Hungry Ghost Festival

Aug 29th, 2007

This month (7th month in the Chinese calendar) marks the Chinese Hungry Ghost month. In fact, the Hungry Ghost month started on the 13th August 2007 this year.

Just as Halloween is for Americans, the ‘Hungry Ghost festival’ is for the Chinese. And this is a very important festival taken seriously by the Chinese in many countries. Prayers, offerings, burning of ‘ghost’ money, joss stick, candles, etc.

In Chinese, it is called the YUE LAAN (HUNGRY GHOST) FESTIVAL. It is believed by the Chinese that during this month, the gates of hell are opened to free the hungry ghosts who then wander to seek food on Earth.

Throughout this month, you will see people lighting small fires by the road to burn offerings like paper money to make the ghosts more comfortable. There are offerings of food items like steamed chicken or roasted pork. Other food items like rice, orange or apple will be left on the street as offerings.

The reason why the Chinese celebrate this festival is to remember their deceased family members and pay tribute, and to appease them, as well as to ward off bad luck.

It is a common sight to see entertaining ‘concert’ and ‘performance’ on outdoor stages in some neighborhoods and the Chinese temples. These events are always held at night. There is a belief that this entertainment would please those wandering ghosts.

In this month, children are advised to return home early and not to wander around alone at night. This belief is due to the reason that the wandering ghosts might possess children.

The Chinese regard the 15th of the month as an important date to give a feast to the ghosts. On this date, the family will cook a lot of dishes and offer them to the deceased. This is done to please the ghosts and also to gain good luck for the family. 15 days after the feast, the festival will be over, as the Chinese believe that the ghosts return back to where they come from.