KnowmoreaboutHalloween

　　HalloweenwascalledSamhainbytheIrish.ItcametobeknownasHalloweensometimearoundthefifthcenturyA.D.

　　SamhaintookplaceonOctober31throughtoNovember1.Duringthisperiod,itwasbelievedthattheboundariesbetweenourworldandtheworldofthedeadwereweakened,allowingspiritsoftherecentlydeadtocrossoverandpossesstheliving.

　　Tocelebratethefestival,theIrishwoulddressupinbizarrecostumesandparadethroughtheirvillages,causingdestructionandsaying"Trick-or-Treat",insgroupstoscareoffanyrecentlydepartedsoulswhomightbeprowlingforbodiestoinhabit.

　　Thisyearlyfestivalwaslaterbroughttotheotherregionsoftheworld,includingcontinentalEuropeandNorthAmerica.Irishimmigrantsbroughtseveralcustomswiththem,includingoneofthesymbolsmostcommonlyassociatedwithHalloween--the"JackLantern".

　　AccordingtoIrishfolklore,thereoncelivedamannamedJackwhowasknownforbeingadrunkandaprankster.OnenightJacktrickedthedevilsintoclimbingatree,andquicklycarvedanimageofacrossonthetrunk,trappingthedevil.Jackthenmadehimpromisethat,inexchangeforlettinghimoutofthetree,theDevilwouldnevertempthimtosinagain.Hereluctantlyagreed,butwasabletoexacthisrevengeuponJack’sdeath.Becauseofhismischievouswaysinlife,Jackwasbarredfromenteringheavenandbecauseofhisearliertrick;hewasalsobarredfromhell.Sohewasdoomedtowandertheearthuntiltheendoftime,withonlya"JackLanterns"towarmhim.

　　InIreland,theyoriginallyusedturnipsfortheir"JackLanterns",butuponarrivinginNorthAmerica,theydiscoveredthatpumpkinswereabundantandeasiertocarveout.

　　你知道“万圣节”的由来吗?

　　万圣节起源于爱尔兰.从前,爱尔兰异教徒们相信万圣节这天,新近去世的鬼会还魂,附在活人的身上.因此在这个节日里,村民们就自己扮成鬼魂精灵,手提“杰克灯笼”,游走村外,嘴里说着“Trick-or-Treat”(大意是：接受我的恶作剧还是给我糖果),引导鬼魂离开,避邪免灾.爱尔兰人的“杰克灯笼”通常是用大头菜刻成的,而在北美洲,则换成了南瓜.

　　“杰克灯笼”起源于爱尔兰的一个传说.传说,爱尔兰曾经有一个名叫杰克的爱恶作剧的酒鬼.一天晚上,他把一个魔鬼骗上树,然后在树干上刻了个十字架,让魔鬼下不来.后来魔鬼不得不保证,以后再也不会引诱杰克去做坏事,杰克这才让它下来.杰克死后,魔鬼报复了,它让杰克上天不得入地无门,只能在阳间满无目的流浪,手里只有一盏灯笼取暖.