英文杂志-Hallowe'en-英语课

时间：2018-12-07 作者：英语课 分类：英文杂志-Magazine

英语课

　　Hallowe'en

　　Hallowe'en is a popular festival in many countries all over the world, and every year it seems to get bigger. It's getting dark earlier and it's starting to get cold. Christmas is still a long way away. We need something to cheer us up and take our minds off the fact that winter is nearly here. Find out some more about the traditional festival of Hallowe'en.
　　The origins of the name
　　The festival of Hallowe'en has its roots in Celtic and Roman traditions. Over 2,000 years ago the Celts in Britain, Ireland and parts of France celebrated 1 Samhain to mark the beginning of winter. When the Romans invaded, they merged 2 this with Feralia, their celebration of the passing of the dead. As Christianity spread, the Church tried to replace these pagan feasts 3 with official Church holy days. One of these was November 1. It was called All Saints 4 Day, or "All Hallows", and October 31 was known as "All Hallows' Eve", and then Hallowe'en.
　　Hallowe'en traditions
　　In the past there was a tradition called "souling". Poor people went around houses asking for food. In exchange, they promised to say prayers for the dead. People no longer go souling, but the habit has been transformed into a modern Hallowe'en game for children in America, who dress up as ghosts, witches and monsters and go around people's houses, asking for sweets. This game is called 'Trick or Treat’.
　　Witches
　　Hallowe'en wouldn't be fun without witches. Witches have always been part of popular folklore 5. Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" opens with three witches. A witch was someone - usually a woman - who had special powers and had dealings with the devil. The American town, Salem, in the state of Massachusetts, is famous for the "witchcraft 6 trials", which took place there in 1692.
　　Pumpkins 8
　　The pumpkin 7 has become a symbol of Hallowe'en. People empty a pumpkin, cut a face into the side, and put a candle inside to make a lamp. It's known as a Jack 9 O'Lantern, from an Irish legend about a man called Jack, who made a deal with the devil.
　　Animals
　　Black cats, frogs, mice and spiders are just some of the animals associated with Hallowe'en. Generally, the more unpleasant the animal, the stronger the Hallowe'en connection. Nocturnal animals like bats are particular favourites, and if, as is the case with vampire 10 bats, they like drinking blood, they are high on the Hallowe'en list.

1 celebrated

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 merged

（使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )；相融；融入；渐渐消失在某物中

Turf wars are inevitable when two departments are merged. 两个部门合并时总免不了争争权限。
The small shops were merged into a large market. 那些小商店合并成为一个大商场。

3 feasts

n.盛会( feast的名词复数 )；宴会；宗教节日；使人欢快的事物（或活动）

There were feasts and drinking and singing by the bards. 他们欢宴狂饮，还有吟游诗人的歌唱作伴助兴。来自英汉非文学 - 历史
The fruit was often served at wedding feasts. 婚宴上经常有水果供应。来自辞典例句

4 saints

圣人般的人（指特别善良、仁爱或有耐性的人）( saint的名词复数 )；圣…（冠于人名、地名之前）；（因其生死言行而被基督教会追封的）圣人；圣徒