Beyond Translations

Halloween in modern-day America is known for making Jack-O-Lanterns, watching scary movies, and trying to fit as much candy as possible into a pillowcase without making it tear apart. The holiday today is certainly different from its origins, but the traditions of this holiday still play a major role in how and why the holiday has become so popular. While other countries may not also partake in activities such as trick-or-treating,  they still have certain holidays which are very similar to Halloween. The existence of these holidays reflect cultural similarities  across continents and generations.

On the fifteenth (or fourteenth, depending on the region) night of the seventh month of the traditional Chinese calendar, several East and Southeast Asian countries celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival (中元節). This celebration stems from ancient Taoist, Buddhist, and Chinese folk traditions. It is believed that on this night, the gates of Hell are opened and the souls of the dead are allowed to roam the Earth. It is said that these souls are hungry and mischievous, especially the souls that do not have ancestors to honor them. In order to satisfy these spirits and protect the living from misfortune brought on by the souls of the dead, people prepare delicious foods such as Longevity Noodles, Sticky Rice Dumplings, and Pineapple. In addition to culinary offerings, people also burn joss paper, which represents sending material goods to the souls in the underworld. In some regions, people also light large lotus shaped lanterns to help guide the souls back to the underworld. 

The holiday has many superstitions around it, in order to ensure that the spirits are appeased. One of these traditions is to arrange things in sets of three. Three sets of chopsticks, three cups of tea, and three cups of rice. The number three represents the three realms of Heaven, Earth, and The Underworld. 

The holiday is not just celebrated in China, but also countries like Vietnam, the Phillipines, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. The celebrations in these countries all have their own unique qualities, however they all share the same key components. 

While the Hungry Ghost Festival is certainly different from Halloween in America, the origins of the two holidays shows how the importance of honoring the souls of the dead reaches across different cultures.

中文摘要：

美国的万圣节人们做南瓜灯、要糖果、看恐怖电影。中国有中元节，也纪念亡灵。人们在农历七月十五烧纸钱、点灯、供食物，怕鬼带来坏运气。中元节在越南、新加坡等地也有。虽然两个节日不同，但都表示对亡灵的尊重。这些相似节日说明美国和中国有文化相似性。