Halloween 万圣夜

• Halloween is one of the world’s oldest holidays. It was celebrated in several countries around the world including the USA, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Mexico, Latin America, and Spain.

October 31st is Halloween

OriginOrigin

Halloween is a festival which began in Halloween is a festival which began in IrelandIreland thousands of years ago called thousands of years ago called SamhainSamhain(( 夏末节夏末节 ). ).

For the For the ancient Celtic ancient Celtic people(people lived in people(people lived in ancient Ireland), the New Year was celebrated on ancient Ireland), the New Year was celebrated on November 1st of every year. So Halloween November 1st of every year. So Halloween marked marked the end of Summer and the beginning of Winterthe end of Summer and the beginning of Winter. . This time of year was often associated with This time of year was often associated with human human deathdeath..

OriginOrigin The Celtic believed that on the night before the The Celtic believed that on the night before the

new year, new year, the boundary between the worlds of the the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred as the dead living and the dead became blurred as the dead searched for the afterlifesearched for the afterlife. So Halloween is also . So Halloween is also called called the day of deaththe day of death.(.( 在新年前一晚，阴间和阳间的大在新年前一晚，阴间和阳间的大门不再门禁森严，此时阴间的鬼魂会趁机跑出来，为阳间的人们门不再门禁森严，此时阴间的鬼魂会趁机跑出来，为阳间的人们带来厄运带来厄运 ))

Thus, on the night of October 31Thus, on the night of October 31stst, they celebrated , they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the ghosts of the dead returned to Earth to cause mischief and the dead returned to Earth to cause mischief and troubletrouble..

To commemorate the event, people built huge sacred bonfires where animals and crops were sacrificed to the Gods for protection, and to help scare ghosts away.The Celtic also wore costumes to disguise themselves, in order to confuse the spirits roaming the Earth.人们借着神圣的营火，燃烧献祭的动物和尸体，以赶走可怕的鬼魂并祈求神的保护。同时，人们也会假扮成鬼的样子，企图混淆跑到阳间的鬼魂。

The Halloween celebration comes The Halloween celebration comes from from All Hallows Day or All Saints All Hallows Day or All Saints DayDay, the 1st of November. This was , the 1st of November. This was originally a pagan festival of the originally a pagan festival of the dead, but later became a holiday to dead, but later became a holiday to honor Christian saints.(honor Christian saints.( 它原先是异教它原先是异教徒们纪念死者的节日，但是逐渐演变成一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。个纪念基督圣者的节日。 ))

The name Halloween comes from a The name Halloween comes from a contraction of contraction of All Hallows(All Hallows( 圣徒圣徒 ) ) Eve (Evening)Eve (Evening), the day before All , the day before All Hallows Day. On this night it was Hallows Day. On this night it was believed that the spirits of the believed that the spirits of the dead would try to come back to dead would try to come back to life! life! 人们认为在当天晚上，亡者的灵魂人们认为在当天晚上，亡者的灵魂会重新复活！会重新复活！

Symbols of HalloweenSymbols of Halloween

In Modern In Modern days, Halloween days, Halloween celebrations use celebrations use many symbols many symbols to make the to make the holiday more holiday more festive.festive.

Black catsBlack cats

Cats, for centuries, have been considered to be Cats, for centuries, have been considered to be spiritual animals that have the ability to sense good spiritual animals that have the ability to sense good and bad spirits.and bad spirits.

Black is also the color most commonly associated with Black is also the color most commonly associated with evil.evil.

Witches were thought to be tellers of fortune and to cast Witches were thought to be tellers of fortune and to cast spells(spells( 施法施法 ), both good and bad. This frightened many ), both good and bad. This frightened many because it was believed that these powers were strongest because it was believed that these powers were strongest on Halloween night. on Halloween night.

WitchesWitches

Because bats only fly at night and live in tombs, caves, and abandoned churches and buildings, they are believed to be omens( 预兆 ) of evil.They are commonly associated with witches and vampires.

BatsBats

Ghosts & SkeletonsGhosts are universal symbols for the departed. Skeletons and bones are symbols of death and shortness of life.Since Halloween’s origins lie as the festival of the dead, it seems only fitting that ghosts and skeletons would be used.

Other symbolsOther symbols Spider & cobwebSpider & cobweb

vampire

Crow

Owls

Werewolf

Traditions of Traditions of HalloweenHalloween

CostumeCostume Dressing up in costumes is one of the most Dressing up in costumes is one of the most

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

CostumeCostume

Trick or Treat 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-treatTrick-or-treat

Trick-or-treatTrick-or-treat

Give us something sweetGive us something sweet

to eat or we will trickto eat or we will trick!!>_<!!>_<

Pumpkin Lantern Pumpkin Lantern (Jack O' Lantern)(Jack O' Lantern)

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

How to make a pumpkin lantern?

Step 1. Remove the inside flesh of a pumpkin

Step 2 Carve a smiling and devil face on the pumpkin

Step 3Light a candle and put it into the pumpkin

FoodFood piespies

candiescandies

toffeestoffees

cakescakes

Around the worldAround the worldNot celebrated in all countries and rNot celebrated in all countries and r

egions of the worldegions of the world

United States and Canada it has had a siUnited States and Canada it has had a significant impact on how the holiday is ognificant impact on how the holiday is observed in other nationsbserved in other nations

Happy Hallowmas !!!