The Halloween in eastern and western countries! 说说中西方的鬼节!

Yesterday at noon I passed Henglong Square , it is large and bright with a "big Halloween demon" inside the Plaza. It is in order to meet the Western Halloween and engage in activities. The middle is Jack-O-Lantern with other big silver, orange, black, two guys dressed in black standing next to the big lanterns. I think they probably represent the evil spirits, but the two kids playing the ghost look like so kind !

Halloween I don't know much, I only know that on this day, the children are dressed in various terrorist clothing, wearing a mask to his neighbour's house to eat sugar, trick or treat. There are many versions of Halloween, but the general idea is that on October 31st, the night before Halloween, people carry pumpkin lanterns and carry terror masks around the village. This was actually a kind of harvest celebration; also said to be "Halloween", the legend who died that year, the soul will be the eve of Halloween, visit the world. It is said that people should be allowed to visit the ghost to see the ghost of a successful harvest and show great hospitality.

All bonfires and lights, in order to frighten away ghosts, but also to illuminate the ghost route, and guide its return. In medieval central Europe, Christianity had destroyed the pagan history. But the festival before New Year's Eve has never been really removed, it appears in the form of witchcraft. That's why we still have witches' brooms, black cats, spells, etc on halloween. It is said that the meeting is a black cat, met the witch, a year will be worse, so on that day, everyone will drive away those unlucky symbol.

We also have a ghost festival in China on the lunar calendar in July. The lunar calendar in July 15 called zhongyuanjie. On that day, the gates of hell opened, the ghosts of the underworld will be released. People worship the ghost will go home to get the support of souls and wandering in the deserted place to find something to eat. So people in July, held a food ritual, chanting practice "Purdue", "shigu" charity activities in general. They curse the wandering souls, prevent, or pray for help to remove ghost blight and bless peace at home. Therefore, in some parts of the day will have the Purdue custom, known as the "ghost", later developed into a grand festival associated with Buddhism, known as the "ghost festival".

picture source Baidu

Southerners such as Taiwanese, have water lanterns custom, ghost worship, to greet the arrival of the ghosts. Ghosts help light the way, invited to share the incense, called "water lamp". The common people should put lights in the river to make peace and good luck.

On the same day to the riverside Festival put lanterns written on the lamp, the names of the victims, light candles, flow to the waves on the expression of emotion, and pray for the living blessing. In addition, the ghost festival and worship the land put lanterns meaning, if the July fifteen crops gratifying, farmers in the heart alone, it should be a sacrifice to land, put lanterns. In a word, the farther the water lamp floats, the more blessed the gods are.

In view of this Halloween, although similar, but on this day, people hold activities, is to pay homage to the dead, get rid of bad luck, pray for the family peace, happiness!

Thank you for your reading!

昨天中午路过恒隆广场，里面的大厅宽敞明亮，正中间正在搞着活动“万圣大魔头”，原来是为了迎接西方鬼节而搞的活动。正中间是大大的南瓜灯造型银色的， 橘色的， 黑色的，旁边还有两个穿着黑衣服的小伙，我想是不是代表着恶鬼呢， 不过这两个小孩扮演的鬼好像是很善良哦！

西方的鬼节我了解不多， 知道的也就是在这一天，孩子们穿着各种恐怖服装，带着面具到邻居家里去要糖吃， 不给糖就捣乱。关于万圣节，有许多版本， 不过大致的意思就是在10月31日 ，也就是万圣节的前夜，人们拎着南瓜灯，带着各种恐怖面具，游走于村落之间。这在当时实则为一种秋收的庆典;也有说是“鬼节”，传说当年死去的人，灵魂会在万圣节的前夜造访人世，据说人们应该让造访的鬼魂看到圆满的收成并对鬼魂呈现出丰盛的款待。

所有篝火及灯火，一来为了吓走鬼魂，同时也为鬼魂照亮路线，引导其回归。 在中世纪的中欧，曾有过基督教摧毁异教徒的历史。可是新年夜前的祭祀庆典从未真正消除，不过以巫术的形式出现。这也就是为什么我们现在的万圣节里，还留有巫婆的扫帚、黑猫、咒语等痕迹。据说当天遇见黑猫，就等于遇见了巫婆，一年都会倒大霉，所以在那天，大家都要乔装打扮，驱走那些不吉利的象征。

我们中国也有鬼节，是在农历的7月份。农历7月15 又被称作中元节。相传那一天地狱大门打开，阴间的鬼魂会放出来。有子孙、后人祭祀的鬼魂回家去接受香火供养；无主孤魂就到处游荡，徘徊于任何人迹可至的地方找东西吃。所以人们纷纷在七月，举行设食祭祀、诵经作法等“普渡”、“施孤”布施活动，以普遍超度孤魂野鬼，防止它们为祸人间，又或祈求鬼魂帮助去除疫病和保佑家宅平安。因此某些地区在这一天会有普渡的习俗，称为“中元普渡”，后来更发展为盛大的与佛教有关的祭典，称为“盂兰盛会” 。

南方人 如闽南人、台湾人有放水灯的习俗，中元节祭拜时，迎接到来的亡魂，帮亡魂照路，邀来同享香火，称“放水灯”。 老百姓都要在河中放灯以求平安和吉祥。

在中元节当天到江边放河灯，灯上写着死难者的名字，灯里点上蜡烛，随波流去，表达对其思念之情，以及祈求对活着的人们的祝福。此外，中元节放河灯还有祭祀土地的寓意，如果七月十五庄稼长势喜人，农民们心里就有底了，就应祭祀一下土地，放点河灯。总之水灯漂浮愈远，愈能得到神灵庇佑。

由此看来中西方的鬼节，虽然大同小异，但是在这一天人们举行的活动，都是为了祭奠亡灵，驱除坏的霉运，祈求亲人的平安，幸福！

感谢您的阅读！