As China is getting more globalized, Halloween (万圣节 wàn shèng jié) has gained its popularity in recent years. There are many celebrations and parties held in major cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
Fun fact:
In Shanghai there is an old building built in 1933 by the British called 1933 Shanghai that was a former slaughterhouse, and is now an chic office building, that holds a Halloween event every year.
During Halloween, people usually would wear costume (服装 fú zhuāng) or mask (面具 miàn jù)，knock on their neighbor’s (邻居 lín jū) houses saying “Trick or Treat” (不给糖就捣蛋 bù gěi táng jiù dǎo dàn), which means if you don’t give candies, I will put a spell on you!
These are some of the most famous Halloween Characters:
- Zombie ： 僵尸 (jiāngshī) = “僵 Numb + 尸 Corpse”
- Ghost ：鬼魂 (guǐhún) = “鬼 Ghost + 魂 Soul”
- Vampire ：吸血鬼 (xīxuèguǐ) = “吸 Suck + 血 Blood + 鬼 Demon”
- Mummy ： 木乃伊 (mùnǎiyī) which means “preserved corpse”
- Witch ： 女巫 (nǚwū)
- Monster ： 怪物 (guàiwù) = “怪 Strange 物 Thing”
- Skeleton ：骷髅 (kūlóu)
Although China doesn’t celebrate Halloween, they do celebrate some spooky holidays of their own, such as:
1. The Hungry Ghost Festival （中元节 zhōng yuán jié）
This ghost day is on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. For the entire Ghost Month, it is believed that ghosts, spirits, and passed ancestors rise from the lower realm and visit the living. During this month, families will prepare food offerings for hungry ghosts that may not have had a safe passage into the afterlife.
In addition, people light incense, burn money, and leave other offerings to appease and show respect for any unhappy spirits that may travel their way. At the end of the month, people release lanterns and paper boats into the water to guide the spirits back toward the lower realm.
You can also check out our previous article about Hungry Ghost Festival !
2. The Qing Ming Festival （清明节 qīng míng jié）
This festival is in the spring on the 4th or 5th of April. It is also called tomb sweeping day. Families go out on the day to tend and repair their ancestors’ tombs. Many Chinese families maintain ancestral tombs. During this festival, people usually cut the grass and decorate the tombs, as well as worshiping or presenting food.
The festival allows families to reconnect with ancestors through offering and effort to make their final resting place peaceful.
Halloween is commonly anticipated by younger generations as this is the moment where they can embrace their creativity to cosplay as their favorite character. What do you dress up as during this year’s spooky season?
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