Halloween is a strange holiday． It started several centuries ago in Europe．万圣节是一个奇异的节日，它起源于几个世纪前的欧洲。
It began as “Hallow Evening” meaning “holy night”．刚开始的时候，它叫做“神圣夜”，意思是“神圣的夜晚”。
At that time November 1st was called “All Saints' Day” and people honoured all the saints who did not have their own special day．那时，十一月一日被称为“万圣日”，在那天人们纪念所有没有特定纪念日的圣人。
People believed that October 31st was the time when all the evil spirits were supposed to be active． So people would play all sorts of pranks on each other． 人们相信十月三十一日所有邪恶的精灵都会出来活动，所以人们互相玩恶作剧。
Now Halloween has evolved to a children's holiday． 现在万圣节已经演变成为一个儿童的节日。
Small children go “Trick-or-Treating”． They wear costumes， knock on doors， and yell， “Trick or Treat”．小孩子玩“不请客就捣乱”的游戏，他们穿着特殊的服装，敲门，然后大喊，“不请客就捣乱。”
People almost always choose to give them candy as a treat， instead of opting to receive a trick from the children． 人们总是选择请他们吃糖果，而不是接受孩子们的恶作剧。
The trick might be something like， “I'll spill all the trash out of your trash can if you don't give me a treat．” 恶作剧有可能是这样玩的，“如果你不请客，我就把你的垃圾都从垃圾筒里倒出来。”
Halloween is great fun for children today． They dress up as ghosts，witches，or frightening Dracula．如今万圣节给孩子们带来很大的乐趣。他们装扮成鬼、巫婆或者可怕的吸血鬼。
Adults sometimes “trick or treat” their friends too． Usually that means the “treat” will be a glass of wine or cosmetics． 成年人有时也和他们的朋友玩“不请客就捣乱”的游戏。这时请客的东西经常是一杯酒或是化妆品。
