万圣节

Halloween

Halloween falls on October 31 each year in Britain, North America and other parts of the world.

每年的10月31日是英国、北美和世界其他地区的万圣节。

Like many other holidays, Halloween has evolved and changed throughout history and is a mix of pagan and Christian tradition.

和许多其他节日一样,万圣节在历史上不断的演变和变化,是异教徒和基督教传统的混合体。

Over 2000 years ago, people called the Celts lived in what is now Ireland and parts of northern France.

2000多年前,凯尔特人居住在现在的爱尔兰和法国北部的部分地区。

November 1 was then New Year's Day, and they believed that the night before the new year, on Ocotber 31, was a time when the living and the dead come together.

11月1日是元旦,他们相信新年的前夜,即10月31号,是生者和死者团聚的日子。

More than 1000 years ago, the Christian church named November 1 All Saint's Day, also called All Hallows.

1000多年前,基督教会将11月1日定位“圣徒日”,也叫“万圣节”。

This was a special holy day to honor the Saints and other people who died for their religion.

这是一个特别的宗教节日,用来纪念圣徒和为他们宗教牺牲的其他人。

The night before All Hallows was called Hallows Eve.

万圣节前的那个夜晚叫万圣节前夜。

Later the name was changed to Halloween.

之后名字就被改为了万圣节。

Like the Celts, the Europeans at that time also believed that the spirits of the dead would visit the earth on Halloween.

与凯尔特人一样,那时候的欧洲人也相信亡灵会在万圣节这一天造访人间。

They worried that evil spirits would cause problems or hurt them.

人们担心恶灵会带来麻烦或伤害他们。

So on that night, people wore costumes that look like ghosts or other evil creatures.

因此在那天晚上,人们会装扮成鬼魂或其他妖魔鬼怪。

They thought if they dress like that, the spirits would think they were also dead and not harm them.

他们认为穿成那样,会让亡灵以为他们也已经死了,就不会伤害他们。

the tradition of Halloween was carried to America by the immigrating Europeans.

欧洲移民将万圣节的传统带到了美国。

Some of the customs changed a little though.

不过有些风俗已经有些改变了。

For example, on Halloween in Europe some people would carry lanterns made from turnips.

比如,欧洲的万圣节人们会携带萝卜做的灯笼。

In America pumpkins were more common. So people become putting candles inside them and using them as lanterns.

而在美国,南瓜则更常见。因此有些人会把蜡烛放到南瓜里面,把南瓜当作灯笼。

That is why you see Jack-o-lanterns today.

这就是为什么现在大家见到的是空心南瓜灯。

These days Halloween is not usually considered a religious holiday. It is primarily a fun day for children.

现在,万圣节通常不再被视作是一个宗教节日了。对孩子们来说,这是个好玩的节日。

Chidren dress up in costumes like people did 1000 years ago.

孩子们穿着和一千多年前一样的衣服。

But instead of worrying about evil spirits, they go from house to house asking for treats.

但是他们并不担心邪恶的亡灵,而是为了挨家挨户的要吃的。

They knock on the doors and say 'trick or treat'; the owner of each house gives candy or something special to each trick-or-treater.

他们敲门说“不给糖就捣乱”,房子的主人就会给恶作剧者糖果或其他特别的东西。

If they don't, they may be on the receiving end of a prank.

如果房主不给,他们可能就会成为恶作剧的对象。

翻译

生词统计

单词音标翻译
enolveɪ'vɑlvv. 发展、进化、使逐步形成
pagan'pegənn. 异教徒、非基督教徒; adj. 异教的、异教徒的
costumeˈkɑsˌtumn. 服装、装束、戏装、剧装; v. 给...穿上服装
immigrate'ɪmɪɡretv. 移入; vt. 使移居入境
custom'kʌstəmn. 习惯、惯例、风俗、海关、关税; adj. 定做的、定制的
turnip'tɝnɪpn. 萝卜、大头菜
prankpræŋkn. 恶作剧、开玩笑、戏虐; v. 装饰、打扮

原文阅读

Halloween falls on October 31 each year in Britain, North America and other parts of the world.

Like many other holidays, Halloween has evolved and changed throughout history and is a mix of pagan and Christian tradition.

Over 2000 years ago, people called the Celts lived in what is now Ireland and parts of northern France.

November 1 was then New Year's Day, and they believed that the night before the new year, on October 31, was a time when the living and the dead came together.

More than 1000 years ago, the Christian church named November 1 All Saint's Day, also called All Hallows.

This was a special holy day to honor the Saints and other people who died for their religion.

The night before All Hallows was called Hallows Eve.

Later the name was changed to Halloween.

Like the Celts, the Europeans at that time also believed that the spirits of the dead would visit the earth on Halloween.

They worried that evil spirits would cause problems or hurt them.

So on that night, people wore costumes that look like ghosts or other evil creatures.

They thought if they dress like that, the spirits would think they were also dead and not harm them.

The tradition of Halloween was carried to America by the immigrating Europeans.

Some of the customs changed a little though.

For example, on Halloween in Europe some people would carry lanterns made from turnips.

In America pumpkins were more common. So people become putting candles inside them and using them as lanterns.

That is why you see Jack-o-lanterns today.

These days Halloween is not usually considered a religious holiday. It is primarily a fun day for children.

Children dress up in costumes like people did 1000 years ago.

But instead of worrying about evil spirits, they go from house to house asking for treats.

They knock on the doors and say 'trick or treat'; the owner of each house gives candy or something special to each trick-or-treater.

If they don't, they may be on the receiving end of a prank.