Happy Halloween!

Introduction to Halloween!
At the end of October people have been celebrating different holidays and festivals for thousands of years.  The Celts celebrated  Samhain (pronounced "sow-in", with "sow" rhyming with cow) which signalized the close of harvest and the initiation of the winter season.  They believed that every year on the last day of October the souls of the dead visited earth.
Around the eighth 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 to become Allhallowmas (the mass of all Hallows - saintly people). The night before was known as All Hallows Eve, which later became Halloween.Halloween wasn't always a happy and joyous time in America.  Some used to call it Devil's or Hell night because of all the mischief that was caused. Today Halloween has become a family event where children dress up in costumes and go trick or treating door to door for candy.

In Mexico they celebrate El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) which is considered by many to be the most important holiday of the year.  Like Halloween, El Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on October 31.

Source: Ben and Jerry's Halloween Page

http://www.benjerry.com/halloween/

万圣节是西方的一个重要节日，各地会有很多活动。今年我们主要参加了儿子幼儿园组织的BBQ和当地商业机构 给儿童们准备的活动（当然同时也是宣传促销他们的成人健身产品之类）。孩子们还是玩的很开心的！特发此贴以促进对西方文化的了解。此所谓融入的文化基础！

同时纪念重要的十月（历史上好多重大事件都发生在十月，比如苏联十月革命，中国的国庆节），今年的十月对我们这个家也有特殊的纪念意义!