万圣节不只是捣蛋夜，它还有超多神秘传统和习俗，想了解英文背后的故事吗？

Absolutely, the story behind Halloween traditions is as fascinating as the night itself! Halloween, celebrated on October 31st, traces its roots back over 2,000 years to an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain. The Celts, who lived in the area that is now Ireland and the UK, marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year often associated with death. They believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On October 31st, they would celebrate Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. This presence of otherworldly spirits made people fearful but also allowed Celtic priests (Druids) to make predictions about the future.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. Villagers also wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, to ward off evil spirits or disguise themselves from them. They would also leave food and drink offerings outside to appease the spirits. The lighting of bonfires and wearing costumes were thought to help guide the spirits back to the other world.

The Romans later incorporated Samhain into their festival of Feralia, a day in late October when they traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. By the 9th century, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as a time to honor all saints (All Saints' Day). It's widely believed that the celebration of Halloween was influenced by All Saints' Day and the subsequent All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead.

Over time, the traditions of Samhain blended with the Christian observances and other customs, eventually becoming what we know today as Halloween. The practice of "trick-or-treating" evolved from the ancient Celtic custom of "souling," where people would go door-to-door asking for "soul cakes" in exchange for praying for the souls of the dead. The modern Halloween we celebrate today is a blend of ancient traditions, religious influences, and popular culture, making it a night filled with mystery, fun, and a touch of the supernatural.