Manna issue 79 - Some Notes on Halloween 萬聖節的一些注意事項
Adapted from lecture notes from Singapore
節錄自新加坡的講課重點
PAGAN ORIGIN 異教起源
Some four thousand years ago, the
ancient Celts settled in lands known
today as Ireland, the United Kingdom,
Germany, and France. To them,
October 31 was the end of summer.
As temperatures dropped and leaves
began falling in autumn, nature
almost seemed to be dying. To explain
the change in climate, legend has it
that Celtic priests, known as Druids,
taught how Muck Olla, their sun god,
was losing strength and Samhain,
the lord of death, was overpowering
him. As a result, the Celts began
celebrating a festival on November 1
in dedication to Samhain, naming it
after him as well.
四千多年前，古代凱爾特人定居在現今愛爾蘭，英國，德國，法國的土地上。
對他們來說，十月31日是夏天結束的日子。
隨著溫度下降，樹葉開始在秋天掉落，自然界看起來就好像正在死去。
為了解釋這種氣候上的變化，傳說是這樣的，
凱爾特的祭司，就是一般所說的德魯依，這樣教導，
太陽神 Muck Olla 正逐漸失去力量，而死神 Samhain 力量漸強過他。
結果就是，凱爾特人開始在十一月1日的時候，慶祝紀念 Samhain 的節日，
並且也以他的名字命名這個節日。
On Samhain Eve, the Celts
celebrated the festival by burning
animals (and even humans) as
sacrifices to Samhain to appease him.
The Druids weaved an elaborate story:
the souls of the dead were magically
transferred to and confined in animal
bodies. Therefore, every Samhain Eve,
the myth went, Samhain released the
souls of all who had died during the
previous year to their former homes
to visit the living.
Samhain 晚上的時候，凱爾特人就會開始慶祝，
用火燒動物，(甚至燒人類)，當作祭品獻給 Samhain 來取悅他。
德魯依的祭司們，編織了一個很精巧的故事：
死者的靈魂會被魔法轉移到動物身上，並且限制在其中。
所以每一個 Samhain 的夜裡，這個神話就說，
Samhain 會釋放前年所有死者的靈魂，回到他們以前的家來探視活著的親人。
According to Encyclopedia
Britannica, Samhain was an important
precursor to Halloween. The souls of
the dead were supposed to revisit their
homes on the day of Samhain, and
the autumnal festival acquired sinister
significance, with demons of all kinds
said to be roaming about. It was the
time to appease supernatural powers
and thought to be the most favorable
time for divinations concerning luck,
health, and death.
根據大英百科全書的描述， Samhain 是萬聖節的由來。
死者的靈魂應該會在 Samhain 日那天再訪他們的家，
而這個秋天的節日，就連結了具有災難指標的重要性，
因為各種傳說的鬼魔出來到處游走。
就是這個時間點，用來平息超自然的力量，
也被認為是最合適的時機，來作一些有關占卡未來預測的事情，
看看自已的運氣，健康，及是否死亡臨到。
FEATURES: TRICK OR TREAT
主要活動：不給糖果就搗蛋
On Samhain Eve, the Druids, as well
as the common folks, would go from
house to house asking for fatted
calves, black sheep, and human beings
for sacrifices. Those who gave were
promised prosperity while those who
refused were cursed and threatened.
Furthermore, it was believed that since
the returning spirits would be hungry,
one should set out treats for them
in order to avoid being cursed and
tormented. This was a custom known
as “mumming” and in other parts of
the Western world, “souling.” This is
believed to have gradually evolved
to the modern custom of children
requesting for treats or threatening
tricks, commonly known as the
practice of “Trick-or-Treat.”
