In 2018, the 7th lunar month starts from 11 August to 10 September with the Festival happening on 25 August.
Check out what are the 30 things you should not be doing during this time!
Experience the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore
You may have seen people burning paper in bins or lighted candles along the streets. Well, these are some of the things the Taoist and the Buddhist believers do during the Hungry Ghost Festival.
From August 3 to August 31 2016, it is the 7th month in the Lunar calendar. This month is known as the Hungry Ghost Festival (中元节) in Singapore. I would say it is probably most similar to the Japanese お盆.
I find it difficult to explain in my own words in Japanese, so I googled and found this:
農暦７月15日は、道教でいえば“中元节”、仏教でいえば“盂兰盆节”（yu lan pen jie）、民間の通称では“鬼节（gui jie）”と呼んで、いずれも故人や祖先を祭る節句です。
中国の言い伝えでは７月、地獄の大釜の口が開いて、あの世の鬼魂たちが現世に舞い戻って彷徨します。祭る子孫がある鬼魂は帰る処がありますが、子孫が途絶えてしまった鬼魂たちは往き場もなく街を徘徊します。この鬼魂たちが現世の人間に悪さをしないようにと、家々では祖先の鬼魂を祭るとともに、街を彷徨う無縁の鬼魂たちも同じように弔い済度を促す行事がそもそもの中元節です。
日本のいわゆる“お中元”は、親しい人お世話になった方への贈答の意味合いが濃くなっていますが、本来は中国の北魏（386年～ 534年）時代に始まった道教の“中元节”の名残り。祖先を祭る“お盆”の風習は、中国の南北朝（420年～589年）時代に盛んになった仏教の“盂兰盆节”の名残りです。
You can read more from suisui.ne.jp
I remember when I was young, the celebration was bigger. There would be staged Chinese opera and songs shows (歌台 getai) in almost every neighbourhood in Singapore. Nowadays, these shows are only in the old neighbourhoods where many elderly Singaporeans live such as Chinatown, Tiong Bahru, etc.
Still, check out the events you can experience below!
Experience the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore
And better still, take note of the superstitions (迷信) that some of us Singaporeans believe. We are mostly careful during this period. Don't say I haven't warn you!
11 Hungry Ghost Festival Superstitions
Feel free to discuss with me the differences between the Japanese obon and the Hungry Ghost Festival during our lessons or simply drop me an email!
