Buzz
Many people feel a chill down their spine whenever they hear about the Ghost Month. Every year, during this month, people remind each other of the taboos to avoid encountering misfortune. So, which month exactly is the Ghost Month? What should one avoid during this month?
What Month is the Ghost Month?
The Ghost Month, often referred to as the 'month of wandering souls,' is a deeply revered spiritual belief among many Vietnamese people. Aside from the rituals and offerings, there are often tales of mysterious occurrences during this month.
According to Vietnamese folklore, the Ghost Month corresponds to the seventh month of the lunar calendar, extending from the 2nd to the end of the lunar seventh month.
On the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, believed to be the day with the highest spiritual energy, Vietnamese people typically set up altars to express gratitude and filial piety to their ancestors.
According to Vietnamese folklore, the Ghost Month corresponds to the seventh month of the lunar calendar each year.
In 2022, the Ghost Month begins on July 30th in the Gregorian calendar (which corresponds to the 2nd day of the 7th lunar month) and ends on August 26th in the Gregorian calendar (equivalent to the 29th day of the 7th lunar month).
From a young age, we've heard many things about the Ghost Month, but to truly understand its origins, not everyone is clear. So what is the origin of this month?
The Origin of the Ghost Month in the Year
According to folklore, the 2nd day of the 7th lunar month is the time when the gates of hell open and sins are forgiven for souls to return to the mortal realm. Hence, hungry ghosts and wandering spirits are released, causing many misfortunes for people in the earthly realm.
Afterward, on the night of the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, the demons will be called back to hell when the Quỷ Môn Quan gate closes. Therefore, people often hold Ghost Month offerings with porridge, rice, gold, and more to avoid being disturbed by hungry ghosts themselves and their families.
Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the Ghost Month offerings are considered a deeply spiritual tradition.
Vietnamese people believe that every person is born with two parts: the body and the soul.
If individuals live a virtuous life, doing many good deeds while alive, they will be separated from their bodies upon death and reincarnated as humans in a new life. Conversely, those who commit many evil deeds will become demons and descend to hell to atone.
Some may even wander aimlessly, suffer, or become hungry ghosts who receive no offerings. During this month, Vietnamese families often prepare offerings to appease the hungry ghosts, hoping for their liberation to a peaceful realm. It's also a time for them to indulge in food and drink, alleviating any sorrow and resentment.
This reflects a beautiful aspect of Vietnamese spiritual culture, showing compassion for the deceased. It's also a lesson for future generations to live virtuously, performing good deeds to avoid suffering after death.
The 2nd day of the 7th lunar month is when the gates of hell are opened, releasing the souls back to the mortal realm.
Things to Avoid During Ghost Month
Mentioning the ghost month of July is like mentioning ominous things. We often pass around tales of taboos during this month to ensure our well-being and that of our families. This spiritual belief runs deep in the subconscious of the Vietnamese people.
The taboos of the ghost month in July are essentially based on the ancient Vietnamese psychological concept of 'abstinence brings good fortune'. Therefore, you can consider these as reference points to make life more favorable.
Here is a compilation of taboos for this month:
According to folklore, nighttime is when ghosts are most active. They roam outside to tease and disturb the living. Therefore, it's advisable to limit outdoor activities at night to avoid encountering unfortunate events. This is especially important for those who are superstitious or have weak health.
Many people have the habit of washing clothes and hanging them at night to save time. However, little do they know that this attracts ghosts and can 'possess' these clothes. It's hard to say what misfortune you may encounter when wearing these outfits again.
Countless cases involve ghosts playing tricks because they remember your name. In fact, many people are 'possessed', leading to negative impacts on health and unstable mental states.
During this month, ghosts roam chaotically everywhere. Burning paper and gold randomly is like inviting their souls to linger around you more. They will disturb your life and bring you misfortunes.
On the full moon day of the 7th month, every household is busy preparing offerings to satisfy hungry ghosts. If you intentionally eat food meant for the deceased without permission or offerings beforehand, you will bring disaster upon yourself.
A small note is that homeowners should prepare vegetarian dishes, avoiding salty foods for offerings. It will awaken greed, lust, and jealousy, making the ghostly spirits more malevolent.
The month of the hungry ghost brings many negative energies that affect people's work and lives. Therefore, it's advisable to limit major activities such as weddings, house construction, signing contracts, etc.
