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.
在欧洲的节日向美国迁徙时，“索灵”风俗没有留存下来。在美国，最初的万圣节庆祝活动是为了纪念岁末的收获季节，节日食物主要是自制的应季美食，比如焦糖苹果和什锦坚果。那时候万圣节没有灵魂蛋糕，也没有糖果。
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 ("treats" that most kids would turn their noses up at today).
直到20世纪50年代，“不给糖就捣蛋”才在美国风靡起来。大萧条和二战结束后，美国郊区开始繁荣起来，人们想找个由头乐一乐并结识邻居。于是，“索灵”的老习俗就复兴了，并让孩子们有借口化装打扮，在街区游荡。给“捣蛋鬼”准备的东西通常包括坚果、硬币和自制的烘焙食品，今天的大多数孩子恐怕都看不上这些东西。
turn one"s nose up at: 对……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.
后来糖果公司把手伸向了这一节日，情况就发生了改变。糖果商已经让消费者相信，他们需要在圣诞节和复活节吃糖果，于是他们开始寻找一个在秋天营销糖果的同样有利可图的良机。“不给糖就捣蛋”的新风俗对他们而言简直是天赐的好运。制造商缩小了糖果包装，将一口一个的小糖果独立包装，并将其作为万圣节款待食品来推销。成年人很庆幸可以买到这么方便的零食而不用再亲手烘焙，孩子们喜欢这些糖果的味道，糖果公司也因此大赚特赚。
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.
时至今日，已经难以想象没有彩虹糖、巧克力棒和长年备受争议的玉米糖的万圣节。但是今年十月，当你捧着一袋或一碗万圣节糖果大吃的时候，别忘了你原本可能吃的是“灵魂蛋糕”。
perennial[p??reni?l]: adj. 常年的;四季不断的
原标题：万圣节知多少：万圣节的由来