Chinese hungry ghost festival is celebrated during the 7th month of the lunar calendar which is not a fixed date on the Gregorian calendar which we commonly use.
Legends state that the day is where ghosts are released from the gates of hell for a month to roam earth and offerings and stage shows (getai) are made by human to please them.
To prevent yourself from offending them, and protecting yourself, here are some tips which are devised from my experience.
1) Never step on offerings
If you see a small fire burning on its own with candles, do not put them out.
The burnt offering and food placed on the floor are meant for the "good brothers"
Put out the fire at your own risk.
2) When you hear voices calling you at night, turn your head and shoulders around instead of only the head.
Spiritual Fires are known to exist on forehead and our 2 shoulders (3 fires) By turning your whole shoulder around, you are using your 3 fires to confront the unknown.
3) Never Sit on the 1st row of empty seats at outdoor entertainment venue (Getai)
They are not meant for human, but for you-know-who. You may sit on it, and you could be officially sitting at the 1st row the next year...
4) Do not swim
Unless you want to be the replacement to be the next drowned ghost.
5) If a pretty girl, in red, yellow or white, approaches you in the middle of night and is smiling seductively at you (For Guys)
There is no reason for a woman to smile at you in the middle of the night, its either there is something cranky with her brains or... either way, RUN!
Hope that the 5 tips to protect yourself during Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival are able to keep you and I safe during this period. (=
Be respectful to everyone and their cultures and you be respected.
For a short history of the 7th month, refer to Chinese hungry ghost festival, 龙历七月
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