Many people think of America when they talk about Halloween. But did you know that the tradition started in Ireland?
At first Halloween was celebrated because Oct. 31 was the last day of summer. People believed that the spirits of dead people would walk the earth looking for bodies to live in. They would light bonfires to scare away the ghosts. They also dressed up like ghosts themselves to trick the dead spirits.
Children in Ireland are very lucky because they get a holiday for Halloween. This means that all the children get a chance to celebrate the traditional way. They light bonfires and set off fireworks.
A special cake called barnbrack cake is baked. The cake has a piece of cloth, a coin and a ring in it. The cake tells your fortune for the next year. If you get the cloth you will be poor. If you get the coin you won't have to worry about money. If you get the ring you will be lucky in love!
(CATHERINE THOMAS, STAFF WRITER)
談到萬聖節時，許多人都想到美國。不過，你知道萬聖節的傳統起源於愛爾蘭嗎？
最早，人們在十月三十一日夏季最後一天慶祝萬聖節。人們相信亡魂會在此時返回人間，尋找替身以獲得重生。民眾會燃起營火來嚇走鬼魂，也會扮成鬼魂的模樣來矇騙亡魂。
愛爾蘭的孩童相當幸運，因為萬聖節可以放一天假。這意味所有孩童都有機會慶祝這個傳統，燃起營火並施放煙火。
人們會烤一個名為「barnbrack cake」的特別蛋糕。這種蛋糕裡頭藏有一塊布、一枚硬幣與一只戒指，會告訴你明年的運勢。假如你吃到布，你明年就會窮困，假如你吃到硬幣，就不必為金錢煩惱。如果你拿到戒指，你的愛情運就會很好！ （翻譯：賴美君）
1. tradition n.
傳統 (chuan2 tong3)
例: During ghost month in Taiwan , the tradition is to burn ghost money.
(台灣適逢鬼月時，有焚燒紙錢的傳統。)
2. spirit n.
鬼魂 (gui3 hun2)
例: Many people believe that dead people's spirits remain on earth for a while after death.
(許多人相信人們的亡魂會在人間停留一陣子。)
3. bonfire n.
營火 (ying2 huo3)
例: On November 5 people in England light bonfires to celebrate Guy Fawkes night.
(英國人在十一月五日燃起營火來慶祝蓋．福克斯反抗之夜。)
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