英语沙龙：万圣节前夜

Halloween

All Saints’ Day，which falls on 1st November，is regarded in the West as a festival．It was formerly¹ a religious day and has been observed since the 4th century．31 st October，the night before All Saints’ Day called Halloween，was originally New Year’ s Eve celebrated² by the Celts．The Celtic authoritative³ druids believed that demons⁴ and spirits of the dead roam the earth on their New Year' s Day．In order to protect themselves from any potential tricks and harms done to them，they wore frightful⁵ masks and disguised themselves so that the spirits would think the druids belonged to their own evil company．And tasty eatables were offered to curry⁶ favour with them and bonfires w ere lit to drive them away．Later on，those practices were gradually changed into a custom of commemorating⁷ on 31 st October the return of dead souls to their homeland．People on that day also commemorated⁸ all the dead saints either well－known or not well－known．Because dead soul s are observed on All Saints’ Day，some people tend to call it Ghost Day．This day has been now developed into a non－religious ordinary festival．Wearing exotic masks，putting on gorgeous and weird⁹ clothes and holding candlelit pumpkin¹⁰ lanterns carved into grotesque¹¹ heads，people gather cheerfully on streets in the evening to sing and dance to their hearts’ content．Spectacular fancy dress balls are held in some places．This festival appeals especially to the lovely kids．They dress up in costumes and go from door to door to extend good wishes for asking for confectionaries or some small gifts．Halloween is really a joyful¹² festival in the West．

万圣节前夜

１１月１日万圣节是西方社会的一个节日。它本来是个宗教节日，始于公元４世纪。１０月３１日万圣节前夜原是克尔特人的除夕夜。当时克尔特人中一些有权威的祭司们认为妖魔鬼怪会在新年之际降临人间，为了驱邪避害，他们佩戴可怕的面具来伪装自己使鬼怪把他们当成一伙的。一方面供奉美食款待它们，另一方面又点燃篝火驱赶它们。后来，这种做法逐渐改变为１０月３１日纪念亡灵返回家园的习俗。人们在那天还纪念所有出名和不出名的亡故圣者。有些人把万圣节称为鬼节就是因为西方社会在这天纪念亡灵。今天万圣节已演变成非宗教的民俗节日。在万圣节前夜，人们头戴怪异的面具，身穿艳丽而奇特的服装，手提雕刻成怪诞脸形并点燃蜡烛的南瓜灯笼，欢聚在大街小巷载歌载舞，有些地方还举行盛大的化装舞会。这一节日尤其吸引天真可爱的孩子们。他们化了装串门走户地祝福，索取糖果或其他礼物。万圣节前夜不失为西方人洋溢着欢乐气氛的一个节日。

1 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

2 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• 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。

3 authoritative   

adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的

参考例句：

• David speaks in an authoritative tone.大卫以命令的口吻说话。
• Her smile was warm but authoritative.她的笑容很和蔼，同时又透着威严。

4 demons   

n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念

参考例句：

• demons torturing the sinners in Hell 地狱里折磨罪人的魔鬼
• He is plagued by demons which go back to his traumatic childhood. 他为心魔所困扰，那可追溯至他饱受创伤的童年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 frightful   

adj.可怕的；讨厌的

参考例句：

• How frightful to have a husband who snores!有一个发鼾声的丈夫多讨厌啊！
• We're having frightful weather these days.这几天天气坏极了。

6 curry   

n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革

参考例句：

• Rice makes an excellent complement to a curry dish.有咖喱的菜配米饭最棒。
• Add a teaspoonful of curry powder.加一茶匙咖喱粉。

7 commemorating   

v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements. 他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The post office issued a series commemorating famous American entertainers. 邮局发行了一个纪念美国著名演艺人员的系列邮票。 来自互联网

8 commemorated   

v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Lincoln commemorated the soldiers killed in the battle in his address. 林肯在演说中表扬阵亡将士。 来自辞典例句
• You'll be commemorated for killing a spy, and be specially discharged. 你们每杀一个间谍将会被记录到特殊档案。 来自电影对白

9 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

10 pumpkin   

n.南瓜

参考例句：

• They ate turkey and pumpkin pie.他们吃了火鸡和南瓜馅饼。
• It looks like there is a person looking out of the pumpkin!看起来就像南瓜里有人在看着你！

11 grotesque   

adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物）

参考例句：

• His face has a grotesque appearance.他的面部表情十分怪。
• Her account of the incident was a grotesque distortion of the truth.她对这件事的陈述是荒诞地歪曲了事实。

12 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。