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Hungry Ghost Festival

Hungry Ghost Festival (Ghost Month 2024)

The Hungry Ghost Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals in China. It is also named Zhongyuan Festival by Taoists, or Yulanpen Festival by Buddhists. The festival falls on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. Hungry Ghost Festival 2024 is on August 18. The Ghost Month 2024 is from August 4 to September 2.

The Chinese believe that during this period, the spirits of their ancestors roamed the living realm. To appease them, people prepare food offerings and burn joss papers to honor their ancestors.

Ghost Month 2024

The Ghost Month 2024 is from August 4 to  September 2.   It is the 7th lunar month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, usually falling in August. 

Ghost Month is believed the scariest time of the year.  During this period, the gates of hell open, allowing ghosts to roam freely and indulge themselves for a month. As such, people should be cautious to avoid any encounters with these spirits.

Ghost Month Start Day ( August 4, 2024): The gates of the underworld open, and all ghosts flee the afterlife. Ghosts who have a master will return to their homes, while the masterless spirits roam the mortal realm, meandering everywhere as they search for sustenance.

Ghost Month End Day (September 2, 2024) : The gates of Hell close once more, causing the spirits to return to their spiritual realm.

Ghost Day ( August 18, 2024): Known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, it's believed that ghosts are most active on this day. Chinese people burn incense and provide offerings to appease hungry ghosts, to prevent them from causing harm.  

Chinese people take care of the ghosts by paying respect to their ancestors and entertaining wandering spirits. Celebrations are held on the start and end dates of Ghost Month, with festivities reaching their peak on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month - the Ghost Hungry Festival Day). 

During Ghost Month, misfortunes such as poor health, property loss, and bad luck for families tend to increase. Consequently, people pay close attention and remain vigilant throughout the month.

It is wise to avoid making major decisions during this time. Initiating a new business or moving into a new house within the month is considered inauspicious.

Top 5 Hungry Ghost Festival Dos - How Do Chinese Celebrate the Festival?

1. Honoring ancestors for good blessings . People Put the family’s ancestral tablets and photographs on the home altar. They will tell what's been happening to their ancestors on their knees. They hope they can receive a blessing from their ancestors in this way.

2. Offering food to the ghosts :   Prepare food offerings three times a day, including three bowls of rice, three sets of chopsticks, and three cups of wine for the offering. Meats, fruits, and sweets are also common. Food offerings are placed on the altar for the ancestors first, and then taken outside for homeless ghosts.

3. Burning incense, Joss papers, and red candles:  Burn incense, Joss papers, red candles, and other items to please the ghosts. Paper effigies may include fancy cars, big houses, smartphones, and even gaming devices. These items are burned at home, outside the home, at bridges, or in fields. Chinese people believe ghosts will enjoy more prosperity with more paper effigies burned.

4. Holding live performances for wandering souls : The performances are free and always held at night for the entertainment of ghosts. The first and second rows of the seats are always left vacant, as they are specially reserved for the VIP unseen ghosts. 

5. Floating water lanterns:  People float water lanterns in rivers and lakes to dispel ill fortune and pray for blessings. The hungry ghosts will follow the lanterns back to their spiritual realm, carrying away bad luck at the same time.

12 Major Hungry Ghost Festival Don’ts

How can you avoid any potential encounters with ghosts during the festival? Here are 10 major don'ts to help you stay safe.

1 . Don’t stay out too late at night.  This is especially important for children, elders, and pregnant women. During the festival, ghosts are at their strongest at night due to the Yin (阴) energy. It is wise to return home before sunset.

2.  Don't do any water activities . Water ghosts will look for victims to reincarnate on the day and may try to drown people in the water. Stay away from water activities during Ghost Month.

3.  Don't touch food offerings : The offerings by the roadside or in fields are prepared for ghosts. Touching or stepping on the offerings could 'offend' the ghosts.

4.  Don't pick up money on the street : The money is meant to bribe the guards of hell. Taking the money may offend them

5.  Avoid wearing red or black clothing : These two colors are particularly enticing to ghosts and can attract unwanted attention.

6.  Don't hang clothes outside at night : Wandering ghosts may try on the clothes, and then be inadvertently brought inside along with the clothes.

7.  Avoid scheduling major life events like moving to a new house, weddings, business openings, and medical operations.

8. Don't kill butterflies, especially those that enter your home, as they're believed to be visiting spirits.

9.   Don't open an umbrella indoors : Wandering ghosts seek shelter on this day, and opening an umbrella indoors could be seen as an invitation for them.

10.  Don't stick your chopsticks vertically into your bowl , as gods or ghosts may mistake it for an offering. This is because, during regular rituals, chopsticks are often inserted into offerings.

11.  Don't hang wind chimes at home.  While many enjoy the pleasant sound of wind chimes, caution is necessary during the Ghost Festival (7th lunar month). As ghosts are known to wander and be drawn to the sound, this can lead to unwelcome spiritual encounters. It's recommended to remove any wind chimes from your home during this time.

