Precautions during Hungry
Ghost Month
Hungry Ghost
Month is arguably the most frightening month for the Chinese as they believe that
as Hell Gate is open the lost
souls or ‘hungry’ spirits are allowed to return to the human world.
Phor Thor Kong (in Hokkien dialect) or Hungry Ghost
Month which falls on the 7th month of the Chinese lunar calendar is
used to pay homage to Tai Su Yeah (King of Hell) and the underworld. Millions
over the ages have encountered spooky and weird experiences during Hungry Ghost
Month not only with deceased ancestors but also with demons and spirits from
prematurely or justly death and seeking revenge. The precautiouns is to help
prevent such spooky occurrences during that month.
Paper Money
offering during Hungry Ghost Festival
1)
Don’t pee on trees as it
might offend the spirits which resides there (I don’t understand, why would anyone would one to pee
on top of a tree)
2) People should not wander late at night (no more clubbing – at least for that month!)
3) Avoid swimming (as people have dragged underwater)
4)
Do not carry an umbrella into
your house (which
might be carried by spirits)
I would like to stop at Precautions at no. 4 and
continue later, as I have a tale about carrying an umbrella to a home.
The Ong family lived in Kota Tinggi in a residential
house in the state of Johore. One day after raining heavily, Helen drove their
son, 7 year old Timmy, to their car. When they reached their house, Helen had
to carry Timmy and their grocery in their umbrella. Helen was busy drying Timmy
and she left her umbrella in the dining room. One of her neighbor (kepo ‘aunty’)
came to their house and she making a fuss about the umbrella in the house. She
claimed that one shouldn’t that it is forbidden to bring an umbrella home as it
may carry it with a ghost especially during Hungry Ghost month.
