Ghost Month • 鬼月 (guǐ yuè) • 29 July - 26 August 2022
The seventh month of the Lunar Calendar in Taoism and Buddhist culture, which is considered to be a cautious month of the year. It is believed that the gates from the underworld are opened on the first day for the spirits to roam the earth where they seek food and entertainment. People pay respects for departed loved ones and acknowledge the presence of the wandering spirits with food offerings, prayers, and burning joss papers.For believers, major decisions from personal to business aspects are often delayed or avoided for this month and vigilance is maintained to prevent any unwanted encounters or circumstances. Or to simply put, staying clear from bad luck.
Ghost Festival • 中元節 (zhōng yuán jié) • 12 August 2022
The 15th day of Ghost Month, the festival, is the most important day. In the evening, people would feast and leave an empty chair around the table for the deceased in the family, treating them as if they are still living. Other South East Asian cultures even offer theater-style entertainment to the wandering ghosts as they believe that by pleasing spirits, they won’t be harassed. Here in the Philippines, visiting temples, praying, and food offerings is a simple gesture to acknowledge the dead and that they are not forgotten.
Read more about the Ghost Month with the following articles:
Learn 5 Chinese Words Related to Ghost Month & Taboos to Avoid
