谁有有关万圣节的英文资料

Question

简洁一点~~

Answer 1

Halloween introduces
every year's November 1 is West's Halloween. October 31 is the Halloween. Usually named Halloween eve (Wan Shengye). Whenever Wan Shengye arrives, the children can put on colorfully impatiently put on make-up the clothing, puts on all sorts of strange and unusual mask, raises one “Jake the lamp” to walk the family to flee the household, demands the holiday to adults the gift. Halloween most widely the human knows the symbol is also precisely this difference - - strange “the Jake lamp” and “not disturbs for the sugar” the practical joke.
“Jake lamp” the appearance is very lovable, the procedure extremely is also simple. Pulls out spatially the pumpkin, then engraves the eye which and the big mouth in outside smiles, inserts a candle again in the melon, lights it, the people can see this darling smiling face in the very far place convenience. This was the toys which the childrhowever Wan Shengye the climax on the dinner table, you already needs to prepare the good food to entertain these to come to disturb
“the little rascal”, must dress up in this special holiday for yours dinner table. Do not let you the visitors look down on you!en most liked.
This day of night is in one year most “is haunted” the time, each kind of demons and monsters, the pirate, outside the star guest and the sorceresses send out in abundance. Before the Christ era, Celts has not held the ceremony gratitude Heaven and sun's kindness in the summer. The soothsayer ignition and witch then drove away the evil spirit which all around loafed to be it is said strange. Afterward the roman the abundant harvest festival which and Celts's on October 31 celebrated with the kernel and the apple dissolves gathers. In middle ages, the people put on the animal modelling the clothing, to put on the fearful mask are want in Halloween eve action of driving away dark night ghost. Although afterward Christianity had replaced Kaierte and Rome's religious activities, the early custom retained. Now, the children are bringing on the psychological clothing which cracks a joke each kind of clothing and the mask participate in Wan Shengye the dance party, on these dance party wall all around is often being hanging the sorceress who, the black cat, the ghost and the skeleton sticks with the paper, before the window, and the entrance hangs is baring the tooth crack mouth perhaps the repulsive in appearance pumpkin lantern. The children also frequently attempt bites is being hanging the apple.
Halloween's origin
First kind of
The method law has many editions about Halloween origin's fable, most universal believing, before that is stems from Christ to be born the ancient Western Europe country, mainly includes Ireland, Scotland and Wales, these ancient westerners' name are Druitt the human. Druitt new year in November month on first, the new year's eve, the Druitt person lets the young people collection team, wears each kind of strange mask, carries is engraving the good radish lamp (pumpkin lamp is the later period custom, ancient Western Europe does not have pumpkin most early), they walk randomly in the village between. This at that time the regulations was one kind of fall harvest's celebration; Also had said that was “the ghosts' festival”, the fable died in the past the human, the soul will visit the world in Halloween's eve, it is said the people should let the ghost which visited see the complete crop and presented sumptuous receiving cordially to the ghost. All bonfires and lights, as soon as comes to frighten off the ghost, simultaneously also illuminates the route for the ghost, guides its return.
In middle ages Central Europe, once had Christianity to destroy heathen's history. But before the new year night of sacrificial offering celebration never truly eliminates, but appears by the witchcraft form. Why is this also in our present's Halloween, but also leaves leeway traces and so on sorceress's broom, black cat, incantation.
The second kind
More than 2000 years ago, Europe's Catholic Church decides as November 1 “date of the world disciple” (ALL HALLOWS DAY). “HALLOW” is meaning of the disciple. The fable from 500 B.C., lived in places such as Ireland, Scotland Celts (CELTS) proceeds this holiday to move one day, namely on October 31. They thought that this day was the summer official conclusion day, was also at the beginning of the year, the severe winter started one day. The people believed at that time, dead person's ghost in this day will return to the former dwelling to pursue the life on the live person body, the regeneration, moreover this will be the human after dying can obtain the regeneration the only hope. But is living the human fears the dead soul to seize lives, therefore the people extinguish the furnace fire, the candlelight in this day, lets the dead soul be unable to pursue the live person, also own dresses up the demons and monsters to frighten off spirit of the deceased person. Afterward, they will ignite the kindling material candlelight, start the new year life. The fable the Celts tribe also had at that time in October 31 kills the live person with holds a memorial service for the deceased person the custom.
