Every year, during the seventh lunar month, Penang’s Chinese community observes the Hungry Ghost Festival (also called Ghost Month), when it’s believed that the gates of hell open and spirits roam the living world seeking offerings.
Penang is a place where the Hungry Ghost Festival is widely celebrated as there is a significant Chinese population living in the state.
Activities during the month would include preparing food offerings, burning incense and joss paper, a papier-mâché form of material items such as clothes, gold and other fine goods for the spirits.
To maintain harmony and avoid misfortune, here’s your guide to what not to do during this culturally significant period.
Going Out Late or Staying Out Past Midnight
Ghosts are believed to thrive in the dark and are at their strongest at night. During the seventh lunar month, they’re free to loiter in the living world and they’re said to prey on unsuspecting victims at night, especially children and pregnant women. So, stay away from late night activities and the best is to get back home before the sun sets.
Disturbing or Stepping on Offerings
Offerings for the spirits are usually made by the side walk or streets and on the floor. Never ever touch, step or kick those offerings. If you did it unintentionally, just offer an apology.
You might want to think about it this way – wouldn’t you be pissed if a stranger starts touching your food or stepping on it?
Sitting in the Front Row at Getai or Performances
Chinese opera performances and getai are part of the hungry ghost festivals. Stages are actually setup and performances are arranged to ‘entertain’ the ghosts, but of course humans can enjoy it as well.
But if you tend to notice, the front row seats are usually left vacant, and those are reserved for the unseen VIPs. So when you see that there are front-row empty seats available, don’t be too happy and take a seat. Leave it alone, or maybe not alone.
Stay away from water activities or swimming
Vengeful spirits are said to linger in the water, waiting to find substitute to take their place so that they can be reincarnated. If you cannot avoid it, then engage the water activity during the day.
Avoid Major Life Milestones (Weddings, Buying Property, Starting Businesses)
During the whole month of the hungry ghost festival, it is considered inauspicious to make big life events such as getting married, moving to a new house, or starting a new business.
Whistling or Singing at Night
It’s believed that ghosts and spirits are attracted to joyful sounds and may take your ‘song’ as an invitation to interact with you, or might even follow you home.
Poking Chopsticks Vertically in Food
This resembles incense offerings and may invite spirits to your meal accidentally.
