SymbolsofHalloween
Halloweenoriginatedasacelebrationconnectedwithevilspirits.Witchesflyingonbroomstickswithghosts,goblinsandskeletonshaveallevolvedassymbolsofHalloween.Bats,owlsandothernocturnalanimalsarealsopopularsymbolsofHalloween.Theywereoriginallyfearedbecausepeoplebelievedthatthesecreaturescouldcommunicatewiththespiritsofthedead.
BlackcatsarealsosymbolsofHalloweenandhavereligiousoriginsaswell.Blackcatswereconsideredtobereincarnatedbeingswiththeabilitytodivinethefuture.DuringtheMiddleAgesitwasbelievedthatwitchescouldturnthemselvesintoblackcats.Thuswhensuchacatwasseen,itwasconsideredtobeawitchindisguise.Allthesearepopulartrick-or-treatcostumesanddecorationsforgreetingcardsandwindows.
BlackisoneofthetraditionalHalloweencolors,probablybecauseHalloweenfestivalsandtraditionstookplaceatnight.
PumpkinsarealsoasymbolofHalloween.Thepumpkinisanorange-coloredsquash,andorangehasbecometheothertraditionalHalloweencolor.Carvingpumpkinsintojack-o'-lanternsisaHalloweencustomalsodatingbacktoIreland.AlegendgrewupaboutamannamedJackwhowassostingythathewasnotallowedintoheavenwhenhedied,becausehewasamiser.Hecouldn'tenterhelleitherbecausehehadplayedjokesonthedevil.Asaresult,JackhadtowalkontheearthwithhislanternuntilJudgementDay.SoJackandhislanternbecamethesymbolofalostordamnedsoul.ToscarethesesoulsawayonHalloween,theIrishpeoplecarvedscaryfacesoutofturnips,beetsorpotatoesrepresenting"JackoftheLantern,"orJack-o-lantern.WhentheIrishbroughttheircustomstotheUnitedStates,theycarvedfacesonpumpkinsbecauseintheautumntheyweremoreplentifulthanturnips.Todayjack-o-lanternsinthewindowsofahouseonHalloweennightletcostumedchildrenknowthattherearegoodieswaitingiftheyknockandsay"TrickorTreat!"
参考译文:
万圣节前夜起源于与邪恶幽灵相关的庆祝活动,所以骑着扫帚的女巫、幽灵、小妖精和骷髅都是万圣节的标志物.蝙蝠、猫头鹰和其他夜间活动的动物也是万圣节的普遍标志.起初,这些动物让人觉得非常可怕,因为人们认为这些动物能和死者的幽灵进行交流.
黑猫也是万圣节的标志物,并且也有一定的宗教起源.人们认为黑猫可以转生,具有预言未来的超能力.在中世纪,人们认为女巫可以变成黑猫,所以人们一看到黑猫就会认为它是女巫假扮的.这些标志物都是万圣节服装的普遍选择,也是贺卡或橱窗上很常用的装饰.
黑色是传统的万圣节颜色,这可能是因为万圣节前夜的各种传统或仪式都是在晚上举行.
南瓜也是万圣节的标志性象征.南瓜是橘黄色的,所以橘黄色也成了传统的万圣节颜色.用南瓜雕制南瓜灯也是一个万圣节传统,其历史也可追溯到爱尔兰.传说有一个名叫杰克的人非常吝啬,因而死后不能进入天堂,而且因为他取笑魔鬼也不能进入地狱,所以,他只能提着灯笼四处游荡,直到审判日那天.于是,杰克和南瓜灯便成了被诅咒的游魂的象征.人们为了在万圣节前夜吓走这些游魂,便用芜菁、甜菜或马铃薯雕刻成可怕的面孔来代表提着灯笼的杰克,这就是南瓜灯(Jack-o'-lantern)的由来.爱尔兰人迁到美国后,便开始用南瓜来进行雕刻,因为在美国秋天的时候南瓜比芜菁更充足.现在,如果在万圣节的晚上人们在窗户上挂上南瓜灯就表明那些穿着万圣节服装的人可以来敲门捣鬼要糖果.
以上答案后边部分是南瓜灯的来历~