To 1 century, has seized the Kaierte tribe territory roman also gradually to accept Halloween custom, but henceforth abolished the various paper articles human sacrifice deceased person's barbaric procedure. The roman celebrates the abundant harvest holiday and the Celts ceremony unifies, wears the fearful mask, dresses up the animal or the ghost, then to expel the evil spirit which all around loafs in them. This is also the today whole world majority of people by the ancient spirit demon appearance, celebrates Halloween's origin. The time passes, Halloween's significance had the change gradually, becomes is positively joyful, jubilation's meaning mainstream. The dead soul asks the substitute person to return to the world the view also gradually to abandon and to put behind. To today, the symbolic Halloween's image, the drawing like sorceress, the black cat and so on, had friendly lovable and the funny face mostly.
The third kind
Celts (Celtic) believed that the sun god helps them to plant the crops. But, the sun god can every year and is imprisoned by the Samhain evil strength attack six months. Samhain, but also two titles, respectively are “Lord of Dead (death feudal lord)” as well as “Prince of Darkness (dark prince)”, he is having cold as well as the dark winter arrives at Celts's land.
Celts is afraid October 31 the night, because they think this evening, has a pile of evil soul ambush in any place. They in the household utensils were on fire let these evil souls leave them the family (on a translation paragraph not to have one saying that the flame might frighten off the ghost. ) they believed that is Samhain calls the deceased person, they also believed that Samhain will become the deceased person other things, probably cat. Celts will install the fearful camouflage to expel that crowd of evil souls. (after this is Halloween's prototype) , Rome has seized Celts's land, October 31 Samhain rite gathers Rome's holiday and Celts in the same place, has become present's Halloween
Halloween custom
October 31 is the Western world Halloween, on US's street four obvious splendid live demonstrations, stage performance's illusion magic, lifelike You Shi and ghost, and each kind of terrorist movie's showing.
To the evening, has then hurried the spider web to put up, the gang is responsible for the scary actor dress to do one's toilet again. Haunted house content, then mostly with movie subject related, for example: Fairy legend, interspace legend, ghost story…. These scene's arrangement, puts on make-up the technology and the costume, has like the real situation, one does not pay attention, definitely startled sound scream.
This fine time passage grand meeting's origin is when 500 B.C., lives in places the such as Ireland, Scotland people believed that will be reborn in paradise person's ghost the place which this day will return in October 31 to live before death, and will pursue the life on live person's body, will obtain the regeneration the opportunity. Because the local resident the worry ghost captures own life, therefore, when on October 31 arrives, will possess the light to extinguish, will cause the ghost to be unable to pursue the live person, and will dress up the demons and monsters by to frighten off the ghost.
Along with time passing, Halloween's significance by becomes includes jubilation's meaning. Therefore symbolizes Halloween's monster and the drawing now, turned lovably the ancient spirit demon appearance, like pumpkin monster, sorceress and so on. The affection display creativity's American, in this day to the utmost will dress up the clever mold clever type, let the ghosts' festival becomes the interest are many.
万圣节简介
在每年的11月1日是西方的万圣节。10月31日是万圣节前夕。通常叫做万圣节前夜（万圣夜）。每当万圣夜到来，孩子们都会迫不及待地穿上五颜六色的化妆服，戴上千奇百怪的面具，提着一盏“杰克灯”走家窜户，向大人们索要节日的礼物。万圣节最广为人知的象征也正是这两样——奇异的“杰克灯”和“不给糖就捣乱”的恶作剧。
“杰克灯”的样子十分可爱，做法也极为简单。将南瓜掏空，然后在外面刻上笑眯眯的眼睛和大嘴巴，再在瓜中插上一支蜡烛，把它点燃，人们在很远的地方便能看到这张憨态可掬的笑脸。这可是孩子们最喜欢的玩物了。
然而万圣夜的重头戏还是在餐桌上，你既要准备好美食来招待那些前来捣乱的“小鬼”，更要在这个特别的节日为你的餐桌装扮一番。千万不要让你的客人们小瞧了你哦！
这天夜里是一年中最“闹鬼”的时候，各种妖魔鬼怪、海盗、外星来客和巫婆们纷纷出动。在基督纪元以前，凯尔特人在夏未举行仪式感激上苍和太阳的恩惠。当时的占卜者点燃并施巫术以驱赶据说在四周游荡的妖魔怪。后来罗马人用果仁和苹果来庆祝的丰收节与凯尔特人的10月31日溶合了。在中世纪，人们穿上动物造型的服饰、戴上可怕的面具是想在万圣节前夜驱赶黑夜中的鬼怪。尽管后来基督教代替了凯尔特和罗马的宗教活动，早期的习俗还是保留下来了。现在，孩子们带着开玩笑的心理穿戴上各种服饰和面具参加万圣夜舞会，这些舞会四周的墙上往往悬挂着用纸糊的巫婆、黑猫、鬼怪和尸骨，窗前和门口则吊着龇牙裂嘴或是面目可憎的南瓜灯笼。孩子们还常常试图咬住悬挂着的苹果。

