August | 2024 | Panda Samurai

Although the month of guǐ yuè (鬼月) or Ghost Month is considered to be a highly superstitious and supernatural period overall, there are certain points in the month that are considered especially important when it comes to being mindful of the spirits believed to be freely roaming the world of the living. The foremost of which takes place on the 15th day of the month, which according to the Chinese lunar calendar takes place today, August 18th, this year. It is on this day that spiritual activity is believed to be at its peak.

This day is so significant that it is often distinguished from the rest of the month by being referred to as the “Hungry Ghost Festival” (sometimes just “Ghost Festival”), although this name is occasionally used for the entire month’s festivities.

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According to Chinese folklore, there are certain times when one must be especially careful of the supernatural, and this year today, August 4th, marks the beginning of guǐ yuè (鬼月) or “Ghost Month,” which is the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar.

Starting tonight at 11 PM through until September 2nd, it is believed that the doors of the underworld are open, and apparitions of all kinds are free to roam the world of the living. Those ancestral spirits who have families will visit their loved ones in their homes, while those ghosts who have none will wander the streets, seeking some form of relief, often in the form of food or entertainment.

Aside from mainland China and Hong Kong, Ghost Month is observed by a number of Asian countries, including Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, with similar traditions seen in other countries like Thailand and Japan.

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