万圣节的由来英文版

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。

万圣节的来历的两种传说：
第一种
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。
第二种
关于万圣节由来的传说另一种版本认为，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11月1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。

The origin of Halloween there are many versions of the legend, the most common view, that is before the birth of Christ from the ancient Western European countries, including Ireland, Scotland and Welsh, that several of the ancient people of Western Europe were called druids. Druids of the new year in the November 1st, new year's Eve, so that young people set Druids team, wearing all kinds of strange mask, carrying carved turnip lamp ( jack-o-lantern later the Department of customs, the ancient Western Europe pumpkin is not the first ), they walk in the village. This was actually a kind of harvest celebration; also said to be "Halloween", the legend who died that year, the soul will be the eve of Halloween visit the world, said that people should be allowed to visit the ghost to see the ghost of a successful harvest and show great hospitality. All bonfire and lights, one hand in order to frighten away the ghost, but also for the ghost light line, to guide their return.

In medieval Europe, there had been the history of Christianity to destroy infidels. But before the new year's Eve celebration worship never really removed, but in the form of witchcraft. This is why we are Halloween, also left the witch's broom, black cat, spells and other traces.

The history of Halloween two legend:

The first

Two thousand years ago, Europe's Catholic Church would make November 1st as " All Hallows Day" ( ALL HALLOWS DAY ). " HALLOW" the saints. Legend since five hundred BC, living in Ireland, Scotland and other places of the Celtic ( CELTS ) moved forward this festive day, October 31st. They feel that the day is the formal end of the summer days, it is at the beginning of the year, the harsh winter, the day began. When people believe in, the spirits of the enemy on this day back in the house to find him in the living creatures, to regeneration, and it is people can be reborn after the death of the only hope. The living dead who are afraid to come to seize the soul of health, so people will put out the fire on this day, candlelight, let the soul can not find the living dead, also dressed up as demons and ghosts to scare away the dead souls. After that, they will rekindle the fire candle to, the beginning of the new year of life. Fable Celts tribe also had at that time in October 31st to pay homage to the dead to kill the living custom.

In the first Century, Celtic tribes occupied the territory of the Roman people have gradually accepted the Halloween customs, but has since abolished the firing of brutal practices of the living dead festival. Romans celebrate the harvest festival with the Celtics ceremony, wearing a frightening mask, dressed in animal or ghosts, are intended to drive away demons wandering around in their. This is what most people in today's global ancient spirit demon dressed, to celebrate the origin of halloween. As time goes by, the meaning of Halloween has changed gradually, become active happy, happy has become a mainstream means. The dead soul back to look for a substitute to say the world has gradually been abandoned and forgotten. To this day, a symbol of Halloween images, such as witches, black cats, picture, is mostly friendly cute and funny face.

The second kind

Legends about the origin of Halloween another version of that, it was before the birth of Christ from the ancient Western European countries, including Ireland, Scotland and Welsh. That several of the ancient people of Western Europe were called druids. Druids of the new year in the November 1st, new year's Eve, so that young people set Druids team, wearing all kinds of strange mask, carrying carved turnip lamp ( jack-o-lantern later the Department of customs, the ancient Western Europe pumpkin is not the first ), they walk in the village. This was actually a kind of harvest celebration; also said to be "Halloween", the legend who died that year, the soul will be the eve of Halloween visit the world, said that people should be allowed to visit the ghost to see the ghost of a successful harvest and show great hospitality. All bonfire and lights, one hand in order to frighten away the ghost, but also for the ghost light line, to guide their return.

In medieval Europe, there had been the history of Christianity to destroy infidels. But before the new year's Eve celebration worship never really removed, but in the form of witchcraft. This is why we are Halloween, also left the witch's broom, black cat, spells and other traces.

The Celtic people, who lived more than 2000 years ago feared the evening of Oct. 31 more than any other day of the year. It was the eve of their festival of Samhain. Samhain was a joyful harvest festival that marked the death of the old year and the beginning of a new one. The day itself was a time for paying homage to the sun god Baal who had provided the people with the ripened grain for use in the upcoming winter. Come evening evil spirits were everywhere. Charms and spells were said to have more power on the eve of Samhain. Several rituals were performed by the Celtic priests, Druids, to appease the Lord of the Dead.
参考资料：http://www.wesleylowe.com/halloween/hallohis.html

Halloween was called Samhain by the Irish. It came to be known as Halloween sometime around the fifth century A.D. .

Samhain 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.

To celibrate the festival, the Irish would dress up in bizarre costumes and parade through their villages， causing destruction and saying "Trick-or-Treat", in order to scare off any recently departed souls who might be prowling for bodies to inhabit.

This yearly festival was later brought to the other regions of the world, including continental Europe and North America. Irish immigrants brought several customs with them, including one of the symbols most commonly associated with Halloween -- the "Jack Lantern".

According to Irish folklore, there once lived a man named Jack who was known for being a drunk and a prankster. 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 "Jack Lanterns" to warm him.

In Ireland, they originally used turnips for their "Jack Lanterns", but upon arriving in north America, they discovered that pumpkins were abundant and easier to carve out.

All Saints' Day, feast of the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches, and day on which churches glorify God for all God's saints, known and unknown. It is celebrated on Nov. 1 in the West, since Pope Gregory IV ordered its church-wide observance in 837. Its origin lies earlier in the common commemorations of martyrs who died in groups or whose names were unknown, which were held on various days in different parts of the Church; over time these celebrations came to include not only the martyrs but all saints. During the Reformation the Protestant churches understood “saints” in its New Testament usage as including all believers and reinterpreted the feast of All Saints as a celebration of the unity of the entire Church. In medieval England the festival was known as All Hallows, hence the name Halloween [=All Hallows' eve] for the preceding evening.