万圣节的由来

第一种

方法法关于万圣节由来的传说有许多版本，最普遍的认为，那是源于基督诞生前的古西欧国家，主要包括爱尔兰、苏格兰和威尔士，这几处的古西欧人叫德鲁伊特人。德鲁伊特的新年在十一月一日，新年前夜，德鲁伊特人让年轻人集队，戴着各种怪异面具，拎着刻好的萝卜灯（南瓜灯系后期习俗，古西欧最早没有南瓜），他们游走于村落间。这在当时实则为一种秋收的庆典；也有说是“鬼节”，传说当年死去的人，灵魂会在万圣节的前夜造访人世，据说人们应该让造访的鬼魂看到圆满的收成并对鬼魂呈现出丰盛的款待。所有篝火及灯火，一来为了吓走鬼魂，同时也为鬼魂照亮路线，引导其回归。
在中世纪的中欧，曾有过基督教摧毁异教徒的历史。可是新年夜前的祭祀庆典从未真正消除，不过以巫术的形式出现。这也就是为什么我们现在的万圣节里，还留有巫婆的扫帚、黑猫、咒语等痕迹。

第二种

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。

第三种

凯尔特人（Celtic）相信太阳神帮助他们种植农作物。但是，每年太阳神都会被一个名叫Samhain的邪恶力量攻击并被囚禁六个月。Samhain，还有两个称号，分别是“Lord of Dead（死亡领主）”以及“Prince of Darkness（暗黑王子）”，他带着寒冷以及黑暗的冬天来到凯尔特人的土地。
凯尔特人非常害怕10月31日的夜晚，因为他们觉得这晚，有一堆邪恶灵魂潜伏在任何地方。他们在家生起火来让那些邪恶灵魂离开他们的家（上一个没有翻译的段落有一句是说火焰可以把鬼魂吓走的。）他们相信是Samhain把死人叫出来的，他们还相信Samhain会把死人变为其他东西，好像猫。凯尔特人会装着可怕的伪装来把那群邪恶灵魂赶走。（这就是万圣节的原型）
后罗马占领了凯尔特人的土地，把罗马的节日和凯尔特人10月31日的Samhain祭典合在一起，就成了现在的万圣节。

万圣节习俗
10月31日是西洋万圣节前夕，美国的街上四处可见精彩的现场表演、戏台上演的幻觉魔术、逼真的游尸和鬼魂，及各种恐怖电影的放映。
到了晚上，便赶紧将蜘蛛丝架起来，再帮负责吓人的演员上妆。鬼屋的内容，则大多与电影主题有关，如：神鬼传奇、星际传奇、鬼故事…。这些场景的布置、化妆技术和戏服，有如真的情境，一不留神，肯定令人惊声尖叫。
这场嘉年华盛会的由来是在公元前五百年时，居住在爱尔兰、苏格兰等地的人们相信，往生人的亡魂会在10月31日这一天回到生前所居住的地方，并在活人的身上找寻生灵，以获得再生的机会。当地居民因为担心鬼魂来夺取自己的生命，故当10月31日到来时，会将所有灯光熄掉，使得鬼魂无法找寻到活人，并打扮成妖魔鬼怪以将鬼魂吓走。
随着时间的流逝，万圣节的意义逐变得含有喜庆的意味。因此现在象征万圣节的妖怪及图画，都变成了可爱又古灵精怪的模样，如番瓜妖怪、巫婆等。喜爱发挥创意的美国人，在这一天则极尽所能的将自己打扮得鬼模鬼样，让鬼节变得趣味多了。

