英语阅读万圣节（Halloween）

　　英语阅读：万圣节（Halloween）
　　NexttoChristmas，HalloweenisthemostcommercializedcelebrationintheUnitedStatesandCanada。ThisancientfestivaloriginatedfarfromNorthAmericahowever，andcenturiesbeforethefirstEuropeansetfootonthecontinent。
　　TheancientDruids督伊德教（古代高卢人与不列颠人的一种宗教）的教徒whoinhabitedwhatwenowcallGreatBritainplacedgreatimportanceonthepassingofoneseasontothenext，holdingFireFestivalswhichwerecelebratedforthreedays（twodaysoneithersideofthedayitself）。
　　OneofthesefestivalswascalledSamhain（pronouncedShaVon）andittookplaceonOctober31throughtoNovember1。Duringthisperiod，itwasbelievedthattheboundariesbetweenourworldandtheworldofthedeadwereweakened，allowingspiritsoftherecentlydeadtocrossoverandpossesstheliving。
　　Inordertomakethemselvesandtheirhomeslessinvitingtothesewaywardspirits，theancientCelts（凯尔特人）woulddouse（插入水中，把弄熄，弄湿）alltheirfires。Therewasalsoasecondarypurposetothis，afterextinguishingalltheirfires，theywouldrelightthemfromacommonsource，theDruidicfirethatwaskeptburningatUsinach，intheMiddleofIreland。
　　Samhainwasconsideredtobeagatewaynotonlyfromthelandofthedeadtothelandoftheliving，butalsobetweenSummerandFallWinter。FortheDruids，thiswasthelastgasp（喘息，气喘）ofsummer（itwasalsotheCelticNewYear），sothereforetheymadesureitwentoutwithabangbeforetheyhadtobuttondown（把。。。弄清楚）forthewinterahead。
　　Theywoulddressupinbizarrecostumesandparadethroughtheirvillagescausingdestructioninordertoscareoffanyrecentlydepartedsoulswhomightbeprowling（巡游）forbodiestoinhabit，inadditiontoburninganimalsandotherofferingstotheDruidicdeities（神，神性）。Itisalsoapopularbeliefthattheywouldburnpeoplewhotheybelievedtobepossessed，butthishaslargelybeendebunked（揭穿，拆穿假面具，暴露）asmyth。
　　ThisyearlyfestivalwasadoptedbytheRomaninvaders，whohelpedtopropagate（传播，宣传）itthroughouttherestoftheworld（andatthattime，theRomanEmpirewastheworld）。ThewordHalloweenitselfactuallycomesfromacontractionofAllHallowsEve，orAllSaintsDay（November1），whichisaCatholicdayofobservanceinhonorofsaints。
　　ThistraditionwaslaterbroughttotheNorthAmericancontinentbyIrishimmigrantswhowereescapingthePotatoFamineintheirhomeland。Inadditiontothefestivalitself，theimmigrantsbroughtseveralcustomswiththem，includingoneofthesymbolsmostcommonlyassociatedwithHalloweentheJackOLantern。
　　AccordingtoIrishfolklore，thereoncelivedamannamedJackwhowasknownforbeingadrunkandaprankster（顽皮的人，爱开玩笑的人）。OnenightJacktrickedthedevilintoclimbingatree，andquicklycarvedanimageofacrossonthetrunk，trappingthedevil。Jackthenmadehimpromisethat，inexchangeforlettinghimoutofthetree，theDevilwouldnevertempthimtosinagain。Hereluctantlyagreed，butwasabletoexacthisrevengeuponJacksdeath。Becauseofhismischievouswaysinlife，Jackwasbarredfromenteringheavenandbecauseofhisearliertrick，hewasalsobarredfromhell。Sohewasdoomedtowandertheearthuntiltheendoftime，withonlyasingleember（灰烬，余烬）（carriedinahollowedoutturnip。〔植〕芜箐，芜箐甘蓝）towarmhimandlighthisway。
　　InIreland，theyoriginallyalsousedturnipsfortheirJackLanterns，butuponarrivinginthenewworld，theydiscoveredthatpumpkinswereabundantandeasiertocarveout。