Halloween万圣节的故事
Speech of Halloween
Good morning:
To begin my speech, I’d like to ask you some questions. What day is November one? Are you familiar with western festivals? Do you know something about “Trick or Treat ” and “Jack-O-Lantern ”? As English major, I think it ’s necessary for us to maintain some contact with western culture. Today I’d like to share with you something about Hallowmas.
Hallowmas is a traditional festival in English world. It has origins in the “All Hallows Day” or “All Saints Day”, and it is celebrated on every November
1st . In the ancient time, it is a festival for heathens to in honor of the dead. But as time going on, it is transformed into a festival to commemorate Christian gradually. At present, Hallowmas has become a very universal seasonal festival freeing of any religion. Many people perceive it as the end of autumn and the beginning of winter. And after the Hallowmas, people are looking forward to the Christmas.
Halloween is the night before Hallowmas. The word “Halloween” is from “All Hallow Eve ”. There are several activities and games on Halloween. The most famous activity is “Trick or Treat ”. When the night comes, children are dressed up in costumes impatiently, put on colorful masks, and with Jack-O-Lantern in hand. Then begin their sweet journey. They will ask for sweet door to door by yelling a warning “Trick or Treat ”. If they couldn ’t get some sweet, they will play a trick on them. For example, cover their doorknob with foam, dye their cats or smash their Jack-O-Lantern and so on. Almost all families will treat these small interesting guests willingly. So, at that night, children will have a bulgy pocket and a full stomach.
Many Jack-O-Lanterns are cute with smiling eyes and big mouths. There is a story about the origin of Jack-O-Lantern. A man named Jack who is a drunkard and likes playing mischievous trick. One day, he cheated a demon onto a tree, and caved a cross on the trunk. He scared the demon, so the demon was frightened to get down from the tree. Then they reached an agreement, the demon must ensure Jack never commit a crime. And Jack released the demon. After Jack died, his soul can neither go to heaven nor hell. As a result, his soul was lingering on between heaven and earth with the lead of a candle. In the ancient Ireland, the candle was put in a hollowed turnip and is called “Jack Lantern ”, but as we all know, today it is made by pumpkin. It is because that pumpkin is easy to cave and can be get easily.
With the development of the festival, it has been changed a lot and transformed into a festival for children and also a costume ball for adults. So if
you are interested in the festival, I think you can surf the Internet to acquire more information about the festival.
Thank you!