Answer 2

万圣节(Halloween)的英语简介Source: Onion 2007-10-23 我要投稿 恒星英语学习论坛 Favorite

Next to Christmas, Halloween is the most commercialized celebration in the United States and Canada. This ancient festival originated far from North America however, and centuries before the first European set foot on the continent.
The ancient Druids 督伊德教(古代高卢人与不列颠人的一种宗教)的教徒 who inhabited what we now call Great Britain placed great importance on the passing of one season to the next, holding "Fire Festivals" which were celebrated for three days (two days on either side of the day itself).
One of these festivals was called Samhain (pronounced Sha-Von) and it took place on October 31 through to November 1. During this period, it was believed that the boundaries between our world and the world of the dead were weakened, allowing spirits of the recently dead to cross over and possess the living.

In order to make themselves and their homes less inviting to these wayward spirits, the ancient Celts（凯尔特人）would douse （插入水中, 把弄熄, 弄湿）all their fires. There was also a secondary purpose to this, after extinguishing all their fires, they would re-light them from a common source, the Druidic fire that was kept burning at Usinach, in the Middle of Ireland.

Samhain was considered to be a gateway not only from the land of the dead to the land of the living, but also between Summer and Fall/Winter. For the Druids, this was the last gasp （喘息, 气喘）of summer (it was also the Celtic New Year), so therefore they made sure it went out with a bang before they had to button down （把...弄清楚）for the winter ahead.

They would dress up in bizarre costumes and parade through their villages causing destruction in order to scare off any recently departed souls who might be prowling （巡游）for bodies to inhabit, in addition to burning animals and other offerings to the Druidic deities（神, 神性）. It is also a popular belief that they would burn people who they believed to be possessed, but this has largely been debunked （揭穿, 拆穿假面具, 暴露）as myth.

This yearly festival was adopted by the Roman invaders, who helped to propagate （传播, 宣传）it throughout the rest of the world (and at that time, the Roman Empire was the world). The word "Halloween" itself actually comes from a contraction of All Hallows Eve, or All Saint's Day (November 1), which is a Catholic day of observance in honor of saints.

This tradition was later brought to the North American continent by Irish immigrants who were escaping the Potato Famine in their homeland. In addition to the festival itself, the immigrants brought several customs with them, including one of the symbols most commonly associated with Halloween -- the Jack 'O Lantern.

According to Irish folklore, there once lived a man named Jack who was known for being a drunk and a prankster（顽皮的人, 爱开玩笑的人）. One night Jack tricked the devil into climbing a tree, and quickly carved an image of a cross on the trunk, trapping the devil. Jack then made him promise that, in exchange for letting him out of the tree, the Devil would never tempt him to sin again. He reluctantly agreed, but was able to exact his revenge upon Jack's death. Because of his mischievous ways in life, Jack was barred from entering heaven and because of his earlier trick, he was also barred from hell. So he was doomed to wander the earth until the end of time, with only a single ember（灰烬, 余烬） (carried in a hollowed out turnip.[植]芜箐, 芜箐甘蓝) to warm him and light his way.

In Ireland, they originally also used turnips for their "Jack Lanterns", but upon arriving in the new world, they discovered that pumpkins were abundant and easier to carve out.本回答被提问者采纳

