“万圣节”的英语为什么不是Halloween？

Why Do We Celebrate Halloween?

为什么人们要庆祝万圣节？

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Halloween has been around for more than a thousand years. Originally a religious observance, it became increasingly secular over the centuries until its religious trappings all but disappeared. Today Halloween is considered a holiday for dress-up and fun, especially for children.

万圣节已存在了一千多年。起初是宗教仪式，随着世纪的推移逐渐世俗化，其宗教痕迹几乎消失。如今，万圣节被视为一个给孩子们穿戴打扮和玩乐的节日。

Halloween’s origins can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain, which was held on November 1 in contemporary calendars. It was believed that on that day, the souls of the dead returned to their homes, so people dressed in costumes and lit bonfires to ward off spirits. In this way, popular Halloween tropes such as witches, ghosts, and goblins became associated with the holiday.

万圣节的起源可以追溯到古老的凯尔特节日萨温，它在现代日历中的日期是11月1日。人们相信在这一天，亡者的灵魂会返回家园，所以人们穿着服装，点燃篝火以驱赶恶灵。通过这种方式，流行的万圣节题材，比如女巫、鬼魂和妖怪，与这个节日产生了关联。

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Though the holiday began in Celtic regions of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and France, it quickly spread to other parts of the world. The first American colonists in New England were forbidden to celebrate it for religious reasons, though it enjoyed some popularity in the Southern colonies. 

1. observance/əbˈzɜːrvəns/the practice of following a custom, rule, or law遵守，奉行

🌰The observance of social norms is crucial for maintaining harmony in a community. 

社会规范的遵守对于维护社区的和谐至关重要。

2. secular/ˈsekjələr/not having any connection with religion世俗的

🌰The school promotes a secular environment where students from all religious backgrounds are respected. 

这所学校营造了一个世俗的环境，尊重来自各种宗教背景的学生。

3. trapping/ˈtræpɪŋ/a decorative covering or ornament装饰，装饰物

🌰The room was adorned with luxurious trapping, giving it a royal and opulent ambiance. 

房间装饰着豪华的装饰物，营造出一种皇家和奢华的氛围。

4. bonfire/ˈbɑːnˌfaɪər/a large outdoor fire篝火

🌰The community gathered around the bonfire to celebrate the summer solstice. 

社区的人围着篝火庆祝夏至。

5. ward off/wɔːrd ɔːf/to prevent someone or something unpleasant from harming or coming close避开，避免

🌰She used a special herb to ward off evil spirits from her home. 

她使用特殊的草药来避开家中的恶灵。

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By the 1800s, fall festivals marking the seasonal harvest incorporated Halloween elements, and Irish immigrants escaping the devastating Potato Famine brought with them many Halloween traditions that remain today.

到了19世纪，标志季节收获的秋季节日融合了万圣节元素，而逃离毁灭性马铃薯饥荒的爱尔兰移民带来了许多至今仍然存在的万圣节传统。

The custom of trick-or-treating, in which children dress up in costume and solicit treats from neighbors, became popular in the United States in the early 20th century as Irish and Scottish communities revived the Old World custom of “guising,” in which a person would dress in costume and tell a joke, recite a poem, or perform some other trick in exchange for a piece of fruit or other treat. 

“不给糖就捣蛋”的习俗在20世纪初流行于美国，孩子们打扮成服装向邻居要糖果，这源于爱尔兰和苏格兰社区复兴了“guising”的古老习俗，人们穿着服装并讲笑话、背诗或表演其他把戏换取水果或其他糖果零食。

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By 1950, trick-or-treating for candy had become one of Halloween’s most popular activities. Today, Halloween is one of the biggest holidays for candy sales in the United States, estimated to be more than $3 billion, according to the National Retail Federation.

到了1950年，“不给糖就捣蛋”成为了万圣节最受欢迎的活动之一。根据美国全国零售联合会的估计，如今万圣节是美国糖果销售最繁忙的节日之一，销售额预计超过30亿美元。