與“鬼”共舞

楊晨

墨西哥人相信，每年的10月31日到11月2日是“亡靈節”。在這三天，天堂的大門會打開，已故之人的靈魂將從天堂來到人間看望親人。親人團聚是喜事，因此亡靈節是個歡樂的節日。

In the Mexican culture， there is a holiday known as the Day of the Dead （Día de los Muertos）. The door of heaven opens every year between October 31st and November 2nd. Spirits of the dead people enters our world through that door to visit their loved ones who still lives on Earth. Being reunited with the loved ones should be joyful， thus the Day of the Dead is an ecstatic celebration to Mexicans.

而我居住的美國，受拉丁美洲裔移民的影響，也慶祝這個節日。十月中旬，學校已早早地布置好了亡靈節的裝飾。走廊里掛滿了同學們制作的彩色剪紙、骷髏畫、亡靈節紙花；展示架上擺滿了泥塑骷髏頭、糖霜骷髏等墨西哥傳統裝飾。

The Mexican and other Latino immigrants make up a great percentage of American population. They bring their culture to America， too （where I live）. This causes many states in America to celebrate the Day of the Dead. In mid-October， my school had already begun decorating for the holiday. Papel picado （cut paper）， skull drawings， cempazúchitl paper flowers are hanged in school hallways. You can also admire students art works， clay skulls， calaveras （sugar skulls）， and other traditional Mexican decorations.

西班牙語課上，老師指導我們用西班牙語介紹自己的手工作品，還請我們品嘗了她親手烘焙的亡靈節面包。我們還了解到亡靈節的其他傳統。在墨西哥，人們會在家中擺設祭壇，來放置逝者的遺像和生前喜愛的物件、食品、糖果和飲料。有些人家還用顏色亮麗的鮮花和蠟燭擺成小路，來為亡靈指引方向。

In Spanish class， Maestra （Teacher） taught us how to describe our own artworks in Spanish. We even got to try the Pan de Muerto （bread of the dead）， which she baked herself.We also learned about other traditions. In Mexico， people set up ofrendas （altars） to honor their loved ones who have passed away. They place pictures of the dead， as well as food， drinks， candies， and other objects on the altars. Some families even set up roads with bright flowers and candles to guide the spirits to their homes.

現在，你對鬼的印象有沒有發生改變呢？縱然“亡靈”聽起來恐怖，可仔細一想，若這亡靈是親愛的人來與你相聚，又何嘗不是歡樂的事呢？

After reading this article， have you changed your views about spirits and ghosts？ "Ghosts" might sound scary， but if that ghost is your loved one who passed away， who is coming to reunite with you， wouldnt you be delighted？