Answer 3

　　The Origin of Halloween
　　万圣节的起源
　　While there are many versions of the origins and old customs of Halloween, some remain consistentby all accounts. Different cultures view Halloween somewhat differently but traditional Halloween practices remain the same.
　　尽管关于万圣节的起源和旧俗有很多不同的看法，但有一些是被所有人接受的。不同文化看待万圣节总是有点不同，但是传统的万圣节做的事情都是一样的。
　　Halloween culture can be traced back to the Druids, a Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain and Northern Europe. Roots lay in the feastof Samhain, which was annually on October 31st to honor the dead.
　　万圣节文化可以追溯到德鲁伊教，这是一种爱尔兰、北欧和英国的凯尔特文化，根植于Samhain节的庆祝活动，Samhain节于每年的10月31日纪念逝者。
　　Samhain signifies "summers end" or November. Samhain was a harvest festival with huge sacred bonfires, marking the end of the Celtic year and beginning of a new one. Many of the practices involved in this celebration were fed on superstition.
　　Samhain节说明夏天结束或者十一月，是一个丰收的节日。在Samhain节会燃起神圣巨大的篝火，标志着凯尔特一年的结束和新一年的开始。一些做法因为迷信被加入庆祝活动中。
　　The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacifythe evil and ensure next years crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating.
　　凯尔特人相信死者的灵魂会在夜里出没在街道和村庄 。因为他们认为不是所有的灵魂都是友善的，所以就把礼物和好吃的留在外面安慰恶灵来确保来年的庄稼可以丰收。这种习俗演变成了trick-or-treating。
　　

Answer 4

On October 31st, dozens of children dressed in costumes（节日服装）knock on their neighbors' doors and yell "Trick or Treat" when the door opens. Pirates and princesses, ghosts and popular heroes of the day all hold bags open to catch the candy or other goodies that the neighbors drop in. As they give each child a treat the neighbors exclaim over the costumes and try to guess who is under the masks.

Since the 800's November 1st is a religious holiday known as All Saints' Day（万圣节）. The Mass that was said on this day was called Allhallowmas. The evening before became known as All Hakkiw e'en, or Halloween. Like some other American celebrations, its origins lie in both pre-Christian and Christian customs.

October 31 st was the eve of the Celtic（凯尔特人的）new year. The Celts were the ancestors of the present-day Irish, Welsh and Scottish people. On this day ghosts walked and mingled with the living, or so the Celts thought. The townspeople baked food all that day and when night fell they dressed up and tried to resemble the souls of the dead. Hoping that the ghosts would leave peacefully before midnight of the new year.

Much later, when Christianity spread throughout Ireland and October 31 was no longer the last day of the year, Halloween became a celebration mostly for children. "Ghosts" went from door to door asking for treats, or else a trick would be played on the owners of the house. When millions of Irish people immigrated to the United States in the 1840s the tradition came with them.

Today' school dances and neighborhood parties called "block parties" are popular among young and old alike. More and more adults celebrate Halloween. They dress up like historical or political figures and go to masquerade parties（化妆舞会）. In larger cities, costumed children and their parents gather at shopping malls early in the evening. Stores and businesses give parties with games and treats for the children.Teenagers enjoy costume dances at their schools and the more outrageous the costume the better!

Certain pranks（恶作剧）such as soaping car windows and tipping over garbage cans are expected. But partying and pranks are not the only things that Halloweeners enjoy doing. Some collect money to buy food and medicine for needy children around the world.

Symbols of Halloween

Halloween originated as a celebration connected with evil spirits. Witches flying on broomsticks with black cats, ghosts, goblins（小精灵）and skeletons have all evolved as symbols of Halloween. They are popular trick-or-treat costumes and decorations for greeting cards and windows. Black is one of the traditional Halloween colors, probably because Halloween festivals and traditions took place at night. In the weeks before October 31, Americans decorate windows of houses and schools with silhouettes（轮廓）of witches and black cats.

Pumpkins are also a symbol of Halloween. The pumpkin is an orange-colored squash, and orange has become the other traditional Halloween color. Carving pumpkins into jack- o'lanterns is a Halloween custom also dating back to Ireland. A legend grew up about a man named Jack who was so stingy（吝啬的）that he was not allowed into heaven when he died, because he was a miser（吝啬鬼）. He couldn't enter hell either because he had played jokes on the devil. As a result, Jack had to walk the earth with his lantern until Judgement Day（审判日）. The Irish people carved scary faces out of turnips（芜菁根）, beets（甜菜根）or potatoes representing "Jack of the Lantern," or Jack-o'lantern. When the Irish brought their customs to the United States, they carved faces on pumpkins because in the autumn they were more plentiful than turnips. Today jack-o'-lanterns in the windows of a house on Halloween night let costumed children know that there are goodies（糖果）waiting if they knock and say "Trick or Treat!"

