To live in China for many foreign residents is to learn about the country's national calendar holidays. From the internationally celebrated Chinese New Year to the National Day celebrations, many of China's holidays hold rich cultural significance and are steeped in history and national pride.

对于许多在中国居住的外籍人士而言，了解中国的国家历法节日是必不可少的一部分。从全球共庆的中国春节到国庆节庆典， 中国的许多节日都蕴含着丰富的文化内涵，浸透着历史与民族自豪感。



Their unique ties to China's history mean many such holidays are opportunities for China's significantly large foreign residents to learn about and understand the country culturally.这些节日与中国历史的独特联系，意味着对于数量庞大的在华外籍人士而言，它们都是了解中国文化的重要契机。

In recent decades, more internationally celebrated festivals and holidays have grown in popularity in China, as the country welcomes more residents from overseas and hosts more foreign-related events. Now, Santa Clause and the pilgrim hat-clad Thanksgiving turkey are no longer strangers in the country, with everything from Christmas to Thanksgiving, and even Valentine's Day being taken as opportunities to have fun with friends and family.近几十年来，随着中国迎来越来越多海外居民，举办更多涉外活动， 越来越多的国际节日和假日在中国越来越受欢迎。如今，圣诞老人和头戴尖帽的感恩节火鸡已不再是中国的稀客，从圣诞节、感恩节到情人节， 人们都会与朋友和家人一起欢庆。

Granted, many such celebrations are concentrated in larger metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai, cities that attract large numbers of foreign residents and young Chinese people looking to chart a path for themselves in the big city. Also celebrated in these cultural melting pots, is Halloween, a festival known in many countries for its requisite costumes, the giving of candy, and an indulgence in all things creepy or spooky.诚然，这些庆祝活动大多集中在北京、上海等大城市， 这些城市吸引着大量外籍居民和渴望在大城市打拼的中国年轻人。在这些文化熔炉中，还有以必要的装扮、分发糖果 和对恐怖或诡异事物的沉迷而闻名的万圣节。

Dating back to the ancient Celtic festival marking the last day of summer, the origins of present-day Halloween's ghoulish traditions harken back to the tradition of warding off unwanted spirits by darkening one's face with ash, which later evolved into mask-wearing and costumed merriment.万圣节起源于古代凯尔特人的节日，标志着夏季的最后一天， 而今万圣节那些恐怖的习俗，要追溯到人们用灰烬涂黑脸部以驱赶邪灵的传统， 后来逐渐演变成戴面具和穿着戏服进行欢乐的庆祝。

Halloween offers a cultural crossroads filled with levity. The day is widely celebrated by China's foreign residents and an increasing number of Chinese people interested in sharing in the fun.万圣节是一个充满轻松氛围的文化交汇点。这一天被在华外籍人士以及越来越多想要同乐的中国人所广泛庆祝。

In some big cities, Chinese kids dressed in cute costumes, participating in trick-or-treating activities accompanied by their parents are no longer an unusual sight. Some schools also take the event as an opportunity to engage young learners in fun and creative art and craft activities, as students are encouraged to create masks and artworks.在一些大城市，中国孩子穿着可爱的戏服， 在父母的陪同下参加不给糖就捣蛋的活动，已不再稀奇。一些学校还将此活动作为让年轻学生参与有趣且富有创意的艺术和手工艺活动的机会， 鼓励学生制作面具和艺术品。

For Corey, an American teacher based in Shanghai, the spooky season is also a reading season. Corey's young students along with their schoolmates take the opportunity to celebrate Halloween week through literature.对于常驻上海的美国教师科里而言，恐怖的季节也是阅读的季节。科里的学生及同学们会利用这个机会庆祝万圣节周，通过文学的形式。

"For the past three years we have had a book week where children recommend books, they have a story writing competition, a different author comes in and helps students write stories, and then to end off the week, the students dress up as a character from their favorite book," Corey explained.科里解释道：“在过去三年里，我们有一个读书周，孩子们会推荐书籍，还会参加故事创作比赛， 不同的作家会走进校园帮助学生写故事，最后为了结束这一周的活动， 学生们会打扮成他们最喜欢的书中人物。”

Jevon Hercules, a Barbadian working in Guangzhou's burgeoning gaming industry, said there were a handful of events held across the city. Halloween, according to Hercules, is also widely celebrated in his Caribbean Island country.来自巴巴多斯的杰文·赫拉克勒斯在广州蓬勃发展的游戏行业工作，他说全市各地举办了几场活动。赫拉克勒斯表示，万圣节在他的加勒比海岛国也广受庆祝。

There were also celebratory events being held by expats in smaller cities. Rogelio, an American living and working in Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, couldn't keep up with all the events hosted in the second-tier city this past weekend. "There were three events I was invited to and there are three to four more this weekend, although I may pass them up," Rogelio said, blaming fatigue.较小的城市也有外籍人士举办的庆祝活动。罗杰里奥是一位美国人，在中国东部浙江省温州市生活和工作， 他表示上个周末在这个二线城市举办的几场活动让他应接不暇。“我收到了三个活动的邀请，而这个周末还有三到四场活动，尽管我可能会错过它们，”罗杰里奥说道，他对此感到疲惫不堪。

He, however, does appreciate the role this festival can play in China. Though it is celebrated far more in North America, Rogelio believes that it is a festival that can be enjoyed by anyone. "In China, it can help Chinese people get involved in a cultural aspect outside of their own as we engage in their cultural events," Rogelio said.然而，他确实欣赏这个节日在中国所发挥的作用。尽管它在北美更受欢迎，但罗杰里奥认为，任何人都可以享受这个节日。“在中国，它能帮助中国人参与到他们自身文化之外的文化活动中，当我们参与他们的文化活动时，”罗杰里奥说道。

Whether predominantly Western, or being adapted by the Chinese, Halloween and other festivals offer foreign residents in China a window into communications, fostering understanding, and creating a welcoming cosmopolitan melting pot, where all traditions, big or small, are viewed as welcoming and worth celebrating.无论是主要是西方的节日，还是被中国本土化的节日， 万圣节和其他节日都为在华外籍人士提供了一个交流的窗口，促进相互理解， 并营造了一个欢迎所有大小传统、兼容并蓄的都市熔炉，这里所有传统都被视为值得欢迎和庆祝的文化元素。