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Halloween
October 31st (western countries)
Halloween is one of the oldest holidays with origins going back
thousands of years. The holiday has had many influences from many
cultures over the centuries. From the Roman's Pomona Day, to the
Celtic festival of Samhain, to the Christian holidays of All Saints
and All Souls Days.
Hundreds of years ago in what is now Great Britain and Northern
France, lived the Celts (凱爾特人), who worshipped (崇拜) nature and had
many gods, with the sun god as their favorite. They celebrated their
New Year on November 1st which was made every year with a festival
and marked the end of the "season of the sun" and the beginning of
"the season of darkness and cold."
On October 31st after the crops were all harvested and stored for
the long winter the cooking fires in the homes would be extinguished
(消失). The Druids, the Celtic priests, would meet in the hilltop in
the dark oak forest (oak trees were considered sacred). They would
light new fires and offer sacrifices of crops and animals. As they
danced around the fires, the season of the sun passed and the season
of darkness would begin.
When the morning arrived the Druids would give an ember from their
fires to each family who would then take them home to start new
cooking fires. These fires would keep the homes warm and free from
evil spirits.
The November 1st festival was called Samhain (pronounced "sow-en").
The festival would last for 3 days. Many people would parade in
costumes made from the skins and heads of their animals. This
festival would become the first Halloween.
The Celtics would carry a lantern (燈籠) when they walked on the eve
of October 31. These lanterns were carved out of big turnips (大頭菜)
and the lights were believed to keep the evil spirits away. Children
would carve faces in the turnips. These carved turnips were called
"jack-o-lanterns.
It is said that the "jack-o-lantern" got its name from a stingy
(吝嗇的) and mean old man, named Jack, who when he died was too mean to
get into heaven. When Jack went to hell he was meet by the Devil who
gave him a piece of burning coal and sent him away. Jack placed the
burning coal in a turnip to use as a lantern to light his way. The
legends claim that Jack is still walking with the lantern looking
for a place to stay.
When the early settlers came to America they found the big round
orange pumpkin. Being larger and much more colorful than turnips,
the pumpkin made great "jack-o-lanterns". Eventually the pumpkin
would replace the turnip. Eventually the Pumpkin would become the
most widely recognized symbol（象征）of the Halloween holiday.
The history of "Trick'O'Treating" can be traced back (追溯) to the
early celebrations of All Soul's Day in Britain. The poor would go
begging and the housewives would give them special treats called
"soulcakes". This was called "going a-souling", and the "soulers"
would promise to say a prayer for the dead.
Over time the custom changed and the town's children became the
beggars. As they went from house to house they would be given
apples, buns (圓形的小甜面包), and money. During the Pioneer days of the
American West, the housewives would give the children candy to keep
from being tricked. The children would shout "Trick or Treat!".