Not only Vietnam, but other Asian countries such as China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia... also have many unique customs during the ghost month.
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| The 15th day of the 7th lunar month is the most important day of the ghost month in China. The Chinese believe that on this day, the gates of hell will open, and all ghosts will come to earth to earn a living and have fun under the full moon. On the full moon day and throughout the ghost month, like the Vietnamese, Chinese people prepare offerings, burn paper money, clothes, etc. for their ancestors and other wandering souls. Through these actions, the Chinese want to maintain the blessings of their ancestors, hope that their ancestors will bless their descendants, and at the same time appease many other souls. Photo: China Daily. |
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| Going to see outdoor plays is also a must-do activity in China during the Ghost Month. The plays praise the gods and are believed to bring joy to ghosts. Nowadays, they are performed in skyscrapers in big cities like Beijing. People can easily imagine ghosts wandering in ancient villages but rarely imagine this image in a brightly lit urban area. Photo: China Daily. |
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| On the last day of the ghost month, Chinese people will release lanterns into rivers to guide ghosts back to the underworld. During the ghost month, Chinese people avoid going out at night for fear of being followed by ghosts, avoid swimming for fear of being drowned by ghosts, and avoid singing or whistling if they do not want ghosts to respond to them. Photo: BBC. |
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| Obon is a Buddhist event in Japan that takes place over three days in August every year. It is believed that on this occasion, the souls of ancestors return to earth to visit their loved ones. On the first day, Japanese people visit the graves of their loved ones and decorate them with fruits, cakes and lanterns. On the second day, they prepare an altar at home. On the top of the altar, people place memorials to their ancestors and offer vegetarian dishes. Animals made of cucumbers or eggplants are placed on the altar, symbolizing the means of welcoming the souls.Photo: savvytokyo. |
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| On the last day, Japanese people wear summer kimono (yukata) and join the Obon dance (bon odori) in a circle. Photo: sohdaiko. |
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| The Obon bonfire ceremony is held when five fires are lit on five mountains surrounding Kyoto for about an hour. This sacred bonfire ceremony is intended to send the souls of the deceased back to the world after visiting the earth. In addition, Japanese people also witness fireworks during this festival. Photo:sushiknife. |
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| Ghost Festival in Singapore also falls in the seventh lunar month. Here, people also burn incense to pay respect to their ancestors and burn votive paper for the spirits. In addition, they avoid moving house or office because they believe this will anger the spirits residing there, avoid killing insects or wearing red clothes because they believe that ghosts will follow them. Photo: Singapore Tourism Board. |
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| Singaporeans go to see plays held on outdoor stages. The front row is left empty for the ghosts. Nowadays, outdoor performances also include singers. Photo: travel-and-photography.blogspot. |
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| Malaysia also has customs during the ghost month that are similar to those of the Chinese, such as releasing lanterns to send off the dead, offering offerings, burning paper money, etc. Malaysians often leave offerings on the side of the road because they believe that wandering ghosts can take those items on the way. Photo: theborneopost. |
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| Buddhists also visit temples in Malaysia to pray for the souls and burn effigies of the guardian deities of the spirits at the end of the month. Photo: Saeed Khan / AFP / Getty. |
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| A priest tosses coins for good luck during the Ghost Festival in Malaysia. Photo: Reuters. |
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| Thailand has a ghost festival, also known as Phi Ta Khon, which is held for 3 days in June every year in Dan Sai district, Loei province, to honor the return of Buddha - Prince Vessandorn after he left his village to start a long journey. According to local beliefs, because people celebrated this festival too much, they awakened ghosts. Festival participants often dress up as ghosts and wear masks. Many young people dance and perform fighting moves with ghosts incarnated through masks made from coconut trees. The colorful Phi Ta Khon festival has contributed to attracting a large number of tourists to come here every year. Photo: Bangkok post. |
According to Zing
