万圣节英语作文:Ancient Origins of Halloween2000字
Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).
The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.
During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.
By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.
The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.
By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.
-
关于万圣节的诗歌:万圣节快乐100字
今天我带着面具想象你的样子在篝火通明的梦里突然有一群人拿着萝卜灯围着你你问我他们在干什么我低语这是在驱鬼这时有一个虔诚的威尔士人走到了你的面前公主我们给你点亮阳光那时你像月亮清晰快乐梦醒了空灵的夜空告诉我公主睡着了森林里的鬼们也都睡着了我安...
-
[万圣节征文]校园有鬼!1000字
刚升入国一,竟遇上了这么件怪事。...
-
关于万圣节的作文:可怕的万圣节(五)1500字
1、冬瓜皮西瓜皮,万圣节里要换皮。你的头我的头,万圣节里换个头。恐吓你吓吓你,万圣节里逗逗你。呵呵,不要怕,万圣节到了,祝你万圣节里hold住!2、万圣节到,我变成可爱的精灵,拿着南瓜灯,骑着神奇魔帚,飞过幽灵深林,千辛万苦来到你的面前,要告诉你:嘿嘿!没事,就是手痒痒,编个短...
-
关于万圣节作文100字:欢乐的万圣节1500字
关于万圣节作文100字:欢乐的万圣节万圣节是每年的十月份的最后一天,西方的鬼节。在这个节日里,小朋友们最爱玩不请客就捣蛋的游戏了。今天是万圣节,我和黄颀旋、席梦茹、詹思克约好,也来过一过西方人的节日。晚上七点,我们准时到达了集合点——席梦茹家。...
相关文章
- 国三年级英语作文:The importance of maintaining a healthy750字
- 元宵节英语作文:The 15-Day Celebration of Chinese New Year1200字
- 元宵节英语作文:The origin of the Lantern Festival3000字
- 万圣节英语作文:Superstitions of Halloween2000字
- 二年级英语作文:An English evening party invitation350字
- 高三英语作文:An Unforgettable Winter Holiday650字
- 元宵节英语作文:The Origin of Chinese New Year1500字
- I want to be a volunteer of protecting animals作文
- 会考英语作文模板:government spend money on medical care and education
- 关于和平的英语作文:International Day of Peace Vigil500字