However, if unavoidable circumstances require such actions, carefully choose auspicious dates and times for smoothness and luck. Additionally, if you plan to buy a new car this month, avoid inauspicious days like the death day,...
According to folklore, the banyan and bodhi trees are often considered hiding places for ghosts, so negative energies accumulate heavily. People should absolutely avoid lying or sitting near these trees to prevent being affected by negative energies. Carelessness could even lead to being teased by ghosts and followed home.
The sound coming from wind chimes will awaken and attract the attention of invading spirits into your home. Humans are often disturbed and restless during sleep.
The sound emitted from wind chimes will awaken and attract the attention of invading spirits into your home
Our ancestors believed that 'a strand of leg hair controls three demons,' the more leg hair one has, the more fearful demons are and dare not approach.
There have been numerous heartbreaking cases of children being led and pulled by ghosts while bathing in the river. Although there is no clear explanation, it's best not to go to these areas during the month of the hungry ghost.
Have you ever felt a chill down your spine when you always feel like someone is following you, yet when you turn around, there's no one there? You may have been tricked and haunted by ghosts.
Therefore, if you pass through deserted places during the hungry ghost month, you should walk straight ahead, without looking back. If you turn around, you may be beckoned to the underworld.
We often see this image when offering food to the deceased in the underworld. Therefore, if wandering spirits see it, they will be tempted to enter communal dining areas and leave behind negative energy.
Don't be greedy and pick up money on the street during the hungry ghost month. Because it may not have been dropped by anyone but rather intentionally placed by others.
People usually only scatter money when they wish to ward off bad luck and misfortune for themselves. Therefore, if you pick it up, it means you're inviting bad luck upon yourself.
This action can make ghosts think that there is a naked person lying on the bed. At this point, they will follow suit onto the bed and sleep with you.
Because this can easily make them feel unsettled, wandering spirits can easily possess at any time.
Because this month's negative energy is heavier than normal months. Cutting hair allows negative energy to invade, making oneself susceptible to misfortune and illness.
Because it will weaken health, unable to withstand the heavy negative energy surrounding.
Because trees with large lifespans are often home to ghosts, especially wandering ones. Chopping them down arbitrarily will agitate ghosts and cause harm to you.
According to folk belief, mirrors belong to the yin aspect, easily attracting other negative energies from ghostly souls. Additionally, you should also limit taking photos at night because you might unknowingly 'be photographed' with those ghosts.
Because our ancestors believed that corners are the darkest places, where ghosts love to reside. Absolutely avoid approaching those places at night to avoid disturbing resting ghosts.
Especially during the midday period from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. or from 6 p.m. until dawn to avoid inviting troubles upon oneself.
What foods should you avoid during the month of the wandering souls?
In addition to avoiding certain activities to ward off ghostly disturbances, our ancestors also carefully avoided some foods during the month of the wandering souls.
Limit consumption of white rice porridge.
White rice porridge is an indispensable dish in the offerings during the wandering souls month. Since the wandering souls and hungry spirits have a great fondness for this dish, if you consume it during this month, they may perceive it as a challenge and attempt to disrupt your peace incessantly.
White rice porridge is an indispensable dish in the offerings during the wandering souls month
Avoid eating dishes related to squid during the wandering souls month
Not only during the wandering souls month, but squid should also be avoided at the beginning of the month. It is believed that consuming squid weakens the positive energy and amplifies negative energy, leading to various negative influences. Since the wandering souls month is a time when ghosts roam actively day and night, eating squid may lead to health issues and encountering misfortunes in life.
Avoid using shrimp paste
Shrimp paste brings a delicious flavor to many dishes. However, it also carries a strong and lingering scent. Many believe that the aroma of shrimp paste brings impurity and unpleasantness, potentially offending spiritual beings. Therefore, this flavor is blacklisted before visiting temples or attending solemn ceremonies.
Avoid eating duck meat
Duck meat is a favorite dish for many, especially during month-end gatherings to dispel bad luck. However, it is a food to avoid during the wandering souls month for both northern and southern regions.
Many believe that eating duck meat in the seventh month leads to separation and dispersal, with each person going their separate ways. Instead, people often opt for dishes made from chicken meat, symbolizing harmony, peace, and better luck.
What to avoid buying during the ghost month?
