颠群岛                           

Symbol —sign, mark, object, etc. looked as representing sth. 象征

Origin—starting-point 起源，开端

Festival—节日，It refers to a day or season for merry-making or public celebrations. While holiday（假日） means a day of rest from work.

Ghost & spirit—A ghost is the spirit of a dead person appearing to sb still living, while spirit can also refer to the soul.

Goddess—female God

Broomstick—handle of a broom(on which witches were said to ride through the air )扫帚柄

Devil—the spirit of evil; wicked spirit; cruel or mischievous person（恶魔；魔鬼；残暴的人；恶人）

Costume—style of dress 服装的式样；服装

Candy—sweets糖果

Gum—透明软糖，口香糖

Frighten—to fill sb with fright or terror 惊吓，使害怕

Religious—of religion 宗教的，宗教信仰的

Holy—of God; associated with God or with religion 上帝的；与上帝或宗教有关的；神圣的

Magic—(亦作magical)done by, or as if by magic; possessing magic; used in magic 由魔术造成的；好像出于魔术的；有魔术的；用于魔术方面的 E.g. magic words 咒语

Uneducated—not educated

Chase away—drive sb/sth away; force sb/sth to run away

the Lord of the Dead 亡者之神

these spirits… in the form of animals. 死人的灵魂以动物的形式回到人间。

very bad ghosts came back as black cats. 非常邪恶的鬼魂以黑猫的形式回来（人间）。

Now answer the following questions in your own words.

Q:What is the original purpose of Halloween?

October 31 is a day that spirits of the dead will come back to earth in the forms of animals. People think that very bad ghosts came back as black cats. So the Celts used to make big fires to frighten the ghosts and chase them away.

 

Para. 2

Q:How did the name become Halloween?

The Christians added their customs to those of the Celts and the Romans. They had a religious holiday on November 1 which they called All Hallows’ or All Saints’ Day. The evening before this day was All Hallows’ Even (“holy evening”). Finally the name became Halloween.

goddess of gardens 花园女神，此处指罗马文化中掌管花园和水果的女神。

the Christians 基督徒

All Hallows’ or All Saints’ Day 诸圣日，万圣节 Today the day is known as Halloween. Some people think that Halloween celebrates evil and should be banned. Just the opposite is true!

"Halloween" is a short form of the words "All Hallows Evening". "Hallow" means holy, as in "Hallowed be thy name...". So Halloween means "the evening before All Holy Ones' Day," the Christian feast of All Saints. Every Year Christians celebrate this feast on November 1.
During the Middle Ages, Christians would gather in Churches for worship. They would recall the saints' victories over evil. At some of these services, the Churches would put on little plays in which they acted out Jesus' victory over Satan and his forces. The actors would wear unusual masks and costumes to act out the story.

So, when Christians celebrate Halloween, we are really recalling that Jesus has defeated evil by His death and resurrection. We remind ourselves that with the power of FAITH and God's GRACE we can overcome evil, too. Happy Holy Evening!

Para. 3

Q:Why did people long ago in Britain believe in witches?

At that time,they believed that these witches had the power to tell the future and to use magic words to protect people or change them. People were uneducated and lived in the countryside. 

these witches had the power to tell the future. 这些女巫有预测未来的能力。

a symbol of Halloween 万圣节的一个象征

flew on broomsticks 骑着扫帚飞翔

hold on to their beliefs: stick to their beliefs 坚持他们的信仰

 

Para. 4

Q: How do children in North America celebrate Halloween today?

Some children dress up like ghosts, witches, devils, and so on. They go from house to house in their costumes, ring doorbells, and shout, “Trick or treat!” People give them candy, apples, gum, and nuts, and the children have a good time.

they brought their Halloween customs with them. 他们也带来了万圣节的风俗。

Dress up—to put on special clothes as for a party, etc. 打扮 E.g. She is going to dress herself up for the party tonight. 

children dress up like ghosts, witches, devils, and so on. 孩子们装扮成幽灵、女巫、魔鬼等模样。

Ring doorbells—按门铃

“Trick or treat!”—The "trick" part of "trick or treat" is a threat to play a trick on the homeowner or his property if no treat is given.（不给糖果就捣蛋！）

have no idea—don’t know