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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Culture & Society

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosts Ghost Festival with international flair

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a Ghost Festival observance, inviting diplomatic representatives from friendly nations.
  • International guests brought traditional offerings from their respective countries, including American beer and Canadian maple syrup.
  • Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung gifted oversized green 'Guai Guai' snacks, symbolizing good luck and peace.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs embraced the traditional Ghost Festival, known as Zhongyuan Pudu, by hosting an event that blended local customs with international participation. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung led the observance, inviting diplomatic envoys and representatives from friendly and like-minded countries to experience Taiwan's unique cultural traditions.

The event saw a diverse array of offerings as international guests came prepared with unique gifts representing their home countries. The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) presented American beer, Canada contributed maple syrup, and South Korea offered traditional snacks. These contributions added a distinct international flavor to the traditional Taiwanese festival, creating a colorful display of cultural exchange.

This year's Ghost Festival observance at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has many international friends participating. Envoys also brought their countries' characteristic offerings, making the traditional Ghost Festival full of international flavor.

— Lin Chia-lungDescribing the international participation and unique offerings at the event.

In return, Minister Lin Chia-lung presented the international representatives with a special Taiwanese gift: oversized bags of green 'Guai Guai' snacks. These snacks are a popular item in Taiwan, often associated with good luck and smooth sailing, especially during the Ghost Festival. The packaging featured auspicious phrases like 'I am super lucky' and 'Peace for the whole family,' conveying a message of well-wishes and shared prosperity.

Minister Lin noted that this year's observance was particularly special due to the significant international participation. He emphasized the ministry's desire to share the Taiwanese spirit of peace and good fortune during the Ghost Festival with friends from around the world. Lin himself was departing for Palau, carrying these blessings with him.

I also prepared a Taiwanese blessing, giving envoys from various countries oversized bags of green 'Guai Guai' snacks printed with 'I am super lucky' and 'Peace for the whole family,' sharing the Taiwanese people's wish for peace and success during the Ghost Festival with friends from all over the world.

— Lin Chia-lungExplaining the significance of the 'Guai Guai' snack gift.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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