Ghost Festival, commonly known as Halloween is celebrated every 15th day of the 7th Lunar month. Chinese people believed that during this day, the gates of hell are opened and that the dead return to visit their living relatives.
In Chinese tradition, there are three big sacrificial festivals are celebrated, new Year’s Eve, the Ching Ming Festival and the Chung Yeung Festival.
Since month of July had passed, let us talk about the legend of the Hungry Ghost Festival which is one of the very interesting topics that we can discuss. Local ghost festival have become one of China’s largest folk festival of sacrifice. In order to get good fortune and luck in their lives, Chinese feel that they need to satisfy the hungry ghost. Let us know the taboos in line with Ghost Festival.
1. Avoid taking photos
One of the things that you should avoid doing during hungry ghost festival is taking photos. It is believed that you might capture some other stuff that you wouldn’t wish to see. If you are familiar with the movie “Shutter”, the actor is always having a shoulder pain, it is only discovered through photographs, that a night chi weight was always on top of his shoulder.
2. Avoid calling someone else’s name
Another don’t during hungry ghost festival calling name specially at night. This is to not be recognized by the bad spirits wandering around you.
3. Don’t look back easily
This one is somewhat connected to #2 (name calling). If you heard your name being called by someone, DO NOT look back easily. It is believed that it a trick of evil spirit to possess you. I know you don’t want that to happen, neither I. So don’t you ever do this, okay?
4. Do not whistle specially after dark
If you don’t want to attract evil spirits during hungry ghost festival, avoid making whistles. It is believed that if you do so, evil spirit might follow you and will bring ill fortune in you. If yu don’t believe this one, come watch the movie “The Eye 10”. Scary!
5. Avoid hanging clothes
Another don’t is hanging clothes at night especially during ghost festival. Like other taboos during this day, this one can also attract the attention of evil spirits. They might wear your clothes to sneak in your house!
6. Avoid midnight birthday
If you were born during the night of hungry ghost festival, it is better to celebrate your special day at night and not during the night to avoid misfortunes and other bad lucks.
7. Avoid swimming
One of the taboos that must not be done during Ghost Month is swimming. It is considered to be highly dangerous if you insist to go swimming. It is believed that the evil spirits who have been drowned might try to drown the swimmer to have a chance to be reborn!
8. Avoid taking the last train trip on hungry ghost festival
Don’t take the last train trip during the night of hungry ghost festival. You might not know that the people you are with inside the train are not real!
9. Avoid eating offerings
Don’t you dare eat foods that are made as an offering or else you will get ill with stomach ache. And if you happen to pass by anyone else’s offerings, it is better if you leave some coins or bills.
10. Don’t sit in front row of Gezaixi shows
Beware of occupying the front row seats of Gezaixi or Taiwanese opera shows which are typically performed on the streets. Those seats are strictly reserved for ghosts!
Do these taboos made you cringe? So, now that you know these restrictions during Hungry Ghosts Festival it is better to just follow these or else you’ll have bad luck.