Samhain 夜，那些德魯依祭司和普通人，
會逐家拜訪，看可不可以要到小肥牛，黑羊或人類可以當成祭品。
能夠奉獻的人就會得到富裕的應許，拒絕的人就會受到詛咒或威脅。
不只這樣，就有人相信，因為回歸的靈魂會很飢餓，
人們應該為他們設擺宴席，為的就是怕被詛咒或是被折磨。
這就是一種"化妝舞會"的習俗，在西方世界的其他地方，叫作"索靈"。
這個習俗被認為是，現代小孩子為了要得到糖果，不然就要搗蛋，逐漸演變而成的習俗，
也就是一般人所知的"不給糖果就搗蛋"活動。
FEATURES: MASKS, COSTUMES
AND PARTIES
主要活動：面具，特殊服裝，派對
On the eve of Samhain, the Celts
masqueraded in costumes made of
animal skins and heads to disguise
themselves from the returning souls.
Tradition has it that they would chant
and dance around flames and parade
through streets making loud noises in
the hope of warding off or confusing
the returning souls. It is believed that
these practices have been perpetuated
in the form of today’s Halloween
where revelers dance in elaborate
ghoulish masks and costumes at wild
parties, or parade in street carnivals.
Samhain 夜，凱爾特人會用動物皮和頭部來當作服裝，偽裝自已好像是回歸的靈魂。
傳統上來說，他們會施法，在火堆旁跳舞，
在街上遊行並發出噪音，希望可以避免回歸的靈魂，或把他們弄糊塗。
人們相信，這些活動被保存在今日萬聖節的形式之中，
而那些慶祝的人會戴上精製的的鬼面具和服裝，在狂歡舞會上跳舞，並且在街上的嘉年華會遊行。
WHO ESTABLISHED HALLOWEEN?
誰設立了萬聖節？
It is commonly believed, based on
several records, that by the fourth
century, the churches in the east were
holding a feast dedicated to all martyrs
on May 13. Hence, in 609 A.D., when
Pope Boniface IV wanted to dedicate
the Pantheon in Rome as a cathedral
in honor of Mary and all martyrs, he
picked May 13 for the occasion. From
then on, it was known as All Saints’
Day.
一般相信，跟據很多的記載，在第四世紀的時候，
東方的教會，在五月13日的時候，舉行一個宴會來紀念所有的殉教者。
因此，主後609年的時候，教宗波尼法爵四世想要把羅馬的萬神殿獻作天主教的會堂，
為了記念瑪麗亞和所有的殉道者，
他選了五月13日都作記念的時機。
從那時開始，這個節日就被稱為所有萬人的節日，萬聖節。
However, in the eighth century,
Pope Gregory III moved this holiday
to November 1 to coincide with
Samhain. The move was effected
by dedicating a chapel in St. Peter's,
Rome, in honor of all saints on that
day.
然而在第八世紀的時候，教宗額我略三世，把這個節日移到了十一月1日，與 Samhain 節同一天。
這個變動是在羅馬獻上聖彼得會堂時生效，為了在那一天記念所有的聖徒。
Subsequent ecclesiastical documents,
such as the 800 A.D. Alcuin records
and a ninth century English calendar,
show that All Saints' Day was kept on
November 1.
後來教會的文件記載中，例如主後八百年的阿爾琴文獻，及一份九世紀的英文日歷，
都顯示了萬聖節在被設在十一月1日。
Finally, in 837 A.D., Pope Gregory
IV ordered its general observance. In
medieval England, the festival was
known as All Hallows’ Day (referring
to the saints being hallowed beings).
Accordingly, the eve of the festival
was known as All Hallows’ Eve, which
became abbreviated to just Hallows’
Eve and eventually just “Halloween.”
最後，主後837年，教宗額我略四世，下今這個節日要大家遵守
在中世紀的英格蘭，這個節慶被叫作萬聖節，
(指的就是所有聖徒被遵聖的一種存在)。
接著，這個節日的夜晚，就被叫作萬聖夜，
被簡寫成聖夜 Hallows' Eve，最後變成寫作 "Halloween".
