Halloween is a festival celebrated on 31st October every year. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day (1st November) incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.
Allhallowtide - After Halloween Festival (31st October) and All Saints Day (1st November), on the 2nd November will be the All Souls' Day.
Halloween Festival - Good time to BURN Hell Notes and Joss Papers to the Western Ghosts and Ancestors.
Over here, You will learn how You can apply Chinese Culture of Burning Hell Notes & Joss Papers in every Halloween Festival.
To most common folks, even the Westerners, Halloween is just a night to party and nothing to benefit the Ghosts. Chinese Folk Religion and Religious Taoism have the answer to really benefit the wandering ghosts on earth and the souls in the underworld.
While the Chinese Ghosts & Ancestors have many different days to collect their Ghost Money, let Halloween be the day for Western Ghosts to collect their share of Goodies.
Ideas for Burning Hell (Bank) Notes during Halloween Festival (31st October):
Children Party - During Halloween Party, Children of different races and religions can get together to BURN Hell Notes (Ancestors Money) and Joss Papers to the ghosts. Parents and other adults attending the Halloween Party can also join the children to burn the Paper Offerings. It is a Fun Activity for Children and Parents to do together.The activity of Burning Hell Notes / Joss Papers can be a mini-scale version of "Bon Fire" outside the house, or it can be Burned as a huge version of Bonfire at the Open Field.
Hell Notes / Joss Papers, Candies and Chocolates can be stuffed into Hell Goodie Bags and hung up as Hell Pinatas. Children , as well as adults, can whack the hell out of themselves with Wooden Sticks.
Pubs and Clubs - Pubs and Clubs who are organising Halloween Parties, can set up a "Hell Notes / Joss Papers“ Burning Container near the entrance / exit for the Club Goers to BURN to ghosts.
Hell Notes / Joss Papers, Candies and Chocolates can be stuffed into Hell Goodie Bags and hung up as Hell Pinatas. Children , as well as adults, can whack the hell out of themselves with Wooden Sticks.
The Hell Notes / Joss Papers and Titbit Goodies will drop down and scatter on the floor. Children can keep the Titbit Goodies. The Hell Notes / Joss Papers will be brought to the Burning Comtainer to be burned away as Spirit Offerings to Ghosts.
Pubs and Clubs - Pubs and Clubs who are organising Halloween Parties, can set up a "Hell Notes / Joss Papers“ Burning Container near the entrance / exit for the Club Goers to BURN to ghosts.
What the Chinese Folks Of Chinese Folk Religion and Religious Taoism Can Do:
Chinese Folks can also add-on Halloween as another important day ( not just on the Joss Paper Burning Days of the Chinese Folk Religion / Taoist Festivals) to burn Hell Notes & Joss Papers, strictly to the Western Ghosts only.
Extra Information - Here are the other Joss Paper Burning Days by the Chinese:
- Chinese Folks will burn Joss Papers to their Deceased Loved Ones / Ancestors during Qing Ming Festival.
- Chinese Folks will burn Joss Papers to Wandering Spirits / Ghosts (and also their Loved Ones and Ancestors) during Zhong Yuan Festival - Chinese Hungry Ghosts Festival.
- Chinese Folks will burn Joss Papers to the Chinese Deities on every 1st and 15th of every month of Chinese Lunar Calender.
Interesting Information: Western ghosts are only given one night (Halloween) on earth to enjoy their time, while Chinese Ghosts are given one month of freedom on earth during Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival - Zhong Yuan Festival.
All Saints' Day (1st November) - A Christian solemnity celebrated in honor of all the saints of Christianity, whether they are known or unknown, who have attained heaven. It is celebrated on 1st November by the Roman Catholic Churches, as well as many Protestant churches.
Important Points To Take Note: If You intent to Burn Paper Offerings to Saints, do not offer Hell Notes (Ancestors Money). "Hell Notes" are Spiritual offerings to ghosts, not to Heavenly Beings. Burn the Correct Joss Papers to the Saints, such as the *Golden Joss Papers*.
All Souls' Day (2nd November) - A day of prayer and remembrance for the faithful departed, observed by certain Christian denominations, including Roman Catholicism and certain parts of Lutheranism and Anglicanism on 2nd November. Through prayer, intercessions, alms and visits to cemeteries, people commemorate the poor souls in purgatory and gain them indulgences.
All Souls' Day is a day to pray for the souls of deceased family members / ancestors.
