Watch out, it is Ghost Month!




Hong Kong

This is "Ghost Month", it occurs on the seventh month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

Hong Kong people practice ancestor worship. It is a form of animism, whereby those who practice it believe that their ancestors are inhabiting the after-world as spirits. It is not so much a religion per se, but rather a system of reverence of deceased family members.

Twice a year, Hong Kong's inhabitants come out on the streets and perform the offering ritual. According to their belief, fire has the ability to transport material goods to their deceased family members in the after-world. Therefore, paper replicas of just about every desirable possession are available from special shops for burning. The most common choice is paper money in "hell' currency, issued by "hell express bank" nonetheless. There are also paper houses, paper cars, paper yachts and all manner of goods that can be offered, even mobile phones and plasma TVs. A makeshift altar is built on the side walk, usually consisting of some candles, incense sticks and dishes with food and fruits. Then a large tin incinerator is used to burn the paper offerings in.

I remember one particular such occasion that made me feel sad: amongst other paper objects this family was burning paper toys and school books, presumably for a child they must have lost which departed earth and is living in the after-world.

But there is a difference between the offering ritual for deceased family members and what happens during "Ghost Month". In this case, they are not offering goods to ancestors. Rather, it is believed that during ghost month, the gates of hell are flung open and all the spirits inside are given freedom to roam on earth - a chinese version of halloween if you will (at least the original halloween before it was commercialized). So as to appease these spirits, Hong Kong people perform the ritual of "Feeding the Hungry Ghosts". These ghosts have gone to hell because it is believed that they left no descendants when they died and in order to keep them from bringing harm to one's family, it is best to feed and also entertain them. So it is not unusual to find along with the altar and burning, performers in Chinese opera costumes singing. Needless to say, this is considered an unlucky time of the year and not appropriate for weddings or major business decisions.

© evangelo costadimas 2005

Posted: Wednesday - August 17, 2005 at 02:40 AM          

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