以success为主题的英语话题(精彩20篇)

在当下的环境中，节约资源，保护环境显得越来越重要。下面请看语文迷整理的节约水资源的英语作文，希望对你有帮助。

节约水资源英语作文一：

Water is very important for us. We must drink water everyday. We can’t live without water. Water is everywhere around us. At home, we use water to wash clothes, to wash dishes, to cook rice, to clean the flat, to have showers, to make drinks, to clean our teeth, to have a bath and so on. At work, people use water to put out fires, to grow vegetables, to make things in factories and so on. We also can swim in the sea. Water is important for us, isn’t it?

A poem:

Water has no taste at all.

Water has no color.

Water’s in the waterfall.

The pump.

The tap.

The well.

Water is everywhere around us.

Water is in the rain.

In the stream.

In the pond.

And in the river.

And in the sea again.

There isn’t much water on the earth. we must to save it. It is not inexhaustible.

It is very valuable.

节约水资源英语作文二：

Our environment is very important for our lives . We need the fresh air, the clean water and so on . In the past, there were many trees around us ,the air was fresh and the river was clean.But now,people cut down many trees. Air pollution and water polloution are very serious . The environment around us becomes very terrible . We should protect our environment. First, we should plant many trees to keep water. Second , we can ride a bike or walk to the school and work.. Third , we shouldn’t throw the dirty water into the river . Fourth, we shouldn’t use the plastic bags. Finally, we can ask more people to join us.

节约水资源英语作文三：

As we can see, the world population is growing rapidly day by day. So enough fresh water is needed to feed such a big population. Whats more, with the development of industry, factories and vehicles produce poisonous gases or wastes, which consequently results in the pollution of water. Though fresh, a good amount of it can no longer be used. Only quite limited fresh water resource is available to human beings. So its high time for us human beings to take quick action to protect water resource. Stop pollution and save water, otherwise, we cannot survive on the earth.

With fresh water, the world will be prosperous.

团队合作非常重要Teamwork is very important

I am not fond of basketball,let alone to play it.But I have seen a wonderful basketball game between my class and postgraduate class.It is so wonderful that I cannt help asking myself "Is it real".The answer is pretty yes.I also learn a lot from the game.

First ,teamwork is very important.You are sure to fail if you play by yourself.So five members must play together and well orgnized.Second ,you should have a aim.In order to reach it,you should try your best.

Last,never give up whatever have happened.Even if you get low scores,you shouldnt give up.If there is a will,there is a way.If there is a will ,there is also a opportunity.And you can make failure into success.Believe yourself and believe your team.You are the best one.

互连网改变生活Internet Change Life

Globally, we have moved from a culture centered on network television, cable, AM and FM radio and telephone into a digital society with mass media,streaming information, intelligent computer. To shift to a digital economy, best demonstrated by the explosive growth of the Internet, is transforming everyday products and practices. Ideas expressed in soft wares, chips, communication systems, financial institutions and mass media have enormous leverage worldwide. Beyond emails and online shopping, the Internet promises to change dramatically huge spectrum activities. Its benefits can be well illustrated in the following aspects.

在全球范围内，我们已经从一个文化中心为网络电视，有线电视，AM和FM收音机，电话的社会进入到以大众媒体，信息流，智能计算机的数字社会。转变成数字经济，最明显体现在互联网的爆增，它正在改变日常产品和实践。思想体现在软件，芯片，通信系统，金融机构和大众媒体拥有巨大的全球影响力上。除了电子邮件和网上购物，互联网还承诺大改光谱活动。它的好处可以在以下几个方面说明。

In the first place, it contributes to escape us from laborious work, save our time, facilitate our lives. Secondly, with computer’s extensive reach into every corner of the world, a perspective of human life can be shown only with a single keystroke. No matter where we are, in school, business workshops, operating rooms, labs, banks of halls of government, the Internet appears to reflect a perspective of human life. Furthermore, computer profits us by relaxation and entertainment it provides.

