🎃 Ghost Month vs. Halloween: A Taiwanese Cultural Experience in New York

At TCML – New York Taiwan Center, learning Mandarin goes beyond the classroom. Through immersive cultural events, students experience Taiwanese traditions in meaningful and engaging ways. Our Halloween-themed event combined Western festivities with Taiwan’s Ghost Month, creating a unique cross-cultural learning experience.

在TCML紐約台灣會館，學習華語不僅限於課堂。透過沉浸式文化活動，學員能以更自然且有趣的方式認識台灣文化。本次萬聖節活動結合西方節慶與台灣鬼月文化，打造獨特的跨文化學習體驗。

On November 1, 2025, the Taiwan Center in New York hosted “Trick or Treat — Taiwanese Style!”, an event that blended film, cultural activities, and Taiwanese food. The program was designed to introduce participants to Taiwanese beliefs, traditions, and everyday culture.

2025年11月1日，紐約台灣會館舉辦「不給台味就搗蛋：萬聖節 × 台灣鬼月文化活動」，結合電影放映、文化體驗與台灣小吃，帶領參與者深入認識台灣的民俗信仰與生活文化。

The event featured a screening of the iconic Taiwanese animated film Grandma and Her Ghosts (《魔法阿媽》), directed by Wang Shao-di. Since its release in 1998, the film has been celebrated as a milestone in Taiwanese animation. Through a touching and humorous story, it introduces audiences to Taiwanese folk beliefs and family values.

本次活動特別放映由王小棣導演執導的經典動畫《魔法阿媽》。自1998年上映以來，此片被譽為台灣動畫的重要代表作品之一。電影以幽默溫馨的方式呈現祖孫情與民俗信仰，讓觀眾在輕鬆氛圍中認識台灣文化。

After the film screening, participants joined a series of interactive cultural activities led by TCML instructors, including:

• ✍️ Talisman Writing
• 👻 Ghost Month vs. Halloween Comparison
• 🌶️ “Eat If You Dare!” Taiwanese Food Challenge

These activities helped participants connect language with real-life cultural context.

電影放映後，TCML教師團隊帶領觀眾參與多項文化體驗活動，包括：

• ✍️ 符咒書寫
• 👻 鬼月與萬聖節文化比較
• 🌶️「Eat If You Dare! 台味驚嚇挑戰站」

透過這些互動體驗，學員能將語言與文化情境結合，加深學習印象。

Participants sampled a variety of traditional Taiwanese foods, including stinky tofu, century egg tofu, oyster vermicelli, and seaweed rice cake. For many, it was their first time trying these iconic dishes.

參與者現場試吃多樣台灣經典小吃，包括臭豆腐、皮蛋豆腐、大腸麵線與紫菜糕。許多民眾表示這是他們第一次品嚐這些台灣特色料理，印象深刻。

Many participants shared that this was their first time experiencing Taiwan’s Ghost Month traditions. They found the event both fun and meaningful, gaining a deeper understanding of Taiwanese culture.

許多外籍學員與社區民眾表示，這是他們首次接觸台灣鬼月文化，感到既新奇又有趣，也更深入了解台灣文化內涵。

The event also featured a costume challenge. The first 30 participants who arrived in costume received a complimentary bubble tea sponsored by CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice, adding excitement and festive energy to the event.

現場同時推出「勇氣裝扮挑戰」，前30位穿著造型入場的參加者可獲得CoCo都可贊助的珍珠奶茶一杯，為活動增添節慶氣氛與驚喜。

This event was supported by the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC). Special thanks to Ricefield Film Studio for film licensing, CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice for beverage sponsorship, and volunteers from the Taiwanese community and senior center.

本活動由中華民國僑務委員會主要贊助，並感謝稻田電影工作室授權電影放映與提供宣傳素材、CoCo都可贊助飲品，以及大紐約同鄉會與台灣會館老人中心提供義工協助。

At TCML, we believe language learning is most effective when combined with culture and community. Through events like this, students not only learn Mandarin, but also experience the cultural context behind the language.

TCML致力於將語言學習與文化體驗結合，讓學員不僅學習華語，更能理解其背後的文化脈絡。透過這類活動，學習變得更有深度與連結。

Ready to start your Mandarin journey?
Experience language learning through culture and community at TCML – New York Taiwan Center.

準備開始你的華語學習之旅了嗎？
歡迎加入TCML紐約台灣會館，透過文化與互動學習中文。