Chinese Ghost Festival

The seventh lunar month while in the conventional Chinese calendar is named Ghost Month. On the first day of the month, the Gates of Hell are sprung open to allow ghosts and spirits accessibility to the whole world of the dwelling. The spirits spend the month visiting their families, feasting and and trying to find victims. The Festival of the Hungry ghosts is on the seventh moon in the Chinese lunar calendar, July 14. For one long lunar month during the Hungry Ghost Festival, ghosts are said to roam the earth. 

There are there are only three significant days during Ghost Month. On the very first day of the month, ancestors are honored with offerings of foods, incense, and ghost money – paper currency which will be burned hence it can be used by the spirits. These offerings are done at makeshift altars set up on footpaths outside the house.

Nearly as critical as honoring your ancestors, offerings to ghosts without families should be made, so that they won’t cause you any damage. Ghost month is definitely the most hazardous instance of the full year, and malevolent spirits are to the look out to catch souls. While the festival’s sources will not be unlike those of Halloween in Europe, it’s also intrinsically related to the Chinese pattern of ancestor worship. For those visitor, it’s a great chance to see some of the city’s living lifestyle in activity, with many folks tending road-side fires and burning faux cash along with other offerings for phantoms and ancestors to use in the afterlife. Food can be left out to sate the appetite of the hungry ghosts.

The Inauspicious Month

This makes ghost month a lousy time to do tasks such as evening strolls, traveling, moving house, or starting a brand new business. As there are numerous spirits in the water that may try to drown you, many individuals prevent swim during phantom month.

The 15th day of the month is Ghost Festival, sometimes called Hungry Ghost Festival. The Mandarin name of the festival is zhong yuan jie. This is your day if the spirits are in high-gear. It’s important to give them a sumptuous banquet, to please them and also to bring luck for the family. Taoists and Buddhists perform services on this day to ease the sufferings of the deceased.

The last date is while the Gates of Hell are closed up again. The chants of Taoist priests notify the spirits that it’s time and energy to return, and as they are confined once again towards the underworld, they let out an unearthly wail of lament.

According to the tradiotional custom, it has somethings people should not do on this day, if not, the ghost will follow you and play with you.

Should not do list.
People should not look back even someone calling your name.
People should not pee on the street, the pee would make the ghost angry (Don’t get yourself drunk on this day…).
People should not swim. (Many swimming accidents happens on this day )
People should not pick up the coins on the street, as the coins are given to the ghost for the fee of the road or safety.