首先，它有助于我们摆脱费力的工作，节省时间，方便了我们的生活。其次，计算机的广泛延伸到世界的每个角落，只需一个单一的按键就可以透视人类生活。不管我们在哪里，在学校，企业车间，手术室，实验室，银行政府大厅，因特网似乎都可以反映人类生活。此外，电脑不仅提供放松和娱乐还有利润。

But on the other hand, some people debate that it is also inconvenient, waste the time, isolated us from people, and make our lives more complicated. Some people repair the most sophisticated computer but can’t mend a pair of socks. Yet in fact, computer collapse the distances and demolishes all boundaries. Whether computer is a blessing or a curse, depends on different circumstance and the way you use it.

但另一方面，一些人反对说电脑也很不方便，浪费时间，和人们孤立起来，并使我们的生活更复杂。有些人会修理最复杂的计算机，但却不能修补一双袜子。但事实上，电脑消灭了距离并拆除所有的界限。计算机是祝福还是诅咒，取决于不同的情况和使用它的方式。

As a new millennium approach, we look forward to constructing a new fantasy land by combination with the wealth this new age will bring and the high technology it will provide.

作为一个新千年的方式，我们期待通过结合这个新时代将带来的财富与高技术所提供的来建立一个梦想中的乐园

In recent years, people are developing aninseparable relationship with Internet. As is known toall, it is convenient for us to click the mouse whensurfing on line, either to entertain ourselves or to meet the works needs.

On the one hand, no one denies that Internet is currently one of the most useful media inour daily life. As a college student, I get on line every day to exchange information through e-mails with my net friends. But on the other hand, a good many people admit that they are toomuch addicted to Internet to maintain a regular and wholesome lifestyle.

Thus, it is necessary for us to use Internet in a reasonable way and restrain fromoverindulgence. After all，Internet is invented to enrich our life, and to improve the efficiencyof our work rather than shackle us with a chain.

Life is a mirror. If we smile to her, she would also return the happiness to us. But if we cry, she would be disappointed. Therefore, we should be positive toward life, so as to get happiness.

生活就是一面镜子。如果我们对她微笑，她也会回报我们幸福。但如果我们哭泣，她会很失望。因此，我们应该积极的态度对待生活，从而得到幸福。

Actually, happiness is everywhere if we keep a good attitude. As we keep a good mood, our world will be a sunny land, which is resounded with soft music. However, if we are pessimists, well find our world is full of darkness.

其实，如果我们保持良好的心态幸福无处不在关于奋斗初中英语作文关于奋斗初中英语作文。如果我们保持一个好心情，我们的世界将是一个充满阳光的地方，充满了柔和的音乐。然而，如果我们是悲观主义者，我们会发现我们的世界充满了黑暗。

While on the other side, happiness is not a destination but a journey.Because theres no paradise at all, but we can make a paradise if were hard-working and intelligent. So we should work like we dont need money, smile like weve never been hurt, and perform ourselves like no one can see us.

而另一方面，幸福不是目的地，而是一段旅程。因为根本就没有天堂，但如果我们勤劳有智慧，我们可以自己弄一个天堂。所以我们应该就像我们不需要钱一样工作，就像从未受伤过一样微笑，就像没有人能看到我们一样表演。

Two years ago, I like to eat instant noodles very much, the instant noodles smell so delicious, because there are tasty flavor in it. When my mother was not at home, I would buy the instant noodles, as the time went by, I found my skin became bad and I would not like to eat rice. I felt so bad, my mother told me that I should not eat so much instant noodles, they contained no vitamins and also frustrated my appetite. I realized my problem and started to stay away from instant noodles, then my appetite became good and I wanted to eat rice again. Instant noodles are junk food, wed better eat it less.