WHY WE SHOULD NOT CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN 我們為什麼不應該慶祝萬聖節
First and foremost, Halloween and its
festivities are distinctly pagan in origin.
Furthermore, underlying Halloween is
the deceitful theory that spirits of dead
men return to the world of the living.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 says: "Then the dust
will return to the earth as it was, and
the spirit will return to God who gave
it." Christians unknowingly promote
heresies by celebrating Halloween.
首先，也是最重要的是，萬聖節和活動，很清楚的就是來自異教信仰的起源。
接著，在萬聖節底下的理論是騙人的，死者的靈魂會回歸活人的世界。
傳道書12章7節說：
"7塵土仍歸於地，靈仍歸於賜靈的神。"
基督徒在不知不覺在慶祝萬聖節之中，也提倡了異端。
Second, Halloween is openly
associated with demonic activities
such as witchcraft, fortune-telling, and
necromancy. Deuteronomy 18:9–13
warns: “When you come into the land
which the LORD your God is giving
you, you shall not learn to follow the
abominations of those nations. There
shall not be found among you anyone
who makes his son or his daughter
pass through the fire, or one who
practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer,
or one who interprets omens, or a
sorcerer, or one who conjures spells,
or a medium, or a spiritist, or one
who calls up the dead. For all who
do these things [are] an abomination
to the LORD, and because of these
abominations the LORD your God
drives them out from before you. You
shall be blameless before the LORD
your God.”
第二，萬聖節很明顯地和魔鬼的活動有關，
例如，巫術，占卜，邪術。
申命記18章9-13節警告說：
9你到了耶和華─你神所賜之地，那些國民所行可憎惡的事，你不可學著行。
10你們中間不可有人使兒女經火，也不可有占卜的、觀兆的、用法術的、行邪術的、
11用迷術的、交鬼的、行巫術的、過陰的。
12凡行這些事的都為耶和華所憎惡；因那些國民行這可憎惡的事，所以耶和華─你的神將他們從你面前趕出。
13你要在耶和華─你的神面前作完全人。
By celebrating Halloween, we
embrace the ideals of this festival’s
pagan origins and demonic
associations, an image unfit for a
faithful Christian.
因為慶祝了萬聖節，我們就接納了異教信仰起源節日的想法，
並且和鬼魔有些關連，這是不合一個虔誠基督徒的形象。
At one time, Manasseh “practiced
soothsaying, used witchcraft and
sorcery, and consulted mediums and
spiritists." The Bible described what
he had done as “evil in the sight of
the Lord” and noted that these acts
of his “provoked the Lord to anger”
(2 Chr 33:6).
有一次，瑪拿西王"又觀兆，用法術，行邪術，立交鬼的和行巫術的"。
聖經形容他所作的事是，"耶和華眼中看為惡的事"，
而且要注意的是，這些行為會"惹動祂的怒氣"。
(歷下 33：6)
Acts 19:18–19 records that those
who became Christians renounced
all dealings with the occults and
burned all occult materials they had.
Paul condemned witchcraft: "Now
the works of the flesh are evident,
which are ... sorcery." 1 Peter 4:3–5
adds: “For we have spent enough
of our past lifetime in doing the will
of the Gentiles--when we walked
in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness,
revelries, drinking parties, and
abominable idolatries. In regard to
these, they think it strange that you
do not run with them in the same
flood of dissipation, speaking evil of
you. They will give an account to Him
who is ready to judge the living and
the dead.”
