万圣节“不给糖果就捣蛋”Trick or Treat

Dean

It’s October the 31st, and across Britain and the USA, thousands of children are dressing up(乔装打扮；穿上盛装) as monsters(怪物；妖怪), ghosts and witches(巫师) and going to their neighbours’ houses to ask for sweets or to play tricks on them if they refuse.
Many houses have lanterns made from pumpkins in their windows. These lanterns have frightening faces cut into them.

What is the reason for all of this? It’s Halloween! To an outsider(外人；局外人) , this may seem a strange festival, but it is a very popular one and an important part of the culture in Britain and the USA. But how did it start?

The holiday once had a religious significance. November the 1st is All Saint’s Day, and October the 31st was believed to be a day when all the spirits(幽灵；鬼魂) came back to the world of the living. In modern times, this has changed to be a day when children dress up as monsters, ghosts and witches.

Once they are dressed up children go to their neighbours’ houses. They knock on the door and shout ‘Trick or treat!’ Good neighbours, of course, give ‘treats’. These are usually sweets or chocolates.

Bad neighbours, however, may give nothing. If so, then the children play a ‘trick’ on them. This may be a simple practical joke(恶作剧). However, naughty children may do something worse, like throwing rubbish in the neighbour’s garden. Nowadays, of course, most neighbours always give a treat. After all, it’s fun for the children.

Another tradition is to make lanterns from pumpkins. First, the inside of the pumpkin is removed. Then, a face is cut into the pumpkin, traditionally a smiling, devil face. Finally a candle is placed inside, and the lantern is put at the front of the house to keep evil spirits away.

There are many traditional games on Halloween, but the most common is ‘apple-bobbing’. It’s simple to play. Several apples are put floating(漂浮着) in water. Children then have their hands tied(栓着的，捆着的) behind their backs. They then have to try to pick the apples out of the water using only their mouths. Of course, people get very wet and it is very funny to watch.

傲立北极

呵呵,以前爱情公寓就办过同名的线上活动~

Dean

What are you talking about? Does Halloween have anything to do with love?

伊人独酌

Thanks for introducing foreign customer to us. Frighten away ghost is a little like chinese New
Year, red paper with couplet is used for frighten away devils in the past. And now I think
Halloween is just for children to make fun, which will be greatly loved by children.

Customer is the culture, it is valuable.

聂小倩

我看了，可是看不懂，能不能译成中国话？

Dean

在西方国家，每年的十月三十一日，有个Halloween，辞典解释为“The eve of All Saints'Day”，中文译作：万圣节之夜。

　　关于万圣节，人们或多或少都有了一定的感性认知：知道万圣节期间，许多公共场所乃至居家院落，都会布置上很多装璜，诸如各式鬼怪呀、南瓜灯呀、还有黑猫以及巫婆的扫帚之类；孩子们会穿上每年不一样的万圣节服装，拎着南瓜灯的提篓去挨家挨户地讨糖，说是“trick or treat”。

伊人独酌

引用第4楼三哥于10-31-2007 22:29发表的 :
我看了，可是看不懂，能不能译成中国话？

这段文字在初中或者高中应该接触过

Dean

We should learn English and understand its culture. Otherwise, we can't use English well without understanding its culture.

伊人独酌

引用第7楼Dean于11-07-2007 16:03发表的 :
We should learn English and understand its culture. Otherwise, we can't use English well without understanding its culture.

Yes, that's ture.