Halloween History 万圣节历史.docx

Halloween History: No one is sure how old Halloween really is, but trace its probable origins back to BC times, to the ancient Celts, who lived in England, Ireland and Wales. The ancient Celts held a festival called Samhain, which celebrated the start of a new year. Halloween was their New Years Eve. The ancient Celts believed that the night before each new year, a door opened between this world and the Otherworld - a place the ancient Celts believed was inhabited by supernatural spirits both good and bad. They believed that October 31 was the most dangerous night in the year. That night, people were exposed to the entire supernatural world.Black Cats & Spooky Tales: The ancient Celts believed, on October 31st, the good spirits of the dead would come back to earth, in the form of an animal, often in the form of a black cat, to be reunited with loved ones, one last time. Today, silhouettes of black cats are used as Halloween decorations, and everyone tells spooky tales!Pumpkins: How did pumpkins get in the act? No one knows! Its a history mystery! (This mystery makes a great subject for a creative writing lesson.) But most probably, pumpkins replaced turnips, which is the vegetable people used to carve during the ancient new year festival.Halloween is actually a contraction of “All Hallows Even(ing)” and celebrated on October 31, the evening before the Christian feast of All Hallows. Some scholars believe that the origins of the holiday begin with the Celtic celebration Samhain. In Celtic tradition, Samhain celebrated the end of Falls harvest. The Christian All Hallows celebration honored saints and the souls of those who died the previous year. In medieval Europe, it was believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Hallows, looking for a chance to get even with their enemies. On All Hallows Eve, people wore masks and costumes to disguise and protect themselves from those souls.Halloween is actually a contraction of “All Hallows Even(ing)” and celebrated on October 31, the evening before the Christian feast of All Hallows. Some scholars believe that the origins of the holiday begin with the Celtic celebration Samhain. In Celtic tradition, Samhain celebrated the end of Falls harvest. The Christian All Hallows celebration honored saints and the souls of those who died the previous year. In medieval Europe, it was believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Hallows, looking for a chance to get even with their enemies. On All Hallows Eve, people wore masks and costumes to disguise and protect themselves from those souls.http:/holidays.pppst