Home Explore The Ghost Festival: A Month-Long Celebration or Just a Single Day? When...

Explore

The Ghost Festival: A Month-Long Celebration or Just a Single Day? When is the Best Time to Bid Farewell to the Hungry Ghosts?

11 September, 2024

The seventh month of the lunar calendar is known as the “month of wandering spirits” in Vietnamese folklore. According to tradition, the gates of the underworld open on the first day of the seventh lunar month, releasing many spirits back into the mortal realm. Some of these spirits have no living relatives to welcome them, so they wander as lost souls.

This belief also holds that the seventh month is heavy with negative spiritual energy, as ghosts and demons roam freely and cause trouble. As a result, traditional businesses tend to suffer during this period, and people avoid major undertakings, especially in the first half of the month.

When do the wandering spirits leave?

In Vietnamese folklore, wandering spirits and ghosts exist every month. However, the seventh month is unique as the King of Hell opens the gates of the underworld, leading to a higher number of wandering spirits. In other months, escaped ghosts and demons rarely roam the earth.

The number of wandering spirits decreases after the 15th day, as the gates of the underworld close.

According to folk belief, the gates of the underworld typically close on the 14th and 15th days of the lunar month. Some believe that the opening and closing dates vary annually and may start before the first day of the seventh month and end after the 15th.

Nevertheless, the number of wandering spirits significantly decreases after the 15th day. Consequently, many people choose to postpone important activities until after this date.

Thus, the entire seventh lunar month is considered the “month of wandering spirits,” marking the year’s heaviest negative spiritual energy. However, the second half of the month experiences a decrease compared to the first half.

Folklore suggests that the seventh month is inauspicious for business ventures, leading to the avoidance of grand openings, inaugurations, groundbreakings, and weddings. However, some believe that opening a business during this month can attract more customers, as many competitors choose to wait.

When should we make offerings to the wandering spirits?

The timing of offerings to the wandering spirits varies depending on local traditions and family preferences, typically falling between the first and 15th days of the seventh lunar month. Many families choose a day that coincides with a holiday for convenience in preparing the offerings.

However, traditional folk belief suggests that offerings should be made on the 14th or 15th day, as the spirits are believed to be returning to the underworld during this time. They will stop to partake in the offerings and then continue on their way, reducing the likelihood of lingering around the host family.

Offerings to wandering spirits are typically vegetarian

In reality, these offerings are often made outdoors, and after the ceremony, the host family scatters rice, salt, puffed rice, and porridge on the ground, refraining from bringing any offerings back into the house. The family members then bathe, change their clothes, and sometimes burn fires to purify the home, ensuring that no wandering spirits linger.

It is also worth noting that offerings are usually made at night, as the spirits are believed to avoid the daytime sun. Additionally, vegetarian offerings are preferred to reduce greed and conflict.

This information is based on folk beliefs and personal experiences.

Frequently asked questions

The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival observed in many East Asian countries. It is believed that during the seventh month of the lunar calendar, the gates of hell are opened and the spirits of the dead are set free to roam the earth. The festival is usually celebrated over a month, with the main day falling on the fifteenth day of the seventh month.

During the Ghost Festival, people perform rituals to honor their ancestors and appease the hungry ghosts. This includes offering food, money, and other gifts to the spirits, as well as burning incense and joss paper. It is also common for people to avoid outdoor activities after dark, as it is believed that the ghosts roam freely during this time.

Bidding farewell to the hungry ghosts is seen as a way to ensure that the spirits return to the underworld peacefully and do not cause harm to the living. It is believed that if the ghosts are not properly sent off, they may bring bad luck, illness, or even death to those who have neglected them.

There are several ways to bid farewell to the hungry ghosts, including performing rituals, burning incense and joss paper, releasing paper lanterns on water, and holding a grand feast on the last day of the festival.

Yes, during the Ghost Festival, people often offer foods such as fruit, rice, and vegetarian dishes to the spirits. It is believed that the ghosts are hungry after their long journey from the underworld, so offering them food is a way to show respect and ensure they do not cause trouble.