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Chinese Ghost Month

What's Ghost Month?

In Chinese folk legend, the seventh lunar month is the Ghost Month. It is said that every year on the first day of the seventh lunar month, the gate of hell will be wide open and the ghosts will come out until the gate is closed on the 30th day of the month. For the safety of both ghosts and human beings, China has the tradition of worshipping the dead in lunar July since ancient times. In folk China, people would offer sacrifices on the first, second, fifteenth and last day of the Ghost Month. There are many taboos in the Ghost Month. For example, do not wear the clothes with your name, do not pat other people on the shoulder, do not whistle, children and senior citizens should not go out at night.

→ Can You Move House During Ghost Month?
→ Can You Get Married During Ghost Month?
→ Taboos to Avoid during Hungry Ghost Month

Year Ghost Month Date of Ghost Festival
2024 August 4th - September 2nd August 18th
2025 August 23rd - September 21st September 6th
2026 August 13th - September 10st August 27th

Background

Most people in ancient China believed in ghosts and gods. Legend has it that anyone who dies normally could reincarnate while those who are guilty or die accidentally would become ghosts wandering in the mortal world. Some evil spirits even seize the opportunity to disturb the living souls, causing their death in disasters and accidents. As a result, people who die unexpectedly during this period are regarded "have been taken away by ghosts".
 
People believe that holding sacrifice ceremony for these spirits would help them to escape from hell at an early date and prevent them from disturbing the living beings. Therefore, Chinese people would hold sacrifice ceremony and burn money at the roadside in the month to worship the ghosts, which become the customs like "setting lanterns" and "worshipping good brothers".
 
Since the sacrifice ceremony has the meaning of praying for safety, Chinese people also invite theatrical troupes to play for gods and entertain guests at open-air banquets in addition to worshipping the "good brothers" with substantial offerings at the Ghost Festival, also Zhongyuan Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. Nowadays, China encourages frugality; the folk customs are improved and the sacrifice ceremony is simplified.
 
Ancient Chinese people believed natural and man-made disasters were frequent in the 7th lunar month, during which they had fears. Hence, the cultural custom of avoid anything in this month is formed. In modern society, many taboos fail to stand the test of time but some are still unexplainable with science.

Sacrificial Activities

Gate of Hell Opened
For private houses, the Gate of Hell is open on the first day of the Ghost Month, on which ghosts come out to the mortal world and the sacrifice ceremony, grand or simple, is required. The grand sacrifice ceremony means offering a good meal while the simple means preparing some fruits and desserts to show respect. As the saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch. This kind of sacrifice ceremony implies bringing me no trouble once eating my food.

Gate of Heaven Opened
For public places, the Gate of Hell is open on the second day of the Ghost Month. In ancient times, shops and government offices held the sacrifice ceremony one day after the private houses to pray for safety and no mysterious case in the month.

Zhongyuan Festival
Zhongyuan Festival, also Ghost Festival, falls on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. In the night (early morning and late night), ghosts get together and evil spirits reach the peak. On this very day, people would burn money and invoke ancestors and ghosts with sacrifice. Likewise, public places sacrifice on the next day, i.e. the 16th day of the 7th lunar month.

Gate of Hell Closed
On the last day of the 7th lunar month, the Gate of Hell is closed and ghosts go back to the hell from vacation. People offer sacrifice on this day to pray for safety in the rest of days.

Do's and Don'ts

In the Ghost Month, evil spirits reach the peak. According to the legend of scapegoat, children, senior citizens, weak or sensitive people should not go out at night, or they will be attacked by the evil spirits. Also, you should keep away from entering the water, especially sea. In short, you should stay away from risks and supernatural games, especially in the night of Ghost Festival.
→ Taboos to Avoid during Hungry Ghost Month

Some people often take items to avoid evil spirits with them, such as amulet, prayer beads, coarse salt, glutinous rice, cross and lodestone with particular energy. It is better to believe the function of these items as long as your normal life is not affected. For many people, they can feel at ease regardless of the effect.

Chinese Calendar

Previous Day
Next Day
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
30初二/2 31初三/3 1初四/4 2初五/5 3初六/6 4初七/7 5初八/8
6初九/9 7初十/10 8十壹/11 9十二/12 10十三/13 11十四/14 12十五/15
13十六/16 14十七/17 15十八/18 16十九/19 17二十/20 18廿壹/21 19廿二/22
20廿三/23 21廿四/24 22廿五/25 23廿六/26 24廿七/27 25廿八/28 26廿九/29
27三十/30 四月 (Apr) 28初壹/1 29初二/2 30初三/3 1初四/4 2初五/5 3初六/6

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Lastest Questions and Answers

Submit resignation letter (1 Reply ) Asked by Z***o

I am 51 years old going 52 this year, there is another company who is recruiting me to join them with nicer position and pay, but I am worried since currently it is ghost month, should I resign or let go of the offer? If resign when is the best day to submit?

Job Offer on a ghost month (1 Reply ) Asked by a***a

Hello, I was born on Sept 5, 1986. I received a job offer which will start on Sept. 3 however, I need to sign the contract before I start, so this cannot wait. I have been unemployed for 2 months now. Will I be fine if I sign it now and start on Sept 3? Thank you.

Resigning during ghost month (2 Replies ) Asked by L***

Hi, My birthday is March 3,1999 and I'm planning to resign because I have an offer from other company. That can give my salary expection. What date is safest for me to resign and to sign the offer? Im planning to start on October 1 for my new job.

Potential Job Offer (0 Reply ) Asked by p***8

Hi. I'm anticipating to receive a job offer in the coming days that may fall within the ghost month. If I don't have the luxury to express my decision on the offer after the ghost month, when can I give my decision during the ghost month? Is there anything I can do to lessen/eliminate the risk in making this decision during the ghost month? Thank you.

Resigning from a job during ghost month (0 Reply ) Asked by 3***O

Hi, my birthday is on September 29, 1993. I plan to resign from my job and I want to inform my boss already this month. However, Ghost Month is still ongoing and will end on September 2, 2024. My 6 month contract will end on November 12, 2024. Is it ok to inform my boss already?
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