Halloween vs 中元节 (Ghost Festival) - Who Has the Scarier Holiday? | Culture | Little Chinese Learners

Summary

Halloween, celebrated on October 31st, marks the start of Allhallowtide, a time for remembering the departed. Common activities include trick-or-treating, costume wearing, and carving jack-o-lanterns. Similarly, the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival, or zhōng yuán jiē, occurs on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, honoring spirits with paper offerings and lanterns. Both festivals revolve around the theme of ghosts, with Halloween's traditions aimed at warding them off, while the Chinese customs focus on respect and guidance for the spirits. The script encourages learning about these cultural connections and activities.

Takeaways

• 🎃 Halloween is celebrated on October 31st and marks the start of Allhallowtide in Christian tradition.
• 👻 Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, dressing in costumes, carving jack-o-lanterns, and telling spooky stories.
• 🀄 The Chinese equivalent, the Hungry Ghost Festival (zhōng yuán jiē), occurs on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month.
• 🌌 Both Halloween and zhōng yuán jiē focus on honoring spirits of the departed.
• 🕰️ Ghosts are believed to return to the living world during specific times of the year: October 31st in Western culture and July 15th in Chinese culture.
• 🧑‍🎤 During Halloween, costumes help people blend in with spirits, while Chinese traditions include burning paper money and offering food to the spirits.
• 🎃 Jack-o-lanterns are made by carving pumpkins, which are placed outside homes to ward off spirits.
• 🏮 In zhōng yuán jiē, lanterns made of paper in the shape of lotus flowers are floated on rivers to guide spirits to the afterlife.
• 📝 The Chinese word for Halloween is wàn shèng jiē.
• 📥 Additional Halloween activities can be found in the Halloween Chinese activity pack at www.littlechineselearners.com.

Q & A

What is Halloween often referred to as?

Halloween is often described as the Western 'ghost festival'.

When is Halloween celebrated?

Halloween is celebrated on October 31st.

What does Allhallowtide commemorate?

Allhallowtide is a time in the Christian Church dedicated to remembering those who have departed.

What are some common activities associated with Halloween?

Common Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, dressing up in costumes, carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, playing pranks, and telling spooky stories.

What is the Chinese equivalent of Halloween?

The Chinese equivalent of Halloween is the Hungry Ghost Festival, known as zhōng yuán jiē.

When does the Hungry Ghost Festival take place?

The Hungry Ghost Festival falls on the 15th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar.

How are ghosts perceived in both Halloween and zhōng yuán jiē?

Both Halloween and zhōng yuán jiē focus on ghosts, believed to be spirits of the deceased returning to our world.

How do people prepare for ghosts during Halloween?

During Halloween, people dress in costumes to disguise themselves as fellow spirits.

What is a traditional practice in zhōng yuán jiē to honor spirits?

In zhōng yuán jiē, Chinese people burn paper money and offer food to the spirits as a sign of respect.

What is the significance of jack-o-lanterns in Halloween?

Jack-o-lanterns are carved pumpkins placed outside houses to drive away spirits.

How are lanterns used in the Hungry Ghost Festival?

During zhōng yuán jiē, paper lanterns shaped like lotuses are floated down rivers with candles inside to guide the spirits to the afterlife.

What is the Chinese word for Halloween?

The Chinese word for Halloween is wàn shèng jiē.