两年以前，我很喜欢吃泡面，泡面闻起来很香，因为有美味的调料在里面。当我妈妈不在家的时候，我会买泡面吃，随着时间的流逝，我发现我的皮肤变得不好，我也不怎么喜欢吃米饭。我感到糟糕极了，我的妈妈告诉我我不应该吃那么多的泡面，这些没有营养，也让我胃口不好。我意识到了我的问题，开始不吃泡面，我的胃口变好了，也有食欲吃米饭。泡面是垃圾食品，我们最好少吃。

For most western countries, Christmas Day is the biggest festival, and all the people will have the long vacation, just as Spring Festival in China. With the development of globalization, Christmas Day is celebrated by people around the world. When the day comes, Christmas trees can be seen in many shops and some products have the great discounts.

One of the main reasons for people to love Christmas is that they can get the great discounts from some products, which saves them a lot of money. For American people, Christmas Day is the great moment for the families to get together and enjoy the family hour, while for some people they just treat it as the shopping day.

对大多数西方国家来说，圣诞节是最大的节日，所有的人都会有一个长假，就像中国的春节一样。随着全球化的发展，世界各地的人们都在庆祝圣诞节。当这一天到来的时候可以在许多商店看到圣诞树，有些商品还会打上很大的折扣。

人们喜欢圣诞节的一个主要原因是他们可以从一些产品中获得很大的折扣，为他们节省很多钱。对美国人来说，圣诞节是全家人聚在一起享受家庭时光的美好时刻，而对于一些人来说，圣诞节就是购物日。

在我看来，作为社会某一元素的娱乐，乃黑夜一般的人生旷野上，突然飞出一只萤火虫。娱乐这一元素的出现，就表明人们需要娱乐，这是正常的。然而，若这一元素比重过大，是否就是一件好事呢?

当阳光太耀眼，便会刺伤了眼睛，之于娱乐业，可怕的并非其盛行，可怕的是因其盛行过度而导致整个社会浮躁化，精神文明虚弱化，泡沫化。青年追星、因娱乐而耽误学业，电视趋近以娱乐节目做主导等社会现状并不新鲜。父母、老师担忧，渐渐地领导也担忧起来了。勃朗尼如是说：“青春一去不复返，事业一纵永无成”。青春、事业悄悄地被娱乐“窃”走了。

由此看来，娱乐过度并不是一件好事。再观当下，善娱乐者能立足于今，不善娱乐者则消失于世，令人发笑。文化界、政界、学术界等趋近娱乐化。娱乐业将严肃的、不会说笑的人赶到了台下。通俗易懂的流行歌曲比饱含精华的古典音乐更让人容易接受，音乐的真谛渐渐在这无味的社会里淡去。向娱乐业发展并非不可取，但是要做到合情合理并非易事。众人皆吟：“浮生若梦，为欢何?”殊不知，光阴已被娱乐尽情“吞噬”去了。

娱乐亦有其好的一面，最近的“故宫博物院”，各种珍品在大众眼下“卖萌”，使中华文化传承之作更具吸引力和生动性，这种打破制度，杜绝墨守成规，以娱乐走进大众的方法值得学习，“死板”的文物在众人的眼皮子底下“活”了起来，在一定意义上促进了文化的传承与发展。

当一件贵重的物品在各地普遍流传起来，这件物品也就不再是稀罕物。“物以稀为贵”，而娱乐人人皆可得，我想这便是盛行的原因。究其根源，还是要谈到娱乐业的价值体现观。

When it comes to honesty, quite a lot of people believe it is essential to a person’s character and success.

They base their idea on the following reasons: on one hand, successful business owes much to mutual trust; on another hand, great people in history such as Abraham Lincoln and Genete Washington set us good examples of being honest, they are great because they are honest.

But some people think differently. They believe honesty is becoming out of date.

Their reasons run as following: to begin with, cheating on exams is becoming more and more popular; in addition, some singers and movie stars cheat on taxes; last but not the least, if you are not careful enough, you’ll buy some defective goods and fake products.

