How to kill a Chinese vampire and why bagua mirrors, not pumpkins, keep ghosts away – 5 spooky Halloween traditions alive in Asia
Why bats represent happiness in China, black cats mean good luck (not bad) in Japan and how the Buddhist and Taoist Hungry Ghost Festival is kind of similar to Halloween
Halloween is a great excuse to dress up in costumes and eat loads of candy, but beyond all the trick-or-treating and spooky (read: sexy) parties, there are many age-old traditions and superstitions about ghosts, spirits and other creepy creatures.
In the West, common Halloween symbols include jack-o’-lanterns (carved pumpkins), witches, black cats and vampires, but most of these have different meanings in the East. Below, we break down five of the most common Halloween superstitions – and how they translate in Asia.
In Asia, pumpkins don’t have any ghost-fighting properties – but bagua mirrors do
1) The ghosts’ return: All Hallows' Eve vs Hungry Ghost Festival
Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when pagans used to welcome the last harvest before the long, dark winter. On All Hallows' Eve (October 31), it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth, so people lit bonfires and dressed up in costumes to ward off harmful spirits. During the 19th century, the Irish brought this tradition with them to the United States during the mass migration, which has evolved into the Halloween we know and love today.
In Chinese culture, the gates of hell are also believed to be opened every year during the seventh lunar month. Known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, or Ghost Month, there are no costumes involved like Halloween but plenty of sacrifice. Besides leaving food out for the spirits to “eat”, people burn incense, joss paper and various paper offerings for the undead to have in the afterlife, and Cantonese opera bamboo theatres are set up all over town to entertain the spirits.
2) Predators: vampires vs jiang shi
Vampires in the West apparently look like Brad Pitt and Robert Pattinson (hot, male, bloodthirsty and in constant agony over their immortality), so instead of being afraid of them, most of us probably wouldn’t mind letting them take a bite. Once bitten, the victims either die or become vampires themselves by feeding on blood from the original bloodsucker. Be warned though – the only way to kill a vampire (as seen on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is by beheading, burning it by fire or sunlight, or driving a stake through its heart.