使徒行傳19章18-19節記載，
成為基督徒的人，會斷絕一切深奧神秘法術的關連活動，
燒掉一切與他們有關的物質。
保羅譴責一切行法術的：
19情慾的事都是顯而易見的，就如...、
20...、邪術、
(加 5：19-20)
彼得前書四章3-5節補充：
3因為往日隨從外邦人的心意行邪淫、惡慾、醉酒、荒宴、群飲，並可惡拜偶像的事，時候已經夠了。
4他們在這些事上，見你們不與他們同奔那放蕩無度的路，就以為怪，毀謗你們。
5他們必在那將要審判活人死人的主面前交賬。
Third, a danger of Halloween is
the popularization of the devil and
the normalization of the practices
of darkness. The propaganda of its
festivities allows children to easily
accept the occults and then be
entrapped. The devil remakes himself
as a pop-cultural icon and a celebrated
personality. Christians are warned: “I
do not want you to have fellowship
with demons,” "Resist the devil, and
he will flee from you,” "Nor give place
to the devil.” Ephesians 5:6–12 says:
“Let no one deceive you with empty
words, for because of these things
the wrath of God comes upon the
sons of disobedience. Therefore do
not be partakers with them. For you
were once darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord. Walk as children of
light ... And have no fellowship with
the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather expose them. For it is shameful
even to speak of those things which
are done by them in secret.”
第三，萬聖節的危險就是魔鬼的大眾化，施行黑暗儀式的合理化。
這個活動廣為人知的，就是讓小孩子變得容易去接受這個神秘宗教活動，並且陷在網羅之中。
魔鬼重新包裝自已成為大眾流行的偶像，值得被人加以慶祝。
因此就有對基督徒的警告：
"我不願意你們與鬼相交。"
(林前 10：20)
4務要抵擋魔鬼，魔鬼就必離開你們逃跑了。
(雅 4：7)
27也不可給魔鬼留地步。
(弗 4：27)
以弗所書五章6-12節說到：
6不要被人虛浮的話欺哄；因這些事，神的忿怒必臨到那悖逆之子。
7所以，你們不要與他們同夥。
8從前你們是暗昧的，但如今在主裡面是光明的，行事為人就當像光明的子女。
11那暗昧無益的事，不要與人同行，倒要責備行這事的人；
12因為他們暗中所行的，就是題起來也是可恥的。
Fourth, we should guard
ourselves against Christians of other
denominations who propose that
since the import of Halloween to the
Western world was due in large part
to the Catholic church, the festival
is in fact positively ”Christian” in
nature. Deuteronomy 12:28 lays
the fundamental lesson here: “Take
heed to yourself that you are not
snared by following them, after they
are destroyed from before you; and
that you inquire not after their gods,
saying, How did these nations serve
their gods? Even so will I do likewise.
You shall not do so unto the LORD
your God: for every abomination
to the LORD, which he hates, have
they done unto their gods; for even
their sons and their daughters they
have burned in the fire to their gods.
Whatsoever thing I command you,
observe to do it: you shall not add
thereto, nor take away from it.”
第四，我們應該保守自已，不讓其他教派的基督徒所蒙敞，
他們會說，西方社會因為大部份天主教會的原故，已經採納萬聖節，
就相信他們所說，這個節日是正面，本質符合基督教，並且已經是一種事實了。
申命記12章28節，在那裡留下了最基本的教導：
30那時就要謹慎，不可在他們除滅之後隨從他們的惡俗，陷入網羅，
也不可訪問他們的神說：這些國民怎樣事奉他們的神，我也要照樣行。
31你不可向耶和華─你的神這樣行，因為他們向他們的神行了耶和華所憎嫌所恨惡的一切事，
甚至將自己的兒女用火焚燒，獻與他們的神。
32凡我所吩咐的，你們都要謹守遵行，不可加添，也不可刪減。
(申 12：30-32)
God’s edicts for us are simple and
straightforward. He has no desire to
see us adopt the religious customs of
our neighbors, especially if they are
satanic in nature, and transplant them
to our worship of Him. Let us be clear
about our faith and our standards of
true worship.
神給我們的命令是簡單又直接的。
他不希望看見我們去接納自已鄰居的宗教習俗，
特別若這個習俗在本質上是有關魔鬼的，並且我們轉移成去敬拜他。
讓我們弄清楚自已的宗教信仰，和自已真正敬拜神的原則。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)