Calendar of the Dead
Reading time: 9 minutes. Posted: (AEST).
Originally written for the 32-Bit Cafe’s Halloween 2024 event.
Contents:
Introduction
Throughout this story, I will talk about events connected to death, since we are in Halloween-time.
There are many festivals, observances and celebrations of the deceased around the world. I’m sure this is due to the inevitability of death, but another thing that is inevitable is seasons. In whatever form they may take in each part of the world, be that the northern hemisphere, southern hemisphere, wet season or dry season, our cultures are shaped by our surroundings and the events we have lived through.
I live in a part of Australia that really only has a wet season and a dry season, so know that if you too do not live in a place where your seasons line up with this calendar, know that you are not alone.
Spring
In what is usually considered Spring in the northern hemisphere, events tend to connect to growth and rebirth after Winter. We know this to be a time of spring cleaning, of animals being born, and the world coming alive again.
15th day after March equinox (between April 4 and April 6)
Tomb-Sweeping Day involves Chinese, Chitty, and Ryukyuan communities offering food to the dead, burning joss paper, sweeping graves, and worshipping ancestors.
You may see the day referred to as 掃墓節, Qingming Festival, Ching Ming Festival, 清明節, Chinese Memorial Day, Ancestors’ Day, Clear Brightness Festival, Pure Brightness Festival, Qingming Jie, or 清明节.
Second Monday or Tuesday of Pascha (Easter)
The Day of Rejoicing commemorates the departed in Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian communities. The day is also called Radonitsa, Рaдоница, Рaдаўніца, Radunitsa, Radonica, Radunica, Provody, and Прóводи.
Thursday between the Easter Sundays of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions
Thursday of the Dead is when communities of Arab Christians and Muslims in the Levant honour the souls of the dead. The day is also called Thursday of the Dead, Khamis al-Amwat, خميس الأموات, Khamis al-Amwat, Thursday of the Secrets, خميس الأسرار, Khamis al-Asrar, or Thursday of the Eggs.
Summer
Summer is home to just one festival of the dead in Japan. Maybe Summer is too hot for remembering much at all for most (or that’s certainly the case for me).
15th day of the 7th lunar month, August 15, or July 15 (Kantō)
The Japanese Ghost Festival in which Japanese communities honour the spirits of their ancestors. The festival is also called Obon, お盆, Bon, or 盆.
Autumn
Autumn is where we see the most events related to death, most likely because we see trees begin to drop leaves in preparation for the Winter ahead.
15th day of the 7th lunar month (late August to early September)
During the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts you may see Buddhist or Taoist communities worshipping their ancestors with food offerings, burning joss paper, and chanting scriptures.
You may also see this festival called the Ghost Festival, Hungry Ghost Festival, Zhongyuan Festival, Yulanpen Festival, Spirit Festival, Ghost Day, Pudu, 普渡, or Zhōng yuán jié.
First day of Pratipada of the month of Bhadra month of the Lunar calendar (August/September)
In honour of their immediate relatives who died the year before, the Festival of the Cow is celebrated by Hindu Newars. On this day you might find carnivals, dances, and rallies.
The festival is called Gai Jatra, गाईजात्रा, Sa Paru, or सा पारु.
15th day of the 8th lunar month (Late September or Early October)
Autumn Evening is when Korean communities may visit their family’s hometown, worship their ancestors, and attend harvest feasts with songpyeon (half-moon-shaped rice cakes) and rice wines. You will see the day called Chuseok, 추석, Hangawi, 한가위, or The Great Middle of Autumn.
16 days (late September to early October)
The Fortnight of the Paternal Ancestors (Pirtru Paksha or Shraddha) is 16 days where Hindu communities pay homage to their ancestors with food offerings.
These days are also called Sixteen Shraddhas, Pitru Paksha, Shraddha, पितृ पक्ष, Pitarpas, Pitri Paksha, Pitr-Paksha, Pitri Pokkho, Sorah Shraddha, Kanagat, Jitiya, Mahalaya, Apara Paksha, or Akhadpak.