Halloween Treats

Dried Pumpkin Seeds

After carving your pumpkin, separate the pulp from the seeds. Rinse（冲洗）the seeds and spread them out to dry. The next day, add enough melted butter or margarine（人造黄油）to coat each seed. Spread the seeds onto a cookie sheet（甜酥饼干）and bake for 20 minutes in a 300 degree oven for 20 minutes or until they are slightly brown.

Caramel Apples

Take the paper wrapping off about 100 caramels（饴糖）and put them in a saucepan（炖锅）. Put the saucepan over a pan of boiling water. Boil the water until the caramels melt. Put a wooden stick into the top of each apple, dip the apple into the caramel. Let them cool on wax paper and enjoy!

Scary Stories

No Halloween party is complete without at least one scary story. Usually one person talks in a low

voice while everyone else crowds together on the floor or around a fire. The following is a retelling of a tale told in Britain and in North Carolina and Virginia.

"What Do You Come For?"

There was an old woman who lived all by herself, and she was very lonely. Sitting in the kitchen one night, she said, "Oh, I wish I had some company."

No sooner had she spoken than down the chimney tumbled two feet from which the flesh had rotted. The old woman's eyes bulged with terror.

Then two legs dropped to the hearth and attached themselves to the feet.

Then a body tumbled down, then two arms, and a man's head.

As the old woman watched, the parts came together into a great, tall man. The man danced around and around the room. Faster and faster he went. Then he stopped, and he looked into her eyes.

"What do you come for? she asked in a small voice that shivered and shook.

"What do I come for?" he said. "I come for YOU!"

The narrator shouts and jumps at the person near him!

Historian Nicholas Rogers, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while "some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, [it is] more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain or Samuin (pronounced sow-an or sow-in)". The name is derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end". A similar festival was held by the ancient Britons and is known as Calan Gaeaf (pronounced kalan-geyf).

Snap-Apple Night by Daniel Maclise showing a Halloween party in Blarney, Ireland, in 1832. The young children on the right bob for apples. A couple in the center play a variant, which involves retrieving an apple hanging from a string. The couples at left play divination games.The festival of Samhain celebrates the end of the "lighter half" of the year and beginning of the "darker half", and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year".

The ancient Celts believed that the border between this world and the Otherworld became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family's ancestors were honoured and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm. In Scotland the spirits were impersonated by young men dressed in white with masked, veiled or blackened faces. Samhain was also a time to take stock of food supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. Bonfires played a large part in the festivities. All other fires were doused and each home lit their hearth from the bonfire. The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames. Sometimes two bonfires would be built side-by-side, and people and their livestock would walk between them as a cleansing ritual.

Another common practise was divination, which often involved the use of food and drink.

The name 'Halloween' and many of its present-day traditions derive from the Old English era.

Answer 5

Historian Nicholas Rogers, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while "some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, [it is] more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain or Samuin (pronounced sow-an or sow-in)". The name is derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end". A similar festival was held by the ancient Britons and is known as Calan Gaeaf (pronounced kalan-geyf).

Snap-Apple Night by Daniel Maclise showing a Halloween party in Blarney, Ireland, in 1832. The young children on the right bob for apples. A couple in the center play a variant, which involves retrieving an apple hanging from a string. The couples at left play divination games.The festival of Samhain celebrates the end of the "lighter half" of the year and beginning of the "darker half", and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year".

The ancient Celts believed that the border between this world and the Otherworld became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family's ancestors were honoured and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm. In Scotland the spirits were impersonated by young men dressed in white with masked, veiled or blackened faces. Samhain was also a time to take stock of food supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. Bonfires played a large part in the festivities. All other fires were doused and each home lit their hearth from the bonfire. The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames. Sometimes two bonfires would be built side-by-side, and people and their livestock would walk between them as a cleansing ritual.

Another common practise was divination, which often involved the use of food and drink.

The name 'Halloween' and many of its present-day traditions derive from the Old English era.