There is no "ghost month" in Thai people's concept.

In the minds of many people, the seventh lunar month is not a good month. It is also considered the “ghost month” and that is the time when the King of Hell opens the gates of hell to let the souls of the dead come to the living world. Many people have taboos such as not doing business or buying gold during this month because they believe it does not bring luck.

The ancient calendar to see auspicious days and months is still used by the Thai people in Nghe An. Photo: Huu Vi

The “ghost month” is still feared by many people, including young Thai people. However, according to some researchers of ethnic minority culture, there is a traditional calendar that has been circulated in the Thai community, the 7th lunar month coincides with the most beautiful time of the year, which is January. The Thai people in the Northwest call it “bươn chưng”.

According to cultural researchers, the traditional Thai calendar has only been popular in the community for many decades. The calendar is not only popular in Thailand and Vietnam but has also been used by many Thai communities in Laos and Myanmar for a long time. There is also information that this calendar initially only had 10 months each year. Perhaps that was the historical period when Chinese culture had not yet greatly influenced the Thai community. According to this ancient calendar, the new year begins during the sowing season.

Thai people in Yen Khe commune - Con Cuong often celebrate the full moon festival in the 6th lunar month. Photo: Ba Hau

Mr. Quan Vi Mien, a Thai who has spent over 40 years researching indigenous culture, said, “This calendar can be called an agricultural calendar and the new year begins in the fall.” According to some other local people who research Thai culture, the seventh lunar month is the beginning of the rainy season. That is when bamboo shoots grow and plants flourish. That may be the reason why the ancients chose it as the first month of the year. However, there are not many festivals taking place in the first month of the new year. There is a festival that the Thai people in the Northwestern provinces still maintain to this day, which is “Tet Xip Xi” (Tet 14th of the month).

“In Nghe An, the Thai people hardly have any festivals that are characteristic of the 7th lunar month.” - That is the assertion of Dr. Vi Van An of ethnology. This scientist from Con Cuong district (Nghe An) also said that there are some families in his hometown that celebrate the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. But most of them are of Kinh origin. Some others have lived near the Kinh people for many generations and have been influenced by the customs of the Kinh people. The “real” Thai people do not have the custom of celebrating the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. Mr. An also believes that the first month in the ancient calendar of the Thai people coincides with the 7th month in the solar calendar, not the 7th month of the lunar calendar as many other Thai culture researchers still affirm.

The Thai people are believed to have originated from the Kinh people in Chi Khe - Con Cuong worshiping on the full moon day of the seventh lunar month. Photo: Huu Vi

When asked about the seventh lunar month according to the Chinese concept that many young people still believe in, Mr. An said: "That is the month of the souls, those who died of hunger, those who died in battle, the month of "pardoning the dead". However, the Thai people do not have this concept." - Mr. An affirmed.

Back to the issue of the calendars used by the Thai people. Nowadays, basically, the Thai people in Nghe An also use the lunar and solar calendars like the people in the lowlands. There are two ancient calendars used in the villages called “Lai Nham”. These calendars are also used by the Mong and Kho Mu people to see good dates and times, serving the community. Not many Thai people in Nghe An know about the ancient calendar that starts the new year with the 7th month.