篇一:All Saints' Day: A Celebration of the Saints
Introduction
All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day, is a Christian holiday celebrated on November 1st. It is a time to honor and remember all the saints, known and unknown, who have passed away and are now in heaven. This article will delve into the history and traditions surrounding this important day.
History
The origins of All Saints' Day can be traced back to the early days of Christianity. In the 4th century, the Greek Christians celebrated a feast known as the Feast of All Martyrs in May. However, in the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon in Rome to honor the Virgin Mary and all the martyrs. He changed the date of the feast to November 1st and renamed it All Saints' Day.
Traditions and Customs
All Saints' Day is a day of remembrance and prayer for the departed souls. Many Christians attend church services where special prayers are offered for the saints. They also visit cemeteries to clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones. In some countries, such as Mexico, people build private altars called "ofrendas" in their homes to honor the deceased. These altars are adorned with flowers, candles, and the favorite foods and drinks of the departed.
Another popular tradition during All Saints' Day is the lighting of candles. Candles symbolize the light of Christ and are lit to remember and honor the saints. Some churches and cemeteries organize candlelight processions, where people carry lit candles and sing hymns as they walk together.
In addition to these traditions, All Saints' Day is also a time for feasting and celebration. In many cultures, special dishes and sweets are prepared and shared among family and friends. Saints' Day cakes, known as "soul cakes," are a popular treat during this time.
Significance
All Saints' Day holds great significance for Christians around the world. It is a day to remember and honor the saints, who serve as examples of holiness and righteousness. It is also a day to reflect on our own lives and strive to emulate the virtues of the saints. All Saints' Day reminds us of the ultimate goal of our faith – to join the saints in heaven and be in the presence of God.
Conclusion
All Saints' Day is a time of remembrance, prayer, and celebration. It is a day to honor the saints and remember their contributions to the Christian faith. Whether through attending church services, visiting cemeteries, or participating in traditions and customs, Christians around the world come together on this day to pay their respects and seek inspiration from the saints. All Saints' Day serves as a reminder of the eternal hope and glory that awaits all believers in Christ.
AllSaints’Day万圣节英语介绍 篇三
11月1日 -- 萬聖節 All Saints' Day11月2日 -- 墨西哥的鬼節 Day of Death
萬聖節(All Saints' Day, All Hallow's Day或Hallowmas) 是每年11月1日 的歐美大節日。
Halloween 是 All Hallows Eve 的縮寫,萬聖節前夜的意思,指10月31日的晚上。
For thousands of years people have been celebrating different holidays and festivals at the end of October. The Celts celebrated it as Samhain (pronounced "sow-in", with "sow" rhyming with cow). The Irish English dictionary published by the Irish Texts Society defines the word as follows:
"Samhain, All Hallowtide, the feast of the dead in Pagan and Christian times, signalizing the close of harvest and the initiation of the winter season, lasting till May, during which troops (esp. the Fiann) were quartered. Faeries were imagined as particularly active at this season. From it the half year is reckoned. also called Feile Moingfinne (Snow Goddess).(1) The Scottish Gaelis Dictionary defines it as "Hallowtide. The Feast of All Soula. Sam + Fuin = end of summer."
The Celts believed that every year on the last day of October, the souls of the dead visited the earth.www.
When the Romans conquered the Celts in the first century A.D., they added parts of their festivals, Feralia and Pomona to the tradition. Feralia was a festival to honor the dead and Pomona was a harvest festival named after the goddess of fruit (apples) and trees.
Around the eigth century, the Christian church made November 1 All Saints' Day to honor all of the saints that didn't have a special day of their own. Over the years these festivals combined, the mass held on All Saints' Day was called Allhallowmas (the mass of all Hallows - saintly people). The night before was known as All Hallows Eve. Eventually this name became Halloween.
In the 1800s, as a lot of people emigrated to the U.S., the holidays and traditions of different cultures merged. Halloween was not always a happy time. October 31, or the night before took on other names. Some called it Devil's or Hell night, to others it was mischief night. Here in Vermont, the night before is called cabbage night. To some people this became a time to play tricks on others. Some of these tricks were not fun at all. Luckily, community groups and inpiduals took action and started to change Halloween into a family event. Dressing up in costumes and going "trick or treating", costume parades, community parties and Fall festivals are some of the ways that Halloween is celebrated today.
Other countries have different Fall festivals to honor the deceased.
The Festival of the Dead is one of the most important happenings in both Palermo and the rest of Sicily. The second of November is a festival day for the children of Palermo as, according to tradition,they were made to believe that their dead relatives would return the night before and leave them traditional sweets and cakes on the table (Martorana fruit, which is almond paste made into the shape of different fruit). They would also receive puppets of boiled sugar and toys. It's one way of keeping the memory of their dead relatives and loved ones alive.
一年中最“鬧鬼”的這天夜里,各种妖魔鬼怪、 海盜、 外星來客和巫婆們紛紛出動。在基督紀元以前,凱爾特人在夏未舉行儀式感激上蒼和太陽的恩惠。
當時的占卜者點燃並施巫術以驅赶据說在四周游蕩的妖魔怪。后來,羅馬人用果仁和蘋果來慶祝的豐收節與凱爾特人的10月31日溶合了。
在中世紀,人們穿上動物造型的服飾、 戴上可怕的面具是想在萬聖節前夜驅赶黑夜中的鬼怪。盡管後來基督教代替了凱爾特和羅馬的宗教活動,早期的習俗還是保留下來了。現在,孩子們帶著開玩笑的心理穿戴上各种服飾和面具參加萬聖節舞會,這些舞會四周的牆上往往懸挂著用紙糊的巫婆、 黑貓、 鬼怪和尸骨,窗前和門口則吊著齜牙裂嘴或是面目可憎的南瓜燈