It is high time we emphasized and encouraged honesty. We can take effective measures to restore it.

For example, kids should be taught to tell truth, strict rules and regulations should be carried out to stop cheatings on exams and taxes, etc.

life is beautiful and happy but also hard sometimes.what should we do to deal with the life problems?just smile toword it and face it bravely.in this way， you will find lifes difficulties are fairly simple.just like the Stephen William Hawking ，whose life is not easy as the simple ones.but he has never given up.he just face the life with a brave and happy mood.they can simplify the things we are afraid of.just do it.life is in your hand and dont let the life handle you.what you can do and the powerful tool to fight for yourself is smiling and facing it .if you want， you can do it .

Previous two days suddenly blew the gale, the weather as soon asdropped 7, 8, morning lay down on the bed, look at outside the windowthe crazy undulation tree, a summer such has passed by, this was mylast summer vacation, this summer vacation was I in the home dull timelongest summer vacation, occasionally went to grandfather the family,exited except and the good friend plays is staying in the home,because began school late, finally two week also nobody accompanied meto exit plays, I unexpectedly one continually stayed in the home 5day, Lian Mendu had not left, Last the summer vacation harvests alsomany, I learned to prepare food, watched several Han play, althoughthe plot was approximately same, but or liked.Although all is therepetition similar life daily, but two months or on the past, hoped inan instant last the year can complete mark the period in my last bythe student status study!

1.顺境与逆境( Favorable Circumstances and adverse Circumstances)

2.勤奋(hard working, diligence, painstaking efforts)

3.谨慎(prudence and determination)

4.坚持/毅力(perseverance，persistence, determination)

5.热情和乐观(enthusiasm and optimism)

6.博学和求知(learnedness and seeking knowledge/pursuit of knowledge)

7.活力(vitality)

8.身强体壮，充满活力(bursting with vitality and good health)

9.独立(independence)

10.感恩(gratitude ,gratification)

11.创新( creation, innovation, critical mind, critical thinking, unconventional thinking )

12.鼓励(encouragement)

13.真诚(sincerity)

14.宽容(humanity, love, understanding and tolerance)

15.自满和谦逊(Being self-satisfied and being modest)

16.勇敢(courage and bravery)

17.敬业精神(professional dedication and professional ethics )

18.业务水平(competence)

19.苦难(suffering and hardship)

20.简朴(simplicity)

21.谦逊的耐心(moderation and patience)

22.适应性(adaptability)

23.果敢性(decisiveness)

24.羡慕(admiration);嫉妒(jealousy;envy)

如果说一部好书就是一首华丽的乐曲，那么文字就是一个个跳跃的音符。我在华丽优美的乐曲中翩跹起舞，我在读书中的到快乐。 If a good book is a gorgeous music, then text is a jump notes.I danced in the gorgeous and beautiful music, and I was happy in reading.

小时候，我每逢临睡前，必定要缠着妈妈，求她讲故事给我听。那时的我，就和书结下了不解之缘。小美人鱼为救自己心爱的人，不惜牺牲自己，化为泡沫，但灵魂终于得到解脱，令感动;小红帽机智勇敢，与大灰狼作斗争，令我折服;卖火柴的小女孩渴望温暖、渴望回家，令我怜惜;还有那善良的白雪公主，她的真诚，令我敬佩……小时候的我，在童话中得到了极大的启蒙与教育，为我未来的写作打下了基础。每每品读着这些美丽动人的童话，我童年的梦便如花般在心中绽放。

童年的我，在读书中的到快乐。

告别了孩提时代，告别了童话中树荫下的秋千架，我走进了阳光灿烂的青春年华，此时的我，在读书中收获了更大的快乐，收获了成功。

“无可奈何花落去，似曾相识燕归来。”听，是谁在远方吟唱，感慨那季节变换，年华交替不会以人的意志为转移?“烈士暮年，壮心不已。”看，是谁在远方咏诵，抒发内心中的那份雄心壮志?“采菊东篱下，悠然见南山。”瞧，是谁在远方描绘，感悟着乡间的清幽……

读着文人为我们留下的优美文字，吟着墨客为我们写下的动人诗歌，我的心在跳动，我的心在澎湃!