12.  Don't take photos during the festival,  as cameras might accidentally capture unintended sightings.

Hungry Ghost Festival Legends

Chinese celebrated the festival since the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). The spirits and ghosts return to roam the earth during ghost month. Those who had relatives would return home to visit the living. Their family members offer prayers, food, and drinks for them. For the homeless ghosts, no one feeds them properly. Thus they will wander around and bring potential harm and misfortunes to the living.

Taoists and Buddhists perform special ceremonies and traditions to honor the spirits of ancestors  and to protect against ghosts’ attacks . People believe the dead ancestors can bless and protect them during the festival in this way.

Hungry Ghost Festival in Other Asian Counties

Singapore and malaysia.

The Ghost (Hungry Ghost) Festival 2024 in Singapore and Malaysia will take place on August 18th. The Ghost Month will last from August 4 to September 2, 2024.

Singaporeans and Malaysians please the ghosts with live performances. The activity will last the whole seventh month of the lunar calendar. The shows include Chinese operas, songs, dances, and so on. Show times are from 8:00 at night to midnight. Don’t sit in the seats in the first row; they are left empty for the ghosts.

In Japan, the Ghost Festival is also known as the Oben Festival. It is a traditional Buddhist custom to remember the ancestors. The festival lasts for three days, from the 13th to the 15th day of the 7th month.

Japanese observed the festival at different times in different regions depending on calendars. On the first day, people will hang lanterns in front of houses to guide the ghosts back home. On the last day, floating lanterns are put into rivers to guide the ghosts back to their world.

In Thailand, the ghost festival, known as the Por Tor (Hungry Ghost) Festival or Sart Chin, is celebrated in some parts of the country, particularly in Phuket. In 2024, the Por Tor Festival is expected to take place around August 18th. 

Related Traditional Chinese Festivals

  • Top 10 Traditional Festivals in China
  • Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day)
  • Double Ninth Festival (Chongyang Festival)

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Hungry Ghost Festival

Hungry Ghost Festival

Like people all over the world, the Chinese have special customs regarding dead people and their ghosts that are thousands of years old. The popular folk religion called Daoism includes days for dealing with errant ghosts in the land. When they visit in the seventh month of the lunar calendar, special precautions and ceremonies are necessary. The Hungry Ghost Festival is the most important festival of Hungry Ghost month.

Hungry Ghost Festival Facts

The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. This day falls in July or August in our Western calendar. In southern China, the Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated by some on the 14th day of the seventh lunar month. The people there are said to have begun celebrating the festival a day earlier during a time of long warfare to avoid being attacked by enemies during the inauspicious day.

The Hungry Ghost Festival is one of several traditional festivals in China to worship ancestors . Others include the Spring Festival , the Qingming Festival, and the Double Ninth Festival. In Jiangxi Province and Hunan Province, the Hungry Ghost Festival is considered to be more important than the Qingming Festiva l and the Double Ninth Festival . The Taoist name for the Hungry Ghost Festival is the Zhongyuan Festival (中元节), and Buddhists call it the Yulanpen Festival.

They perform special ceremonies to avoid the wrath of the ghosts such as putting the family's ancestral tablets on a table, burning incense, and preparing food three times that day. The main ceremony is usually held at dusk. People put the family's ancestral tablets and old paintings and photographs on a table and then burn incense near them. Plates of food are put out for the ghosts on the table, and the people may kowtow in front of the memorial tablets and report their behavior to their ancestors to receive a blessing or punishment. People also feast on this night, and they might leave a place open at the table for a lost ancestor.

They want to feed the hungry ghosts who have been wandering the land since the beginning of Hungry Ghost Month. It is thought that after two weeks of activity, they must be very hungry.

Hungry Ghost Month

The Hungry Ghost Festival is one of several important festival days of Ghost Month (鬼月) - the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar.

It is thought that the ghosts of Chinese ancestors are let out of hell on the first day of the month. It has been the scariest month of the year for thousands of years. They roam around looking for peculiar entertainment, and many fearful Chinese try to avoid swimming or being alone at night lest an enemy ghost comes after them.

The ghosts attack their enemies, and they might be angry or malicious in general. So the Chinese have certain traditions about what to do about the situation on the first day, the 14th or 15th for the Hungry Ghost Festival, and the last day of the special month.

The First Day of Hungry Ghost Month

One the first day of the month, people burn make-believe paper money outside their homes or businesses, along the sides of roads, or in fields. Sometimes, they go to temples for this task. On a trip to China during this time, you'll probably see people occupied with this activity or find the ghost money on the ground with ashes and remains. They want to give the ghosts the money they need during their special month.

People also light incense and may make sacrifices of food to worship the hungry unhappy ghosts. People trust that the ghosts won't do something terrible to them or curse them after eating their sacrifices and while holding their money. They put up red painted paper lanterns everywhere including business and residential areas.

There are street ceremonies, market ceremonies, and temple ceremonies. During street and market ceremonies, people gather at the streets and markets to celebrate the festival. At temple ceremonies, monks in temples organize festive activities. Many believe it is important to appease the ghosts to avoid spiritual attack.

