万圣夜的历史

Halloween，为“All Hallows' Eve”的缩写，意为“万圣节（诸圣节 All Hallows' Day）的前夜”，万圣节前夕，万圣夜，华语地区常讹称为万圣节。其英语名称中的“Hallow”源于中古英语的“halwen”，与“holy”词源很接近，在苏格兰和加拿大的某些区域，诸圣节仍然称为“Allhallowmas”，意思是在纪念所有圣人（All Hallows）的那一天要举行的弥撒（Mass）。

万圣节通常与灵异的事物联系起来。西洋传统上认为万圣夜是鬼怪世界最接近人间的时间，这传说与东亚的中元节与盂兰节以及日本的百鬼夜行类似。美国明尼苏达州的阿诺卡（Anoka）号称是“世界万圣夜之都”，每年都举行大型的巡游庆祝。

万圣节与圣诞节一样都是来自于天主教对其它文化的节日的吸收和重新诠释。万圣夜起源于不列颠凯尔特人的传统节日，11月1日是他们的新年，在10月的最后一天，他们相信这是夏天的终结，冬天的开始，这一天是一年的重要标志，是最重要的节日之一，被称为“死人之日”，或者“鬼节”。这一天各种恶鬼出没，死去人们的灵魂也会离开身体，在世间游走，这一天的晚上也就格外危险。为了吓走邪恶的鬼魂，凯尔特人会戴上面具。

介绍万圣夜历史的视频：

The History of Halloween

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Halloween falls October thirty-first each year in Britain, North America and other parts of the world. Like many other holidays halloween has evolved and changed throughout history and its a mix of pagan and Christian tradition. Over 2,000 years ago, people called the Celts lived in what is now Ireland and parts of northern France. November the first was their New Year's Day and they believe that the night before the New Year on October thirty-first was a time when the living and the dead came together. More than a thousand years ago, the christian church named November the first All Saints' Day, also called All Hallows. This was a holy day to honor the saints and other people who died for their religion. The night before all hallows was called Hallow's Eve. Later the name was changed halloween. Like the Celts, the Europeans of 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 they 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, for example on halloween in Europe some people would carry Landon's made from turnips, in America pumpkins were more common so people began 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 a thousand 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.

Halloween Songs and Stories

这是给小孩子介绍万圣夜的故事的视频，有兴趣也可以看看。

关于万圣夜的历史，History这个网站上介绍的非常详细，还有关于Trick-or-Treating，Jack O’ Lantern，The Halloween Pumpkin等等的介绍。