9th day of the 9th lunisolar month (October) or 9 September in the Gregorian calendar.
Double Ninth Festival is observed by Chinese, Japanese and Korean communities. It is an official public holiday in Hong Kong and Macau.
The number 9 is associated with masculinity and brightness, and so this being the date 9/9 in the lunisolar calendar, it is a day of ‘double yang’.
On this day some may visit the graves of their ancestors to pay respects, clean and maintain graves, and give and enjoy food offerings. There may be kite flying, incence burning, wearing of dogwood leaves, appreciating chrysanthemum flowers, climbing mountains, hiking, having picnics, viewing cherry blossoms, and eating chongyang cakes.
Today may also be called: Double Yang Festival, Chrysanthemum Festival, Chongyang, Chōyō, Double Nine, Seniors’ Day, Senior Citizens’ Day, 菊の節句 (Kanji), Kiku no Sekku (Revised Hepburn) 重陽節 (Traditional Chinese), 重阳节 (Simplified Chinese), Chóngyáng jié (Hanyu Pinyin), 중양절 (Korean), Jungyangjeol (Korean), 重陽の節句 (Kanji), Chōyō no Sekku (Revised Hepburn), 重陽の節句 (Kanji).
31 October
On the last day of Autumn, the eve of the first day of Winter is or was considered a night when spirits are abroad, where there is a communion of the living with the dead. On this day you may see people observing with church services, prayer, fasting, vigil, offering food to ancestors, requesting candy for costumes, or celebrating.
This day is celebrated as many different events, such as Halloween, Hallowe’en, Allhalloween, All Saint’s Eve, All Hallows Eve, Allantide, Saint Allan’s Day, Feast of Saint Allan, Nos Kalan Gwav, Nos Galan Gaeaf, Noson Galan Gaeaf, St Demetrius Day, Zadušnice, Zadušnica, Autumn Dzaidy, Forefather’s Eve, Allan Night, or Allan Day.
Winter
Winter is a time of feasts and a time of rememberance. Perhaps it was a time to light candles for warmth and cook feasts of stocked food in a season which is for much of the northern hemisphere a time of hibernation of the surrounding nature.
1 November (or Sunday after Pentecost)
The first day of Winter is marked by multiple events such as Samhain, All Saint’s Day, and Calan Gaeaf. On this day you may see people out to church services, praying for the dead, visiting cemeteries, creating bonfires, ‘guising’, ‘mumming’, using divination, ‘saining’, venerating the dead, or feasting, depending on where and who is marking the day.
Another day celebrated in many forms, you may see it celebrated as All Saint’s Day, All Hallow’s Day, Feast of All Saints, Feast of All Hallows, Solemnity of All Saints, Hallowmas, All Saints Day, Kalan Gwav, Calan Gaeaf, Kalan Goañv, Day of the first day of winter, Dy’ Halan Gwav, or Samhain.
2 November
The second day of winter is well known for the Day of the Dead (el Día de Muertos), as well as The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. On this day you might see people observing the second day through prayer for the departed, visits to cemeteries, decking of graves, special pastries and food, creating home altars to remember the dead, and cooking traditional dishes.
This day is celebrated across the world in many ways including as Day of the Dead, el Día de Muertos, el Día de los Muertos, The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Soul’s Day, Zaduszki, The Day of Prayers for the Souls, Grandfathers, Soul Day, Day of the Dead, Parental Saturday, Fixed Day, Дзяды, Задушница, Душница, Мъртви съботи, Мъртъв ден, Ден на мъртвите, Dušni dan, Mrtvih dan, Задушница, Мртва сабота, Родительская суббота, Урочные дни, Задушнице, Zadušnice, Spomienkový deň, Pamiatka zosnulých, or Dušičky.
Last Sunday of the Liturgical Year
The Sunday of the Dead is also celebrated further into Winter, Lutherans and Reformed in Germany spend this day commemorating the faithful departed, praying for the dead, lighting votive candles, and visiting cemeteries and graveyards.
The day is also known as Eternity Sunday, Totensonntag, Ewigkeitssonntag, or Totenfest.