Souling didn't survive the holiday's migration from Europe to the United States. In America, the first Halloween celebrations were a way to mark the end-of-year harvest season, and the food that was served mainly consisted of homemade seasonal treats like caramel apples and mixed nuts. There were no soul cakes—or candies, for that matter—to be found.

　　在歐洲的節(jié)日向美國(guó)遷徙時(shí)，“索靈”風(fēng)俗沒(méi)有留存下來(lái)。在美國(guó)，最初的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)慶?；顒?dòng)是為了紀(jì)念歲末的收獲季節(jié)，節(jié)日食物主要是自制的應(yīng)季美食，比如焦糖蘋(píng)果和什錦堅(jiān)果。那時(shí)候萬(wàn)圣節(jié)沒(méi)有靈魂蛋糕，也沒(méi)有糖果。

　　It wasn't until the 1950s that trick-or-treating gained popularity in the US. Following the Great Depression and World War II, the suburbs were booming, and people were looking for excuses to have fun and get to know their neighbors. The old practice of souling was resurrected and made into an excuse for kids to dress up in costumes and roam their neighborhoods. Common trick-or-treat offerings included nuts, coins, and homemade baked goods .

　　直到20世紀(jì)50年代，“不給糖就搗蛋”才在美國(guó)風(fēng)靡起來(lái)。大蕭條和二戰(zhàn)結(jié)束后，美國(guó)郊區(qū)開(kāi)始繁榮起來(lái)，人們想找個(gè)由頭樂(lè)一樂(lè)并結(jié)識(shí)鄰居。于是，“索靈”的老習(xí)俗就復(fù)興了，并讓孩子們有借口化裝打扮，在街區(qū)游蕩。給“搗蛋鬼”準(zhǔn)備的東西通常包括堅(jiān)果、硬幣和自制的烘焙食品，今天的大多數(shù)孩子恐怕都看不上這些東西。

　　turn one's nose up at: 對(duì)……嗤之以鼻

　　That changed when the candy companies got their hands on the holiday. They had already convinced consumers that they needed candy on Christmas and Easter, and they were looking for an equally lucrative opportunity to market candy in the fall. The new practice of trick-or-treating was almost too good to be true. Manufacturers downsized candies into smaller, bite-sized packages and began marketing them as treats for Halloween. Adults were grateful to have a convenient alternative to baking, kids loved the sweet treats, and the candy companies made billions.

　　后來(lái)糖果公司把手伸向了這一節(jié)日，情況就發(fā)生了改變。糖果商已經(jīng)讓消費(fèi)者相信，他們需要在圣誕節(jié)和復(fù)活節(jié)吃糖果，于是他們開(kāi)始尋找一個(gè)在秋天營(yíng)銷(xiāo)糖果的同樣有利可圖的良機(jī)。“不給糖就搗蛋”的新風(fēng)俗對(duì)他們而言簡(jiǎn)直是天賜的好運(yùn)。制造商縮小了糖果包裝，將一口一個(gè)的小糖果獨(dú)立包裝，并將其作為萬(wàn)圣節(jié)款待食品來(lái)推銷(xiāo)。成年人很慶幸可以買(mǎi)到這么方便的零食而不用再親手烘焙，孩子們喜歡這些糖果的味道，糖果公司也因此大賺特賺。

　　Today, it's hard to imagine Halloween without Skittles, chocolate bars, and the perennial candy corn debates. But when you're digging through a bag or bowl of Halloween candy this October, remember that you could have been having eating soul cakes instead.

　　時(shí)至今日，已經(jīng)難以想象沒(méi)有彩虹糖、巧克力棒和長(zhǎng)年備受爭(zhēng)議的玉米糖的萬(wàn)圣節(jié)。但是今年十月，當(dāng)你捧著一袋或一碗萬(wàn)圣節(jié)糖果大吃的時(shí)候，別忘了你原本可能吃的是“靈魂蛋糕”。

　　perennial[p??reni?l]: adj. 常年的;四季不斷的

原標(biāo)題：萬(wàn)圣節(jié)知多少：萬(wàn)圣節(jié)的由來(lái)