Hungry Ghost Festival

 

| The Hungry Ghost Festival |
         
 

The ‘Hungry Ghost festival’ or the Feast for the Wandering Souls (also known as Zhong Yuan Jie 中元节) is for the Chinese, just as Halloween is for Americans.

Hungry Ghost festival is a popular occasion celebrated by the Chinese, both seniors and the younger generations alike. This festival falls on the 7th month of the lunar New Year, and is celebrated mainly in China and other countries like Singapore , Hong Kong & Malaysia. It is believed by the Chinese that during this month, the gates of hell are opened to free the hungry ghosts from Hell who would then wander to seek food on Earth. Some even think that the ghosts would seek revenge on those who had wronged them in their lives. The reason why the Chinese celebrate this festival is to remember their dead family members and pay tribute to them. They also feel that offering food to the deceased appeases them and wards off bad luck.

 
         
 

Celebration
Another belief among the Chinese is that the dead return to visit their living relatives during the 7th month (around August) and thus they prepare a sumptuous meal for the ‘hungry ghosts’. The Chinese feel that they have to satisfy the ghosts in order to get good fortune and luck in their lives.

During the 7th month, the Chinese offer prayers to the deceased relatives and burn joss sticks. In Singapore , it is a common sight to see entertaining ‘wayang ‘ shows and concerts performed on outdoor stages in some neighborhoods. These events are always held at night. There is a belief that this entertainment would please those wandering ghosts . Often the front row of seats are reserved for the dead.

 
         
 

Superstitions
An interesting superstition that the Chinese have about the festival is that it is bad to go swimming during the 7th month. They think that an evil ghost might cause you to drown in the swimming pool. I remember my mother actually took a knife and punctured my inflatable boat when I insisted to bring it out to sea! In addition to this, children are also advised to return home early and not to wander around alone at night. This belief is due to the reason that the wandering ghosts might possess children.

 
 

Offerings to the Dead
The Chinese also do a lot of offerings to the deceased. These offerings are made by burning fake money notes, which are also known as ‘hell money’ and even paper television or radio sets. Some families also burn paper houses & cars to give to their dead relatives. The Chinese feel that these offerings reach the ghosts and help them live comfortably in their world.

The Chinese regard the 15th of the lunar month as an important date to give a feast to the ghosts. On this date, the family will cook a lot of dishes and offer them to the deceased. This is done to please the ghosts and also to gain good luck for the family. 15 days after the feast, the festival will be over, as the Chinese believe that the ghosts return back to where they come from.

 
   

 

  

 

The ‘Hungry Ghost festival’ or the Feast for the Wandering Souls (also known as Zhong Yuan Jie 中元节) is for the Chinese, just as Halloween is for Americans.

It is believed by the Chinese that during this month, the gates of hell are opened to free the hungry ghosts from Hell who would then wander to seek food on Earth.

Now read what API Founder Charles Goh says about this Hungry Ghost Festival, in an interview by a Reporter for the Alliance Française de Singapour monthly newsletter, Lien.

 
 

Article adapted from http://ncnc.essortment.com/hungryghostfes_rjkb.htm by Charles Goh 

 
 


Here are some links to some interesting read about the Hungry Ghost festivals.
 
  Ghosts Festival
Dragon-gate.com
The article relates the legend of Mu Lian and how the festival came about. It also discusses various customs observed during this festival such as putting up drawings of Zhong Kui , the ghost catcher, the offerings of food, incense and joss paper money and the lighting of lotus lanterns.
 
  Hungry Ghosts Festival
PageWise , Inc
Read about the legend behind the celebration of the Hungry Ghosts Festival.
 
  The Hungry Ghosts Festival
Federation of Chinese Canadians in Scarborough
This article relates the Buddhist legend of Mu Lian . It also describes the origin of the festival and the two popular figures associated with the festival, Qi Ye and Ba Ye. In addition, the article briefly discusses the custom of releasing paper boats and water lanterns in Hong Kong and Taiwan .
 
  Zhong Yuan Jie
Thinkquest
The site gives details on how Taoists in Singapore celebrate the Hungry Ghosts Festival which is also known as Zhong Yuan Jie 中元节.
 
  Festivals in HK: Hungry Ghosts
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)
The site contains information on the origin of the festival and how it is celebrated. It also compares the Hungry Ghosts Festival with Halloween celebrated in the West.
 
  Passing Through Death
Urban Dharma
The article discusses the origin of the Hungry Ghosts Festival, observances during the festival and the Chinese beliefs in ghosts and hell.
 
  Hungry Ghosts Festival
The Inn Crowd Travellers ‘ Hub
The photographs at this site capture the festivities and activities in Singapore during the   Hungry Ghosts Festival.
 
  Hong Kong Keeps Up with Ghostly Tradition
CNEWS
The article discusses the dying art of making paper gifts or paper offerings such as ‘hell money’, computers and television sets which are burned during the festival.
 
  Festival of the Hungry Ghosts
Episcopal School
The article gives background information on the festival and lists the activities that are avoided during this period.
 
 

Written by Charles Goh 

 
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