TINY ghost-like dolls hang from trees, big plastic spiders sit on rooftops and bloody plastic hands reach out from gravestones…Are you ready for the scariest night of the year? 樹上到處懸掛着鬼怪小玩偶，屋頂盤踞着巨大的塑料蜘蛛，墓穴裏伸出一雙血淋淋的塑膠手……一年之中最恐怖的夜晚到來了，你準備好了嗎？
October 31 is Halloween, one of the most popular festivals in the US, Canada and Britain. The festival began as a day to remember the dead. But nowadays it's all about the carnival atmosphere when people can enjoy dressing up and scaring each other.10月31日萬聖節前夜是美國、加拿大和英國最受歡迎的節日之一。這個節日源起於對死者的紀念日。但現在它已經完全成為一場大狂歡，人們盡情享受着改裝易容互相恐嚇的樂趣。
Halloween is one of children's favourite nights of the year. They dress up as monsters and go to their neighbours'houses. Knocking on the door they shout: "Trick or treat!" Of course, usually people give them "treats" － a like sweets and chocolates. But, if you don't, you can expect a prank such as having your car windows soaped or your garbage cans turned over.萬聖節前夜還是一年之中孩子們最喜歡的一個夜晚。他們打扮成妖怪去鄰居家，敲着門大喊：“不給糖就搗蛋！”當然，人們通常會給他們“糖”——比如甜食或者巧克力。但如果你不給，那就等着一場惡作劇吧，你會發現你的車窗被塗上了肥皂，垃圾桶翻倒在地，等等。
Halloween is also a time for masquerade parties. Witches fly in on broomsticks, while ghosts and skeletons chat on the dance floor. 萬聖節前夜還是舉辦化粧舞會的好時機。你會看到女巫坐着掃帚柄飛進來，鬼怪和骷髏則在舞池中竊竊私語。
You can even dress up as a famous monster like Dracula! The motto is: "The scarier, the better." 你還可以化粧成像吸血鬼那樣特別可怕的妖怪。有句諺語説：“越恐怖越好。”
Even making Halloween food should be like casting a spell or mixing a magic drink. In Britain, people drink "Witch's Mix", made with apple, orange, grape and berry juice. Children also enjoy "Halloween Worms," made from egg noodles. And how do you like the sound of "Eye-Balls"? Don't worry, they're made with scoops of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, shaped like human eyes. Skeleton-shaped cookies are equally popular.甚至連萬聖節前夜做的食物也要像下了咒語或者配備魔法飲料。在英國，人們喝一種叫“巫師之飲”的東西，用蘋果、橘子、葡萄和漿果的汁調配而成。孩子們還喜歡吃“萬聖節蟲子”，是用雞蛋麪做的。你覺得“眼珠子”聽上去怎麼樣？別擔心，那只是用幾勺巧克力和香草冰激凌做的，只不過像是人眼的形狀。頭蓋骨形狀的餅乾同樣也很受歡迎。
A well-known Halloween tradition is to make lanterns from pumpkins, called "Jack-o-lanterns". First, the inside of the pumpkin is removed. Then, a face is cut into the pumpkin, traditionally a smiling, devil face. Finally a candle is placed inside, and the lantern is put at the front of the house to keep evil spirits away.萬聖節前夜的一個眾所周知的傳統就是用南瓜做成燈，叫“傑克燈”。首先，把南瓜裏面掏空。然後在南瓜上切出一張臉孔，通常是一張笑眯眯的魔鬼面孔。最後，在裏面放上一隻蠟燭，然後把南瓜燈放在房子前面用來嚇跑那些邪惡的幽靈。
Besides pumpkin cutting, "apple-bobbing" is another popular game. Several apples are put floating in water in a big bucket. Children have their hands tied behind their backs. They have to try to pick the apples out of the water using only their mouths. Of course, people get very wet and it is very funny to watch.除了切南瓜，“叼蘋果”也是很流行的遊戲。把幾隻蘋果放在一個大水桶裏面飄浮着。孩子們的手被綁在背後。他們只能用嘴巴把蘋果從水裏叼出來。當然了，人們會全都濕淋淋的，光看着就很有趣。