Folks around the world who observe All Souls' Day, may include the activity of burning Hell (Bank) Notes (Ancestor Money) and *Ancestor Joss Papers* to their Deceased Loved Ones / Ancestors.
Extra Information - Folks from different countries have their own unique ways of observing this day:
- In Mexico, people create private altars for their ancestors and decorate them with photographs, flowers, candy skulls, and candles.
- In the Philippines, people cook their deceased loved one’s favorite foods for a feast with friends and relatives. Many visit their ancestors’ tombs, light candles, and even spend the night there.
- In Hungary, people keep the lights on in their homes for the duration of the night and leave food on the table in memory of their loved ones.
- In Poland, families visit the cemeteries where their ancestors are buried and set the night aglow with a veritable bonfire of candles.
- In Peru, people share a loaf of t’anta wawa with a friend or relative. T’anta wawa is a sweet bread baked into the shape of a doll or small child.
Notice the similarity of All Souls' Day compare to Chinese Version of Qing Ming Festival (清明节) - Tomb-Sweeping Day - A Day to remember their Deceased Loved Ones / Ancestors.
The Saints, Your Ancestors and other Spirit Beings Will Bless You
From the Chinese Folk Religion Point Of View, by Burning Paper Offerings to Deities (Saints), Ancestors and Ghosts, in return, they will bless You with Good Lottery Luck , Good Sales and Businesses （生意兴隆）, Good Job Opportunities and also LOOK OVER YOU and Your Love Ones to give You Peace & Safety on whatever You do and wherever You go (出入平安).
In Summary, Western Folks will have 3 consecutive days of burning Hell Notes / Joss Papers:
- Halloween Festival - 31st October - Burn Hell Notes (Ancestor Money) & *Silver Joss Papers* to Ghosts
- All Saints' Day - 1st November - Burn *Golden Joss Papers* to Saints
- All Souls' Day - 2nd November - Burn Hell Notes (Ancestor Money) & Ancestor Joss Papers to Deceased Loved Ones / Ancestors
Chinese Folks can also take part to Burn Hell Money (Ancestor Money) and Joss Papers as Offerings to Western Ghosts and Western Saints during the 3 days of Allhallowtide.
Interesting Information: Chinese Filipinos (Chinoys) observe All Souls' Day as an important day to pay respect to their ancestors. On this day, they have their own unique ways of praying compare to Westerners and other Pinoy Folks, but very similar to other typical Chinese Folks in Chinese Version of Qing Ming Festival (清明节). Joss Sticks are lighted up, food are offered to Deceased Love Ones and Joss Papers are burned as Spirit Offerings.
In fact, Chinoys are great source of information to be sought after by Westerners to learn how to Burn Joss Papers during Allhallowtide Events (Halloween on October 31, All Saints Day on November 1, and All Souls Day of November 2).
Chinese Temples in the Philippines include the statues and images of The Cross, Jesus and Mother Mary, placed side by side with other Chinese Deities. - Jesus Christ In Taoist Temple
Many Chinese Filipinos practice the traditional Chinese religions side by side with Catholicism, due to the openness of the Roman Catholic Church in accommodating Chinese beliefs, such as ancestor veneration.
Important Points To Take Note:
In Chinese Folk Religion and Religious Taoism, there are different types of Joss Papers for different level of Spirit Beings - Deities Level, Ancestors Level and Ghosts / Spirits Level. Westerners may find them confusing and complicated.
Explaining the different types of Joss Papers will be a long topic to write, which will be another article by itself.
Simple Rules to follow:
- *Golden Joss Papers* are burned as offerings to the Deities Level (Saints).
- Hell Notes (Ancestors Money) and *Silver Joss Papers* are burned as offerings to the Wandering Ghosts on earth & Spirits in the underworld (Souls in Purgatory).
- *Ancestor Joss Papers* There are a certain type of Golden Joss Papers & also Silver Joss Papers catered for Ancestors.
These distinctions between the three categories of spirit money must be followed precisely to avoid confusing or insulting the spirits. The same rules shall be followed while burning Hell Notes / Joss Papers to the Western Saints, Western Ancestors and Western Ghosts.
If You're unsure of what Joss Papers to burn, You can always drop by at a Chinese Joss Paper Shop in Chinatown of Your own country and consult the Joss Paper Shop Owner / Assistant. (Or email Taoist Sorcery Master).
Video Of Happy Halloween To Burn Hell Notes (Ancestors Money)