Ghost Month

Colourful celebrations for the Zhongyuan Festival (中元普渡), or Ghost Festival in English, at Yucheng Park Fude Temple (玉成公園福德宮) on the way to my morning hike up 95-Peak. Plenty of action in the park itself, too, with large groups of people practicing calisthenics and the fan dance. A perfect Sunday morning in other words!

The Ghost Festival takes place on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month. It is believed that during this month, generally known as Ghost Month, the gates of the underworld are open to allow the spirits to move into the realm of the living.

Ghost Month is marked by a blend of reverence for ancestors and caution towards the wandering spirits. Families make offerings of food and incense to honor their ancestors and ensure their well-being in the afterlife, while temples host elaborate ceremonies and the streets come alive with the burning of joss paper.

The month is also associated with various taboos and prohibitions, with major life events like weddings, moving house, or starting a new business typically being avoided to prevent misfortune. People are also advised against swimming, whistling at night, or hanging clothes outside to dry after dark, as these actions are believed to attract unwanted spiritual attention.

The Ghost Festival has roots in Buddhist, Daoist, and other folk religions. It is widely observed in diverse forms in Southeast Asia as well as Taiwan.