Why is the seventh lunar month referred to as Ghost Month? How to seek blessings during Ghost Month

Ghost Month (the seventh lunar month) is a part of spiritual traditions in many East Asian countries like Vietnam, China, etc. Want to know what Ghost Month is, what taboos exist during Ghost Month, and how to seek blessings? Join Mytour to explore through the article below!

Why is the seventh lunar month known as Ghost Month?

Origin

In the belief of East Asians, especially in Vietnam and China, the month of the Ghost Festival is associated with the opening of the gates of the underworld by the King of Hell, allowing the souls of the deceased to return to visit their relatives and the living world. During this time, people often perform rituals to help these souls rest peacefully and ensure the well-being of their families.

In Vietnam, the Ghost Festival is observed from the 1st to the 30th of the 7th lunar month and is a traditional spiritual belief that has existed since ancient times.

Author Bui Xuan My wrote in the book 'Vietnamese Ancestor Worship': 'According to traditional beliefs, on the 15th day of the 7th month, the souls in the underworld are pardoned for a day, so families in the mortal realm prepare ancestral offerings, burn incense, and recite scriptures to pray for them.'

The Ghost Month holds significant spiritual meanings in the culture

In the book 'Customs and Ancestor Worship of the Vietnamese' published by the Culture and Information Publishing House, there is a passage: 'The Mid-Year Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month, also known as the Day of Pardoning Lost Souls. Many people offer rituals to wandering spirits outside their homes, on their doorsteps, along the streets, honoring the hungry ghosts, with simple offerings such as rice crackers, roasted rice cakes, corn, sweet potatoes, and boiled eggs.'

In each religion or even each region of Vietnam, there may be slightly different perspectives on the Ghost Month. While people in the North tend to focus on the Mid-Year Festival during the Ghost Month, those in the Central and Southern regions prioritize the Parents' Day, showing gratitude to their ancestors.

Regardless of the interpretation or emphasis on any belief, ultimately, whether it's the Ghost Month or Parents' Day, they are all beliefs aimed at noble meanings, remembering ancestors, honoring parents, and doing good deeds to help others.

Significance

With the belief that each person has two parts, the physical and the soul, it is believed that in the 7th lunar month, spirits from below will come to the mortal realm to receive offerings from relatives or wander around disturbing others if not properly honored.

This is an occasion to remember ancestors, so during the Ghost Month, families often prepare elaborate offerings to present to their ancestors as a gesture of reverence.

The 7th lunar month is also a time to remember ancestors

Moreover, families often prepare simple offerings consisting of watery porridge, white rice, rice, salt, roasted corn, cakes, candies, etc., to provide the wandering spirits with a satisfying meal, liberate them from suffering, as well as to avoid disturbance and maintain peace for the family.

Many people in Vietnam also make a vow to do good deeds on this day, helping those in need with the hope that those in difficult circumstances will feel shared warmth and compassion on this day.

Avoid buying houses or land, opening new businesses

Avoid buying or selling houses or land, initiating construction projects, or opening new stores during this month, as it is believed that spirits may disrupt one's achievements, affecting the finances and luck of those involved in buying or selling important assets.

From a scientific perspective, the 7th lunar month in Vietnam experiences heavy rainfall, with some regions facing storms and landslides, so buying houses or land, building houses, or opening new stores are not advisable.

Avoid organizing weddings

Traditionally, it is advised to avoid holding weddings during the Ghost Month, as wedding days are typically joyful occasions and spirits during this month may feel uncomfortable and seek to disrupt, leading to discord and conflicts for the couples.

Avoid cutting nails and hair

Avoid cutting nails and hair during the Ghost Month, especially on the 1st day of the month, as folk beliefs suggest it may cause loss of wealth, affect health, and luck.

However, from another perspective, this is a transitional period with high humidity, leading to the proliferation of various bacteria in the environment, making individuals prone to illnesses such as colds, flu, and minor ailments.

Avoid going out late at night

During the Ghost Month, people often avoid going out late at night because they believe there are many wandering spirits that may disturb or play tricks. Additionally, they refrain from calling out each other's names when walking outside at night for fear that wandering spirits may follow them upon knowing their names.

Many individuals also take precautions to avoid getting close to ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams to ensure their safety during the Ghost Month.

Avoid picking up dropped money

During the Ghost Festival rituals, many families tend to scatter loose change on the streets to offer to wandering spirits. It is believed that picking up dropped money during the Ghost Month may cause the spirits to follow one home or disturb them, bringing bad luck.

Many families engage in seeking blessings during the Ghost Month to ensure the safety and smoothness of their family, work, and travels. Below are some suggestions for ways to seek blessings during the Ghost Month that you can consider:

- Prepare offerings for the Ghost Month on any day of the 7th lunar month, preferably on the 2nd or 16th lunar day. Offerings for the Ghost Month can be simple items as mentioned above such as rice crackers, roasted rice cakes, corn, sweet potatoes, boiled eggs, rice, salt, etc.

Offerings for wandering spirits during the Ghost Month

- Prepare ancestral offerings for deceased relatives, including familiar dishes such as boiled chicken, sticky rice, white rice, wine, fruits, or dishes that the deceased loved during their lifetime. Visit graves or places where the ashes of loved ones are kept to express remembrance and seek blessings for peace, as the Ghost Month is also known as the Festival of the Departed.

- Visit temples to pay respects to the Buddha, make offerings, and perform acts of merit to pray for the peace and well-being of the family throughout the Ghost Month.

Visiting temples for blessings during the Ghost Month

- Observe vegetarian diet on the 1st day, the 15th day of the lunar month, or if possible, consider adopting a vegetarian diet throughout the 7th lunar month to avoid harming animals and promote auspiciousness.

Conclusion: The Ghost Month may be significant for many families, but it can also be like any other month for others. Folk beliefs aside, there's no need to worry excessively because as long as we keep doing good deeds and thinking positively, the Ghost Month will not affect our lives.

Hopefully, the information revolving around the Ghost Month topic will help readers gain more insights into folk beliefs and spiritual culture of the Vietnamese people.