This Hungry Ghost Festival, my deceased ancestors are expected to return home for a 30-day visit. Empty seats for each of the deceased in the family are reserved during meals at my parents' house.
We have to prepare food offerings, burn incense and Hell money. Steps are taken to appease the spirits because if ignored, they would wreck havoc @.@
Rituals are performed in temples to transmute and absolve the sufferings of the deceased. My family was at several temples to pray for them.
For the whole month, we have to be home before dark to avoid any harmful spirits. No swimming is allowed lest the water ghosts would want us to be substitutes. *shiver*We are not allowed to eat the delicacies used as offerings, unless otherwise served. They are meant for the spirits. Mysterious illness would strike those who pinch such offerings.
At the getais (open air mini concerts), never sit in the front row. These seats are strictly reserved for the VIPs aka Hungry Ghosts.
Avoid stepping on burnt offerings. You could be possessed. It is believed that the area where the burning takes place becomes an "opening" to the netherworld and stepping on would be disastrous.
As spirits are believed to be dominant during this period, weddings and business launches are not held.Urban legends or superstitious beliefs, this month-long event is a time for us children to respect our elders and observe our Chinese traditions.
weekend-snapshot
71 comments:
Sometimes I could not fully appreciate the various taboos that people have to observe during the Hungry Ghost Festival.
Talking about practising traditions, I realise I am apathetic especially when it comes to Hungry Ghost Festival. Maybe it is because I do not quite appreciate its significance except the part on filial piety to one's ancestors.
Eastcoastlife,
I will be attending Getai show frequently.
I want to hear old sonds especially 1970,1980 old songs, this is the month that I will be enjoying more.
Hopefully, all friendly ghosts in Singapore.
wish you happy and healthy.
No kidding. Is that the story behind? In HK I was just taught that during the month of the 8th, the gate of hell will open and the ghosts are free to roam the earth.
How interesting ! I love to read about uses in other countries. Is this only in August ??
oceanskies,
Many people think it is all superstitions. There are believers and non-believers.
As a Chinese, I want to learn more about our customs and traditions and try to keep them alive.
I think some are just superstitious beliefs and tell my son so. I even offer my true opinion to others who ask my views.
Keep an open mind, let others decide if it's superstition or there is some sense in it.
Life is too boring if it's all black and white.... facts and figures.
I try to inject more colour to the lives of my son and younger generations... when they grow up it is up to them to continue this practice or pooh-pooh it.
Very important to my next generation, they must know their roots and our Chinese values.
coolingstar9,
I intend to watch some getais too. :)
I hope to meet some friendly ghosts too. Let me strike lottery. haha....
wilfrid,
There is more, I'm too lazy to elaborate. :p I did a little research... some very interesting insight into this festival. I'll tell you if you are interested.
Go home before night falls during this period.....
gattina,
Every year, the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival starts on the 7th month of the Lunar calendar. It lasts for an entire month (30 days).
If you come during this period to Singapore, you will see lots of festivities and celebrations. I'll post more about it in my next posts.
30 days? not 15 days ma?
is it true that more ppl die during this month compared to normal?
It's been interesting to me to learn about this on your blog.
As much as I love the photos you share I must say learning the culture is just as alluring.
Hope you'll pop by The Cafe for my weekend snapshot.
My rainbow angel,
One month holiday!! On the 15th is Ghost Day, to pray to our ancestors and all spirits...
One of the days in this month is said to be the most yin (darkest) and is great for black magic. I'm checking the calendar ah.....
oops angel,
I don't have the statistics. If it's true, more people die during this period, I'm not surprised. I just hope it's not me. hehe....
carver,
Even to me.... this festival is interesting.... the more I learn about it.
sassy mama bear,
It's more interesting than Halloween. There's lots more stories for me to post. :)
Wah, really so many laws to follow hor? =/
day-dreamer,
yep... and some more which I didn't list in case people think I'm really superstitious. :P
I'm back!!!!! How's your internet connection today ECL??
Eh.. when I was in Singapore.. this is normal to see during the 7th month.. and of course the last few days of the month, you'll have that "lelong" thing right?? Always have near my flat....
Now here, in KL, not so obvious lah. in fact hubby don't even know about it!! Only know the mooncake festival.. yumss!!