一笔浓墨，一画淡彩，一个个文字，一页页纸张无不流露出阵阵书香。读书是快乐的，读书是幸福的，读书使人进步，读书使人一步一步走向成功!

白纸黑字，无需色彩;一字一句，行云流水。书是作者智慧的结晶，书是作者情感的流露。读书真好!

读书使我快乐，读书使我进步，无论何时，都愿书能与我相伴。

我爱读书!

假如你是李华，现任你们学校的学生会主席。你将代表学生会起草一份倡议书，号召全校同学行动起来，为环保运动做出自己的努力。同时下周六学校将组织同学在全市进行环保宣传活动，征召志愿者到校学生会报名。

注意：(1)短文应该包括以上所提供的主要信息，可适当发挥;(2)词数：120左右;(3)倡议书格式以提供，不计入总词数;(4)参考词汇：征召(新人) recruit。

15 May, 2010

Dear brothers and sisters,

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

【参考范文】

15 May, 2010

Dear brothers and sisters,

On behalf of the University Students Union, I, the Chairman of the Union , am earnestly calling for your active participation in our environmental protection campaign. It is the duty of every global villager; man just can not sustain his glorious civilization without a rewarding environment, which will be possible only if man makes considerable efforts to protect the environment.

Do you cherish precio us opportunities to volunteer in our joint efforts in environmental protection? Here is a great one not to be missed by any enthusiastic youth; Right next Saturday, our university is to run a publicity campaign to advocate environmental protection across the city. The University Students Union will be in charge of recruitment of volunteers. Lets join our hands and take action immediately.

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

Taking The Exercise

Today, as the development of the electronic products, people like to use

the electronic products very much. They count on these products because they are

so convenient and funny. So people pay a lot of attention on the electronic

products, and most people even don’t like to go out and they spend all the day

playing the computer games.

Staying too much time indoors is not good for people’s health, they need to

walk out of the house and take the exercise. It is advised that we should take

exercise for an hour everyday. We can take the jogging early in the morning or

in the evening. We not only can take in the fresh air, but also can see the

different scenery.

If we take the regular exercise, we will keep the strong body and when are

old, we can go any place we want to.

参加锻炼

今天，随着电子产品的发展，人们很喜欢使用电子产品。他们依赖于这些产品，因为电子产品不仅方便，也很有趣。因此人们把注意力都放在了电子产品，大部分人甚至不喜欢外出，整天呆在家玩电脑游戏。

呆在室内太长时间不利于人们的健康，他们需要走出室内，参加锻炼。据建议，我们应该每天锻炼一个小时。我们可以在早上或者傍晚慢跑，不仅可以呼吸新鲜的空气，也可以看到不同的风景。

如果我们坚持有规律的锻炼，就能保持强壮的身体，当我们老了，还能去任何想去的地方。

以下是为大家整理的关于以中国的环境污染为话题的初中英语作文的文章，希望大家能够喜欢！

Directions:For this part， you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic:

Pollution: An Increasing Concern in China You should write at least120 words following the outline below in Chinese.

1. 中国的污染的现状

2. 造成污染的原因

3. 解决的办法

Pollution: An Increasing Concern in China

It is reported that ten big cities in China are being ranked among the top twenty cities with the highest pollution index in the world. This means it is high time we did something to bring the situation under control.Many factors are contributing to the deteriorating situation: industrial wastes pumped into the air， the lakes and rivers; a increasing number of automobiles crowding into the streets; the widespread use of plastic bags etc.

