Ghost Month...

The seventh month in the Lunar Calendar is also known as the "Ghost Month", usually August, and is the most ill-fated time of the year.  This year, the first day of the ghost month is on August 20 and will last for 29 days till September 19.  For most Chinese, the ghost month represents an unlucky time to start any major life event.

Buddhists, Taoists and believers of Chinese folk religions believe that, during the "Ghost Month", the spirits of the dead wander the earth. 'Open Day' in hell is held, the gates to the underworld are opened and the spirits are allowed to cross over into the living world.   The Festival of the Hungry Ghosts is the climax, and is on the 15th night of the seventh lunar month.  Huge banquet tables are set out in temple courtyards and mountains of fish, vegetables, meat and other delicacies are offered as sacrifice; hanging lanterns are erected to guide the ghosts to the table; non-stop operas and puppet shows entertain during dinner and fake money is burnt so that guests (the ghosts!) have a bit of pocket-money to spend when they return to hell (I wonder what they'd buy?).

This hospitality is not entirely altruistic – it's insurance against paranormal acts of retribution. Other do's and dont's to be observed during ghost month include the following: weddings, special plans, business deals, buying a house, and outings should be put on hold till the end of the month; no whistling, whistling is not a good idea, whistling will lead the ghost straight to your home (but of course!); talking ill of the dead (even if it's true) will just bring tears and heartache; special care should be taken when walking along riverbanks where a water ghost can easily steal a living spirit; and adding to the numbers by burying the dead is, unfortunately, not a good idea. On the 30th day of the month, the gates of hell are closed again and the ghosts return to the other side.

In 2006, due to that year being a leap year, there was a double ghost month (don’t ask me to explain). Because of it’s doubling it was an especially ill-fated time of the year and people were exceptionally careful about what they did and did not do. 

And, just for interests sake, the double ghost month of 2006 was when Vin and I got married and bought our house. Big no-nos. But we’re edgy like that.

Happy ghost month! And no whistling until after September 10th.

(But, please, someone buy our house even though it may mean you will never again be happy and the ghosts will haunt you all the days of your life.)