Differences:

STT Criteria Halloween Mid-Autumn in Viet Nam

1 Date 31st October 15th August (lunar calendar)

2 Original Ancient Britain and Ireland China

country

3 Food/Drink Boxty pancakes, colcannon, soul
cakes, cider, toffee apples, Tanghulu,
Bonfire night foods
moon cake and five fruits tray
(primary), river snails, duck,
hairy crabs, pears, watermelons,
pomelos, pomegranates, lotus
roots, taro, and osmanthus wine.

4 Clothes - Turn into the ghost, monster, or free costumes.

witch in their legendary stories
such as vampire, cat, fairy,
nurse, batman, politician, angel,
spiderman, pumpkin, Disney
princess, or star wars
character,...

5 Main - Trick or Treat (Children go to Lantern lighting, courtship and

activities houses for asking candies). matchmaking, family gathering,
- Pumpkin (pick up a pumpkin, dragon dance, family meals,
make a face, put the candle and gift giving.
inside, and hang it on the door
or gate).
- Pray, Disgusition, Dunking
(apples bobbing).

6 Meaning - The evening before All Saints - Gathering (family and

Day in Western culture. friends coming together
- The time in the liturgical year or harvesting crops for
dedicated to remembering the the festival).
dead including saints (hallows), - Thanksgiving (give
martyrs, and all the faithful thanks for harmonious
departed. unions).
- Jack O’lattern story (derived
from pumpkin lantern):
+ Education: live to
become a good person.
+ Social life: welcome
new harvests.
Similarity:
- Express people’s trust and expectation in supernatural power, dead people,...
- All main activities are held from the evening up to night.
- Most people take part in activities for entertainment purposes.
- They are the famous festivals in the world and are held annually.