But many Americans have been preparing for the holiday for weeks .
但許多美國人幾週前就開始為這個節日做準備了。
And businesses are hoping for good profits from Halloween purchases .
商家也希望從萬聖節消費中獲得可觀的利潤。
The National Retail Federation (N.R.F .) is the largest U.S . trade group representing sellers of material goods .
美國零售聯合會（N.R.F.）是代表實體商品銷售商的美國最大產業組織。
It expects total Halloween spending in 2024 to reach about $11.6 billion .
該組織預計，2024年萬聖節總支出將達到約116億美元。
That sounds like a healthy amount , but it would be a drop from the year before .
這聽起來是個不小的數目，但比前一年有所下降。
So , you might wonder : What are Americans buying for Halloween and how do they celebrate the holiday ?
那麼你可能會好奇：美國人為萬聖節買些什麼？他們又是怎樣過這個節日的？
Halloween traditions in America are linked to Celtic beliefs in ancient Britain .
美國的萬聖節傳統與古代不列顛凱爾特人的信仰有關。
The Celts believed that spirits of the dead would return to their homes on October 31 , the day of the autumn feast .
凱爾特人相信，死者的靈魂會在10月31日，也就是秋季節慶那天回到家中。
Celts would build huge fires to frighten away any evil spirits that might return .
凱爾特人會燃起巨大的篝火，嚇走可能回來的惡靈。
People from Scotland and Ireland brought these ideas with them when they came to America .
蘇格蘭人和愛爾蘭人來到美洲時，也帶來了這些觀念。
Some believed that spirits played tricks on people on the last night of October .
有些人相信，在10月的最後一晚，靈魂會捉弄人。
In modern America , the holiday mostly belongs to children .
在現代美國，這個節日主要屬於孩子們。
After dark , children wear special clothing , called costumes .
天黑以後，孩子們會穿上一種特別的服裝，叫作變裝服。
They often appear as frightening creatures like vampires , ghosts and witches .
他們常常裝扮成吸血鬼、鬼魂和女巫等嚇人的角色。
The children walk around their neighborhoods , knocking on doors of homes .
孩子們在社區裡四處走動，挨家挨戶敲門。
When someone answers a door , the children yell “trick or treat .”
有人開門時，孩子們就會大喊「不給糖就搗蛋」。
If the people in the homes do not give them a sweet treat , the children may play a trick on them .
如果屋裡的人不給糖果，孩子們就可能捉弄他們。
Some of the purchases people make for Halloween include candy and costumes .
人們為萬聖節購買的東西包括糖果和變裝服。
This year , the N.R.F . expects the superhero character Spider-Man to be the most popular children's costume .
今年，N.R.F.預計超級英雄蜘蛛人將是最受兒童歡迎的裝扮。
Children are not the only Americans in costumes on Halloween , however .
不過，萬聖節穿變裝服的美國人並不只有孩子。
Adults also dress up in costumes and attend Halloween parties , parades and other events .
成年人也會盛裝打扮，參加萬聖節派對、遊行和其他活動。
These celebrations often include costume competitions , with prizes for the most frightening , inventive or humorous costumes .
這些慶祝活動通常包括變裝比賽，最嚇人、最有創意或最滑稽的裝扮可以獲獎。
Overall , the N.R.F . reports , total spending on costumes for Halloween 2024 is expected to reach a total of $3.8 billion .
N.R.F.報告指出，2024年萬聖節變裝服的總支出預計將達到38億美元。
It says buyers will spend $3.5 billion on Halloween candy .
該組織說，消費者將在萬聖節糖果上花費35億美元。
Americans also enjoy decorating their homes for Halloween .
美國人也喜歡為萬聖節裝飾自己的家。
People hang fake skeletons , witches , spiders and other scary things around their doors and from trees and bushes .
人們在門口周圍和樹木、灌木叢上掛起假骷髏、女巫、蜘蛛等嚇人的東西。
They also cut scary faces into pumpkins and light them to create a strange glow .
他們還在南瓜上刻出嚇人的臉，再點上燈，營造出一種奇異的光芒。
Some people do a little decorating , others do a lot , and still others do none at all .
有些人裝飾一點，有些人裝飾很多，還有些人根本不裝飾。
But , the N.R.F . says researchers estimate Americans will spend about $3.8 billion dollars to dress up their houses for Halloween this year .
但N.R.F.表示，研究人員估計，今年美國人將花費約38億美元為萬聖節裝扮房子。