Hi ECL
Thanks for sharing your traditions with us. I have never heard of it. Thank you for your comment on my blog.
Take Care,
Janet :)
What an interesting post, I really find other cultures fascinating. People cannot control when a child is born so are any particular rituals during this time? Kim
Very informative post as usual,ECL! I've heard of this festival before. Thanks for sharing:)
Re: Mall. Yup, we live around the malls. Hehehe Headache for the husband for sure!
Good info for others to understand a part of our culture. :)
I did not know it was Hungry Ghost till my mom told me I could not "witness" the moving of some of my furniture the other day!
P.S You radar is very powerful, detecting my return. You confirm on TW but I already left lah! Maybe we got no 缘分 !
hello ...thanks for sharing...this is really a good practice to keep tradition alive...
Wow ECL,
This is great. I always wanted to know more about this tradition that I have first witnessed last year when we first came to Singapore.
It is good to keep traditions alive. I wish all cultures are like that.
The getais- who can attend them? Can foreigners attend this too or is it normally only for Chinese people?
No swimming for a month... I'll be munching on 西北风 liow *LOL*
How's Jaymes tummy?
I wish all the spirits, happy or otherwise, happy roaming.. enjoy your 30 days' visa as much as you can.
Ladyjava,
The tong tong chang started a few nights ago. Lucky the neighbourhood I live in doesn't have such noisy getais!
Not many people know the significance of this festival, especially the young. They find it too cheena. @.@
My internet connection has no problem. I can't see your sidebar and EC widget.
How very interesting. I think this is a wonderful set of customs.
Hi dolly's dairy,
Thanks for visiting! Glad I could share my Chinese tradition with you.
Customs must be followed.
Each country has their own customs regarding this matter. Glad could read yours today.
Hi Kim!
We Chinese do have some very interesting traditions and customs.
For a baby to be born in the lunar month of the Hungry Ghost Festival, it does not have any ill bearings.
From the fengshui perspective, the date of birth has overwhelming importance as it affects the inherent and future abilities of the unborn.
The moment the baby leaves the mother’s womb, the forces of the earth and the environment impact on the baby. The date and time would pre-determine the life path of a new born.
yen,
haha.... although it is convenient to live among malls.... it is also damaging to our pockets!
cc,
Not only for other races to understand our Chinese culture, some of our own Chinese need to know more too!
I'm overwhelmed by the respect you show your dear dead ones.
Thanks for sharing these traditions
tigerfish!!!
You come and gone like the wind ah!
Crudely put : 好像放屁一样， 无声无息， 来无影，去无踪！咯咯咯....
Taiwan also has Hungry ghost celebration, albeit smaller scale. Just be careful this month. :P
Hi gbex and ellen,
We need to keep our tradition alive... it's slowly dying. Sad.
pinay jade,
Glad you notice and want to know more.
Anyone can watch the getais (mini open air concerts), it's open to everyone.... every race and nationality! It's a unique culture in Singapore. Go experience the noisy, wild side of Singapore! It comes only once a year.
napaboaniya,
Oops.... I forgot about you leh. :P
Does your student cancel their lesson this month anot?
I'm bringing Jaymes to a specialist at Mt E later in the afternoon. Will let you know. Thanks for your kind concern.
big bright head,
yeah... they sure will enjoy! Good food, good entertainment, visit their loved ones and relatives....
Hope nobody antagonizes them.... or else bad luck. :D
sandy,
It is an interesting custom... full of thrills and excitement. haha....
indrani,
Glad you agree with me.
My opinion is : whether taboos or not, our ancestors had their wisdom. In every custom, there are lessons to be learnt.
Learn from the positive things and enjoy the fun of the celebrations.
toraA,
No matter if they are dead. We are here because of them. My ancestors were hardworking and wise.
They are good models for their descendants and they ought to be remembered for their deeds and throughout the generations.
I hope to preserve their good names and pass down their stories. Remembering them each year is a good way to teach our young to observe filial piety.
Wah thanks for sharing ECL. I did not know abt the water ghost! *shivers too* ;)
interesting one for WS! Mine's up too hope you can drop by. Have a great day ahead.
I was hoping to go swimming today! Completely about the pool part. Darn!
