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万圣节

很久以前,爱尔兰人在萨温结上就穿上服装。他们怕鬼回来他们家,所他们觉得要是他们穿成鬼的样子,贵就不会害他们了。这些爱尔兰人把这个节日带来到美国;美国人把万圣节变成一个要糖,刻南瓜,和穿服饰的节日。虽然万圣节出现了很大的变化,这个节日还是留下了它的可怕和邪恶的主题。每年十月三十一号是万圣节。

为了庆祝万圣节,人们会穿上服装,刻南瓜,和去跟朋友一起玩。他们会比赛看谁的服装最好,谁的南瓜刻得最好,或谁家的装饰最好看。小孩子会穿上服装到邻居的门口去要糖。


中元节是从故事里面出现的。在那个故事里,有一个很饿得鬼老追一个孩子。这个孩子,为了把鬼给弄走,就给它很多食品。因为很多人知道这个故事,中国人也开始给鬼食品了。中元节在农历七月发生。

中元节的时候,中国人就觉得鬼都跑到他们的生活里,找吃和玩。这些鬼都是以前死了的祖先。因为这些鬼都很饿,人们会摆出来很多吃的给鬼吃。最后,人们会把一个蜡烛和一个小船放在家门口。这个船会告诉鬼怎么回家;灯一灭就说明鬼全走了。

A long time ago, the Irish celebrated a festival known as “samhain,” where evil ghosts would come to their house and cause harm. The people dressed as these ugly ghosts to try to blend in with them so they would not be harmed. When the Irish and this tradition came to America, Americans turned this holiday into one involving going trick-o-treating, carving pumpkins, and wearing costumes. Although “samhain” has changed much into today’s “Halloween,” they still share the same theme of scary and evil things. Halloween is celebrated every year on 10/31.

To celebrate Halloween, people will usually wear costumes, carve pumpkins, and throw parties. Friends usually compete among themselves to see who has the best costume, pumpkin, or decorations. Children will also go door-to-door to their neighbors asking for candy.

The Ghost Festival originated from a story where a hungry ghost followed around a child. This child put out food for the ghost in order to remove it from his life. The story spread and led to the adoption of celebrating ghost festival (or ghost month) by Chinese. The ghost month occurs on the seventh month of the lunar calendar, and the festival occurs on the fourteenth night of that month.

During Ghost Month, the Chinese believe that the ghosts of their ancestors have escaped and mingle among them, looking for food and entertainment. Because these ghosts are very hungry, people put food out for them. At the end of the month, families will place a lantern and a small boat in front of their door. The boat tells the ghost how to return home. When the lantern goes out, it means that the ghosts have successfully returned home.