The Ultimate Guide to Understanding “Giyt Co Hon”: A Fascinating Tradition That Captivates Youngsters This Season

July brings with it a unique tradition: the intriguing 'ghost festival'. This ancient custom, observed during the seventh month of the lunar calendar, is a fascinating aspect of cultural heritage. The festival holds a special allure for children, and understanding its origins and significance is key to appreciating this intriguing ritual.

0
77

The Hungry Ghost Festival is an annual event in Vietnamese culture, falling on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. During this time, families offer food, money, and incense to wandering spirits with no living relatives to support them. This practice has given rise to a unique tradition called “snatching ghost offerings.” But what is this tradition, and why did it start? Let’s explore these questions and more in this article.

1What is Snatching Ghost Offerings?

What is Snatching Ghost Offerings?

Snatching ghost offerings is a cultural practice unique to Saigon during the Hungry Ghost Festival. Families prepare offerings for wandering spirits, including a variety of fruits, cakes, meats, paper money, and incense. The act of snatching involves taking these offerings after the host family has finished their ritual.

Snatching ghost offerings occurs after the host family has completed their ritual.

2The Origin of Snatching Ghost Offerings

The origin of snatching ghost offerings

According to folk beliefs, the Hungry Ghost Festival is a time to offer aid and alms to hungry and wandering spirits. It is thought that if someone snatches the offerings, they will take away the host family’s bad luck and misfortunes. Thus, the tradition of snatching ghost offerings was born.

3The Significance of Snatching Ghost Offerings

The significance of snatching ghost offerings

In many places, the ritual of offering and snatching is a lively affair, attracting hundreds of participants. The ceremony is considered important during the Hungry Ghost Festival and is believed to bring good luck and fortune in business if performed correctly. However, it is crucial to conduct the ritual properly to avoid inviting vagrant spirits into one’s home.

During the somber atmosphere of the Hungry Ghost Festival, snatching ghost offerings brings a sense of excitement, especially for children, who enjoy the extra snacks. This act is also seen as a way to help the poor and needy, carrying the spirit of doing good deeds and accumulating merit.

We hope this article has provided you with insightful information about the tradition of snatching ghost offerings during the Hungry Ghost Festival.

You may also like

Lăng Ông Nam Hải Phú Quốc Festival: Origin and Significance

The Nam Hai Temple Festival is a long-standing festival in Phu Quoc. Let’s explore its origins, meanings, and notable activities.

Fruit plates: left or right on the altar?

According to folklore, the fruit plate on the altar should be placed in a suitable position to create balance, bringing peace and prosperity to the family.

Babies born during this time are often exceptionally intelligent, overcoming challenges to achieve success and growing up to be highly resourceful individuals.

If parents care about the birth time of their children, they can refer to some traditional folklore about birth hours.

Sales are declining, and money is being wasted: Check now to see if your worship photo violates these 3 things

If the indoor photos are plagued by the following feng shui errors, it is advisable to make adjustments immediately before it is too late.