Ooh, isnt there a saying about not keeping fringes that covers your forehead this month? Something about a light being there... Cant rmb clearly, but my Mum keeps nagging abt that.
Hungry ghost month! Scary~~~~~ * turn on all the lights and hide under blanket*
My grandfather used to understand about this traditional...
My WS in here : Sand Sculptures Thanks
very interesting chinese traditional
Mine in here : Spiderwick Thanks
Thanks ECL, so interesting...I was swimming today and out tonight..yikes, I hope the spirits don't catch up with me.
Oh dear, it's time for me to go out and prepare for my one-month long part time job. What part-time job, you may ask? In the middle of the night, I go out to 7-Eleven to buy some canned coffee without tying up my hair. And on my way back home, I managed to scare some innocent people who happened to be on their way home from work, accidentally. Too bad I'm not paid for it, ut I do request being paid in Singapore dollar curency, not hell bank notes though.
But seriously, if you really need to go out in the middle of the night to buy canned coffee (I'm a serious caffeine addict, what can I say?), like I do, just say a prayer before you step out of the house, bring some sort of protection like an amulet that has been blessed and do not, under any circumstances, think that you will see anything spooky. If you don't think of anything spooky, I dare assure you nothing bad will happen if you are out of the house at night and alone.
ah no wonder August is called ghost month
I have never heard of this tradtion...I am wondering what Hell money is!!! Anyway it is an interesting way of keeping the dead with us. I recently lost my mother and would like to think of her enjoying delicacies and concerts. I would like to feel her presence at my dinner table once more, I do miss her so.
what is a Hell card? that sounds so fascinating. Im always interested in the culture of chinese people. its good to learn from your blog. =)
hihi...nice to know u ^^ Congratulation to you get in top 3 ...Wish you all the best ^^
i din know it is 30 days thingy, used to think it's only 15 days.
no statistic with me, but i do observe and heard that every year, there will be much lesser wedding, or move house, or start business in the 7th lunar month.. but more death.
i engaged in a relationship (which i thought would be a great one) during that period of time, and it dindnt last long. coincident??? hmmm...
oh no.... i'm always out alone , at night. *pray harder
Belinda
ECL - Hmmm ... you are sending chills down my spine. ha ha ha.
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mariuca,
hmmmm.... I should post the water ghosts story. I have quite a lot of ghost stories to tell. hehe.....
Don't swim this month.
lien,
Try not to swim this month lah...
Yes, I heard that it is not advisable to have a fringe covering your forehead. There is a light (like a talisman) on your forehead if you are human, covering it would leave it open for spirits to harm you. Pin your hair up.
Doreen,
You are safe in your country lah. hehe...
milly,
haha.... they probably follow you home.... :P
puniao,
You so cute lah! Go out to scare people liddat.
I wonder how people would react if I go out dressed like a spirit. hehe.... Maybe I should try one night....
hipncoolmomma,
Not every August, sometimes it's in July... depends on the Chinese lunar calendar. :)
dianeca,
*hugs*
I know the feeling. I still talked to the empty seat I left for my paternal grandmother. I missed her very much.
I try to make my ghostly ancestors comfortable during their visit this month, my son used to think I'm weird but he now thinks it's cool that his ancestors can visit after their death.
He's not frightened any more and feels glad that there is still life after death. :)
I have a post on Hell money and paper offerings coming up. :)
stev and emz,
I'll be posting an article on Hell money soon. :)
Hi 阿包,
Thanks for stopping by and the congratulatory message. :)
Nice to meet you too.
Belinda,
It's one whole month of Hungry Ghosts! The 15th day is said to be the BIG day. Things happen... but it depends on the person's birth date.
People tend to be more cautious and observant on the lunar 7th month. There is definitely less weddings and for the typical Chinese, no business launches. :D
If there's nothing important, don't stay out too late.Take care.
wilfrid,
不是吧！？ So easily scared? :)
You should have meals with me during this month. My staff and friends avoid me at mealtimes. haha....
no lah, ecl, I didn't mean to scare people one. but then, at 4:00 am in the morning, what with the slight wind blowing, it will definitely scare the guts out of anyone who crossed my path.
but maybe we can meet up some night and do some scaring of our own. confirm can make headlines in the newspapers liao.
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