During the seventh month, negative energies and wandering spirits disrupt decision-making processes. Therefore, it's advisable not to make significant purchases during this time, including:
Avoid buying land or property
Every lunar July, the gates of hell open, allowing demons to return to the mortal realm to settle scores. Therefore, it's best to avoid buying land during this period to prevent acquiring a piece of land with strong negative energy.
Engaging in land excavation or house construction during this time may lead to various unwanted outcomes. Building a home could result in restless disturbances, while selling could lead to significant financial losses. If considering land purchase during this period, it's advisable to postpone to a more suitable time.
Avoid buying houses for residence or business purposes
Hungry ghosts, thirsty spirits, or wandering souls often seek refuge in unoccupied houses listed for sale. With Yin energy prevailing over Yang energy, these houses inevitably exude a sense of gloom and desolation.
Therefore, it's absolutely advisable not to buy a house during this month to avoid homeowners being disturbed by demons. It could even disrupt your and your family's lives.
Avoid buying a car
As mentioned, during the Ghost Month, demons return to the mortal realm, and wandering spirits roam the streets. There have been numerous cases where drivers, seemingly blinded by demons, got into regrettable traffic accidents. If you must buy a car during this month, careful consideration and ceremonial offerings are essential to ward off demonic influences.
If you must buy a car during this month, careful consideration and ceremonial offerings are essential to ward off demonic influences
Limit gold purchases
Alongside avoiding house, land, and car purchases, refraining from buying gold is also noteworthy. Throughout history, we've often heard the saying 'find silver, go ahead; find gold, invite misfortune.'
Buying gold during the Ghost Month may lead demons to believe that your household is affluent and attract their attention. They will disturb you until you make offerings and ceremonies to appease them.
Avoid buying mirrors or glass
Mirrors inherently carry heavy negative energy, acting as a gateway to the underworld. Buying mirrors during the Ghost Month may attract demons, manifesting their images within. Furthermore, if a mirror breaks during transportation or installation, it's considered an ominous omen.
Things to Do During the Ghost Month
In addition to the taboos, here are some things homeowners should do during the Ghost Month to invite more luck. Keeping a peaceful and joyful mind can make life smoother and happier.
Feng Shui Tips for Bringing Luck in the Ghost Month
Nowadays, apart from preparing offerings for the Ghost Month, many people also utilize Feng Shui items to ward off negative energy, preventing demons from causing disturbances. These Feng Shui items not only serve aesthetic purposes but also protect and bring luck.
Placing Turtle and Qilin Statues
According to Feng Shui, the Turtle and Qilin are among the spiritual beings guarding the four directions. Placing a Turtle statue in front of the house acts as a shield, blocking the path of spirits and hindering negative energy from entering the house.
According to Feng Shui, the Turtle and Qilin are among the spiritual beings guarding the four directions
Additionally, homeowners can utilize the Qilin to guard their home. According to Feng Shui, the Qilin embodies success, longevity, and good fortune. Wherever the Qilin resides, there is peace, prosperity, and safety. Therefore, placing a Qilin statue in the home not only symbolizes protection but also helps attract wealth and positive energy into the household.
Feng Shui Crystal Balls:
Crystal balls made from quartz carry positive energy from the natural vitality of the earth and sky. Therefore, quartz crystal balls help the owner attract more positive energy and dispel negative energy. Especially during the Ghost Month, when negative energy and unfavorable energies are prevalent.
Furthermore, this is an item that helps you reduce stress, always maintaining a relaxed mindset to make sound decisions.
Install a Statue of Guan Gong
Guan Gong is a heroic and righteous general, widely renowned in China. He symbolizes strength, resilience, and determination against evil forces. Therefore, many families place a statue of Guan Gong in their homes, seeking protection and warding off negativity.
In addition, using white salt is also a clever Feng Shui tip that many people often employ. In Feng Shui, salt is considered a vital protective item, repelling negative energy.
Typically, people often place small jars of salt in corners or at wall intersections to dispel negative energy and accumulated toxins. You can also place a small dish of salt in the living room, bedroom, or carry it in your pocket. This item will bring you more luck and dissolve many misfortunes during the Ghost Month.
Above are detailed information about the Ghost Month, what to avoid during this month? However, you should only take it as reference rather than strictly apply it. According to Buddhist belief, as long as you live a virtuous life without creating negative karma, no ghost or demon can disturb or haunt you.
Posted by: Hang Thuy
Keywords: What month is the Ghost Month? What to avoid during this month