To my view， stiffer laws and regulations must be implemented to check pollution. Industries that release wastes without permission should be heavily fined. Cars should be equipped to minimize the exhaust they release into the air. And the use of plastic bags and disposable meal boxes should be banned. What’s more， the media should play an important role in implanting a sense of environmental consciousness into people’s mind. If everybody works toward a common goal of making the environment better， we can create a cleaner and lovelier world for us and for the coming generation.

是否应该帮助陌生人

最近，你们班就“是否应该帮助陌生人”展开了讨论，同学们就这一话题意见不一，你的看法如何?根据所提供的信息，以“Should We Help

Strangers?”为题，写一篇短文。

要求：1)表达清楚，语法正确，上下文连贯;

2)必须包括表格中所有的相关信息，并适当发挥;

3)词数：100左右(征文的开头已给出，不计入总词数);

4)不得使用真实姓名、校名和地名等。

参考词汇：美德virtue

Should We Help Strangers?

Recently our class had a discussion about whether we should help

strangers.Different students have different opinions.

★ 范文

Should We Help Strangers?

Recently our class had a discussion about whether we should help

strangers.Different students have different opinions.

Some think we should try to help strangers. Helping others is a virtue，and

helping others is helping ourselves.We may come across some trouble and need

others help some day.If everyone isnt willing to help us just because we are

strangers to them，its hard to imagine what our world will be like.

However，some are afraid that helping others can sometimes bring us

trouble.Sometimes we are just misunderstood and even have to pay the cost of

kindness.

In my opinion，we should try our best to help others when they are in need

of help，but we should also protect ourselves from getting into trouble.If

everyone tries a little kindness，our world will be full of love.

青春似暮春之花，美丽却易凋谢。青春似天际流星，璀璨却易消逝。青春似夜中昙花，珍贵却只能一现，我们在感叹青春易逝，容颜易老的同时还能做些什么呢?答案是不言而喻的，我们要奋斗，为了无悔的明天而奋斗! Youth is like the flowers of late spring, beautiful but easy to wither.Youth is like a sky meteor, but it is easy to disappear.Youth is like a bloom in the middle of the night, but the precious can only be available. We are sighing that youth is easy to pass. What can we do while the face? The answer is self -evident.Well, ok, wipe

在日常学习中，常常看到有些同学在课堂上随意做着自己的事情，更有甚者在课堂上酣然入睡，难道这就是我们的青春么?不!不是这样的!南宋抗金名将岳飞曾经说过这样一句话“莫等闲，白了少年头，空悲切”这句话在华夏的涛涛历史长河中奔流翻滚了一千多年，使多少中华儿女在少年期留下了辉煌的一笔，时至今日，这句话还依然有着其经久不衰的感召力，那就是抓紧青春时光去努力奋斗!

在日常生活中，有些人认为青春本来就是用来享受的，而并非日夜兼程、挑灯夜战，所以他们选择了玩，选择了挥霍光阴，选择了放弃前程似锦的机会，一代伟人曾把青少年比作九点种的太阳，由此可见，正值青春的我们就恰似那冉冉升起的太阳，努力奔向蔚蓝天空的最高处，有着无限且旺盛的潜力。

它同时也在告诫我们，时光荏苒，青春易逝，应当把旺盛的潜力用来奋斗，用来拼搏，用来铺垫我们未来人生璀璨的路!时光匆匆，光阴似箭，日月如梭，人生短暂，像脱弦了的弓箭，没有回头的余地，也没有中途休息的机会，有的只是在人生终结时，停止了的所有波动。

我们常常听老一辈人说，如果当初我努努力，现在的我或许该如何如何，或许我站在这里说青春是用来奋斗的!有些同学会不理解，会说我是被学习冲钝了头脑，会说我是在妒嫉他们可以肆无忌惮的玩耍。但我只想说，青春是用来奋斗的，我们输不起，也决不能输!倘若青春的我们平平淡淡，那日后怎能经受住岁月风吹雨打的磨练，怎么能掀起未来人生壮阔的波澜!所以，少年，向上吧!奋斗吧!你若不勇敢，谁能替你坚强?

