2 万圣节故事二则
二.万圣节故事之二：苹果树&南瓜灯
万圣节定在每年的十一月一日，称为AllSaints'-Day。旧名叫作Hallowmas，不过万圣节的同根词Halloween更为响亮万圣节，一直沿用到现在，意思是万圣节前夜，即十月三十一日夜晚。大约公元前五世纪，爱尔兰凯尔特人开始在每年的十月三十一日，也就是夏季结束的时候庆祝他们的万圣节，表达对丰收的喜悦以及对太阳的膜拜。有趣的是，凯尔特人有一个类似佛教轮回转世的万圣节说法，他们认为在新年旧岁交接的时刻，也就是十月三十一日夜晚，鬼魂会现身阳世，寻找替身以获得新生。万圣节凯尔特人不采用拜祭灶王爷，请他老人家上天言好事的做法，而是用一种“以夷制夷”的严厉手段来对付鬼魂。为了摆脱鬼魂的纠缠，万圣节这天晚上人们会把家里的炉火灭掉，营造一个寒冷阴森的环境，并把自己打扮成鬼怪的模样，大声怪叫。即便吓不走鬼魂，也要让鬼魂分不清谁是活人、谁是鬼魂，从而无法找到替身。
这么恐怖的万圣节演变到今天，竟成了一个最令人开心的万圣节，历史又跟我们开了一个善意的玩笑。这一天是一年之中，国外小孩子最兴奋的一天。万圣节早上孩子去上学的时候，就拿了服饰和糖果，准备参加学校组织的万圣节聚会。孩子们自己动手布置会场，装饰环境。桔色、黑色和白色是万圣节传统的装饰主调。万圣节中桔色的南瓜灯笼、黑色的猫、蜘蛛和女巫、白色的蜘蛛网和骷髅都是必不可少的角色。万圣节孩子们装扮成女巫和海盗，在朦胧的桔黄色灯光下表演万圣节玩游戏。最流行的万圣节游戏是“咬苹果”。苹果或者悬挂在空中，或者飘浮在装满水的盆子里，孩子们则在不许用手帮忙的条件下用嘴去咬苹果，谁先咬到，谁就是优胜者。这个万圣节传统节目大概可以追溯到罗马人用果仁和苹果来庆祝丰收的习俗。
万圣节令人眼花缭乱的装饰物品中，最有创意的要数万圣节南瓜灯。万圣节南瓜灯英文里叫作Jack-O’-Lantern。制作时把南瓜掏空，用刀刻出眼睛嘴巴，里面插一根蜡烛，形像要狰狞些才好。万圣节关于南瓜灯的传说有很多版本，以“骗魔鬼变六便士”的万圣节说法最为流行。万圣节其中有不少是这样开头的：传说爱尔兰有一个名叫StingyJack的男子……。其实，“astingydrunkardJack”本来应该译作“一个吝啬的酒鬼杰克”，却被原译者疏忽为“一个名叫StingyJack的男子”。后来以讹传讹，Stingy竟成了Jack甩不掉的名字。
万圣节另有一个“苹果树”版本也很著名：吝啬的爱尔兰酒鬼JACK骗魔鬼爬进了苹果树的树洞，然后迅速在树干上刻了一个神圣的十字，困住了魔鬼。JACK逼着魔鬼起誓永远不再追索、或以任何其它方式谋取他的灵魂，才把魔鬼放了出去。然而这却挡不住死亡的来临。JACK死后，由于酗酒、吝啬和欺诈，他未被允许进入天堂。而由于魔鬼的誓言，JACK也不能进入地狱。“那么我去哪里呢?”JACK不知所措地问。“哪儿来的回哪儿去!”魔鬼恶狠狠地回答。回去的路冷风四起，黑暗无边。魔鬼从地狱之火拣了一块烧得通红的火炭扔给他。为了照路又不被风吹灭，JACK将火炭放进了他手里拿着的大头菜中。JACK就这样举着他的“灯笼”寻找自己在地球上的存身之处。后来苏格兰人在万圣节中模仿他，挖空大头菜，放入蜡烛做灯笼;在万圣节爱尔兰人用的是土豆或大头菜;而在万圣节英格兰人则用甜菜。后来他们移民到美国，发现了一个更好用的灯笼——万圣节南瓜灯!这个万圣节故事其实是在告诉人们，无论什么情形，都不要和魔鬼做交易。
Two - story for Halloween two: Apple Tree & jack-o-lantern
Halloween in November 1st of each year, called the AllSaints'-Day. The old name is Hallowmas, but Halloween cognate Halloween louder Halloween, has been in use up to now, meaning is Halloween, October 31st night. Around fifth Century BC, the Irish Celts began in October 31st of each year, which is the end of the summer when they celebrate Halloween, expression of the joyance of the bumper harvest of sun worship. Interestingly, the Celtics had a similar Buddhist reincarnation Halloween view, they think the new year for handover time, namely October 31st night, the ghost will appear in the world, seeking a substitute for freshmen. Halloween Celtic worship the kitchen god is not used, please him God made good practice, but with a " play off one power against another " harsh measures against ghosts. In order to get rid of ghosts pester, Halloween night people will bring home the fire out, creating a cold dark environment, and dressed herself up as a ghost image, loud croak. Even frighten away the ghost, let the ghosts can't tell who is who, who is the ghost, thus unable to find substitute.
