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? 树上到处悬挂着鬼怪小玩偶，屋顶盘踞着巨大的塑料蜘蛛，墓穴里伸出一双血淋淋的塑胶手……一年之中最恐怖的夜晚到来了，你准备好了吗？
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日万圣节前夜是美国、加拿大和英国最受欢迎的节日之一。这个节日源起于对死者的纪念日。但现在它已经完全成为一场大狂欢，人们尽情享受着改装易容互相恐吓的乐趣。
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.万圣节前夜还是一年之中孩子们最喜欢的一个夜晚。他们打扮成妖怪去邻居家，敲着门大喊：“不给糖就捣蛋！”当然，人们通常会给他们“糖”——比如甜食或者巧克力。但如果你不给，那就等着一场恶作剧吧，你会发现你的车窗被涂上了肥皂，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. 万圣节前夜还是举办化妆舞会的好时机。你会看到女巫坐着扫帚柄飞进来，鬼怪和骷髅则在舞池中窃窃私语。
You can even dress up as a famous monster like Dracula! The motto is: "The scarier, the better." 你还可以化妆成像吸血鬼那样特别可怕的妖怪。有句谚语说：“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.甚至连万圣节前夜做的食物也要像下了咒语或者配备魔法饮料。在英国，人们喝一种叫“巫师之饮”的东西，用苹果、橘子、葡萄和浆果的汁调配而成。孩子们还喜欢吃“万圣节虫子”，是用鸡蛋面做的。你觉得“眼珠子”听上去怎么样？别担心，那只是用几勺巧克力和香草冰激凌做的，只不过像是人眼的形状。头盖骨形状的饼干同样也很受欢迎。
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.万圣节前夜的一个众所周知的传统就是用南瓜做成灯，叫“杰克灯”。首先，把南瓜里面掏空。然后在南瓜上切出一张脸孔，通常是一张笑眯眯的魔鬼面孔。最后，在里面放上一只蜡烛，然后把南瓜灯放在房子前面用来吓跑那些邪恶的幽灵。
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，“叼苹果”也是很流行的游戏。把几只苹果放在一个大水桶里面飘浮着。孩子们的手被绑在背后。他们只能用嘴巴把苹果从水里叼出来。当然了，人们会全都湿淋淋的，光看着就很有趣。