About ten years ago when I was an undergraduate in college， I was working as an intern at my Universitys Museum of Natural History. One day while working at the cash register in the gift shop， I saw an elderly couple come in with a little girl in a wheelchair.

As I looked closer at this girl， I saw that she was kind of perched on her chair. I then realized she had no arms or legs， just a head， neck and torso. She was wearing a little white dress with red polka dots.

As the couple wheeled her up to me I was looking down at the register. I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink. As I took the money from her grandparents， I looked back at the girl， who was giving me the cutest， largest smile I have ever seen.

All of a sudden her handicap was gone and all I saw was this beautiful girl， whose smile just melted me and almost instantly gave me a completely new sense of what life is all about. She took me from a poor， unhappy college student and brought me into her world; a world of smiles， love and warmth.

That was ten years ago. Im a successful business person now and whenever I get down and think about the troubles of the world， I think about that little girl and the remarkable lesson about life that she taught me.

What happen to my son

In autumn, a father took his son to a small tree. He measured his son and knocked in a nail as a mark. He hoped the boy could go taller in the next year. In winter, Its snowed very hard. However, the nail was still in trunk of tree all the time. Spring came, and the small tree grew stronger. Father brought his son to the tree again. He was eager to see how much the boy had gone since last year. To his surprise, he found that his son was shorter than the mark. He wondered what happened to my son?

[以我的儿子为主题的英语作文

halloween has always been a holiday filled with mystery, magic and superstition. it began as a celtic end-of-summer festival during which people felt especially close to deceased relatives and friends. for these friendly spirits, they set places at the dinner table, left treats on doorsteps and along the side of the road and lit candles to help loved ones find their way back to the spirit world.

todays halloween ghosts are often depicted as more fearsome and malevolent, and our customs and superstitions are scarier too. we avoid crossing paths with black cats, afraid that they might bring us bad luck. this idea has its roots in the middle ages, when many people believed that witches avoided detection by turning themselves into cats. we try not to walk under ladders for the same reason. this superstition may have come from the ancient egyptians, who believed that triangles were sacred; it also may have something to do with the fact that walking under a leaning ladder tends to be fairly unsafe. and around halloween, especially, we try to avoid breaking mirrors, stepping on cracks in the road or spilling salt.

but what about the halloween traditions and beliefs that todays trick-or-treaters have forgotten all about? many of these obsolete rituals focused on the future instead of the past and the living instead of the dead. in particular, many had to do with helping young women identify their future husbands and reassuring them that they would someday--with luck, by next halloween!--be married.

in 18th-century ireland, a matchmaking cook might bury a ring in her mashed potatoes on halloween night, hoping to bring true love to the diner who found it. in scotland, fortune-tellers recommended that an eligible young woman name a hazelnut for each of her suitors and then toss the nuts into the fireplace. the nut that burned to ashes rather than popping or exploding, the story went, represented the girls future husband. (in some versions of this legend, confusingly, the opposite was true: the nut that burned away symbolized a love that would not last.) another tale had it that if a young woman ate a sugary concoction made out of walnuts, hazelnuts and nutmeg before bed on halloween night, she would dream about her future husband. young women tossed apple-peels over their shoulders, hoping that the peels would fall on the floor in the shape of their future husbands initials; tried to learn about their futures by peering at egg yolks floating in a bowl of water; and stood in front of mirrors in darkened rooms, holding candles and looking over their shoulders for their husbands faces.

other rituals were more competitive. at some halloween parties, the first guest to find a burr on a chestnut-hunt would be the first to marry; at others, the first successful apple-bobber would be the first down the aisle.

of course, whether were asking for romantic advice or trying to avoid seven years of bad luck, each one of these halloween superstitions relies on the good will of the very same "spirits" whose presence the early celts felt so keenly. ours is not such a different holiday after all!

[以万圣节为话题英语作文