So scary Halloween evolution to today, has become one of the most exciting Halloween, history and we had a good joke. This is a day of a year abroad, a child of the most exciting day. Halloween morning children going to school, with costumes and candy, ready to participate in the school organization's Halloween party. Their children began to decorate the venue, decorative environment. Orange, black and white is the traditions of Halloween Decoration melody. Halloween orange pumpkin lantern, black cat, white witch, spider and spider web and skull are indispensable role. Halloween the children dressed up as a witch and pirates, in a dim orange light show Halloween game. The most popular Halloween game is "bite the apple ". Apple or suspended in the air, or floating in a pot filled with water, the children are not allowed to use the help of hands in the conditions of his mouth to bite apple, who first bite, who is the winner. The traditional programs could be traced back to the Romans with nuts and apple to celebrate the harvest.
Halloween is a see things in a blur of decorative items, the most creative should count Halloween jack-o-lantern. Halloween jack-o-lantern in English called Jack-O ' -Lantern. When making the hollowed out pumpkin, use a knife to cut out the eyes mouth, there is a candle, some good image to hideous. On the legend of Halloween jack-o-lantern has many versions, with " tricked the devil into six pence " Halloween is the most popular. Halloween is one of many began: the story of Irish is the name of a StingyJack man ... .... In fact, " astingydrunkardJack " should have " a mean drunkard Jack ", was the original translator negligence is " a man named StingyJack ". Then circulate erroneous reports, Stingy became Jack thrown away in the name of.
Halloween has a " apple tree " version is also very famous: mean Irish drunkard JACK tricked the devil climbed into the apple tree hole, then quickly carved on a tree by a holy cross, had captured the devil. JACK forced the devil swore never to recover, or in any other manner for his soul to the devil, put out. However, this has not stopped the coming of death. After the death of JACK, due to alcoholism, stingy and fraud, he was not allowed to enter heaven. And because the devil vow, JACK can not enter the hell. " So where do I go? " JACK asked, at a loss. " He deserves what he's got! " answered the devil savagely. The road back wind four, dark. The devil from hell fire picking up a piece of red-hot coals thrown to him. In order to light the way and not to be blown out, JACK will tan put his hand in the cabbage. JACK just held his " lanterns " to find their own place to stay on earth. Later, Scotland on Halloween to mimic his, hollow turnip, put a candle lanterns; in the Irish people are potatoes or turnips; and on Halloween while the English beet. Later they immigrated to the United States, found a better use of the lantern -- Halloween jack-o-lantern! This Halloween story is in fact to tell people, no matter what the situation, not dealing with the devil.