The Last Day of Hungry Ghost Month

The last day of the seventh lunar month is marked with a special festival too. This is the day that the gates of hell are closed up again. People celebrate and observe this day in various ways. Many burn more paper money and clothing so that the ghosts can use these things in their hell society. The pictures and tablets of ancestors may be put away back on the shelves or hung back on the walls where they were before.

In order to drive the ghosts away, Taoist monks chant to make them leave. The ghosts are thought to hate the sound, and therefore scream and wail.

Many families float river lanterns on little boats in the evening. People make colorful lanterns out of wood and paper, and families write their ancestors' name on the lanterns. The ghosts are believed to follow the floating river lanterns away.

History of the Hungry Ghost Festival

The origin of the Hungry Ghost Festival and the Ghost Month (鬼月) in China is uncertain. Cultures in Asia from India to Cambodia to Japan share similar beliefs about the month, and these traditions seem to date from before Buddha. More ancient folk religions covered the entire area.

Some of the ancient folk religion is incorporated in Taoism, the indigenous religion of China. The gates of hell are opened on the first day of the seventh month, and hungry ghosts are released to find food or to take revenge on those who have behaved badly according to Taoist records. The Taoists chant together to free the ghosts.

Another story says King Yama (the king of hell) opens the gates of hell and allows a few wild ghosts to enjoy the sacrifices on the first day of the seventh lunar month. The gates are closed on the last day of that month, and the wild, hungry ghosts return to hell. Some Chinese think that the gates of heaven are also opened during this month, and they worship their ancestors from heaven too.

Comparison of the Hungry Ghost Festival to Western Halloween

The Hungry Ghost Festival comes at a time of year when the moon is full near the end of summer. In many ways, this festival is reminiscent of Halloween or the Night of the Dead in Western countries.

Cultures from Europe to China have traditional days of the dead or ghost days that are thousands of years old that were part of the tribal folk religions before the advent of Christianity in Europe and Buddhism in Asia. In Britain, Halloween originated from the traditional holiday of Celts in Great Britain who believed that the last day of October was "the day of the dead" or "the ghost day" when ghosts crossed over the boundary between the living and the dead. The Chinese belief is similar.

Chinese believe that on the days of Ghost Month and especially on the night of the full moon there is more of a bridge between the dead and the living , so they must take precautions or honor the dead. They perform ceremonies or traditions to protect themselves from attacks or pranks by the ghosts and to honor and worship their ancestors or famous people of the past. It is believed that the ghosts of dead people can help and protect them.

Would You Like to Visit China During This Festival Time?

China Festival Tour : We can arrange a tour for you during the time of the Hungry Ghost Festival or other festivals according to your specifications .

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Chinese Calendar Online

Ghost Festival Calendar

Zhongyuan Festival, also known as Ghost Festival or Yu Lan Pen Festival, falls on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month and it is dominated by the customs like worshipping ancestors, floating river lanterns, and burning paper ingots. Zhongyuan Festival evolved from the ancient harvest and autumn sacrificing on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, which was a day to celebrate harvest and reward the earth in the early autumn; the folk would offer sacrifices to ancestors with new rice and other crops, and report the harvest in autumn. As a traditional cultural festival in memory of ancestors, the Ghost Festival takes respecting ancestors and showing filial piety as the core.

Zhongyuan Jie - Hungry Ghost Festival

Zhongyuan Jie - Hungry Ghost Festival

What is Zhongyuan Festival?

Held annually on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, this day is known as the Ghost Festival (鬼节|鬼節 guǐ jiē) among the people, the Zhongyuan Festival (中元节|中元節 zhōng yuán jiē) in Taoism, and the Ullambana Festival (盂兰盆节|盂蘭盆節 yú lán pén jiē) in Buddhism, presenting an integration of monastic and secular traditions. In some localities, the Ghost Festival is observed on the fourteenth day of the seventh month, hence also being referred to as the 'Mid-July'. Based on existing literature, the term 'Zhongyuan' originated from the Taoist terminology during the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties era.

Zhong Yuan Jie

Taoism designates the nights with a full moon on the fifteenth day of the first, seventh, and tenth lunar months as the Shang Yuan, Zhong Yuan, and Xia Yuan festivals respectively.

The Shang Yuan Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, said to be the birthday of the Heavenly Official, when heavens are worshipped.

The Xia Yuan Festival, on the fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month, marks the birthday of the Water Official, denoting rites for water.

The Zhongyuan Festival on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month is believed to celebrate the birthday of the Earth Official. Legend has it that the Earth Official descends upon the mortal realm on this day to judge people's virtue and sin.

These festivals, known collectively as the '3 Yuan Festivals', signify the conveyance of blessings by the Heavenly Official during Shang Yuan, the dispelling of calamities by the Water Official during Xia Yuan, and the absolution of sins by the Earth Official during Zhong Yuan.

Common customs of the Zhongyuan Festival include burning joss paper and releasing river lanterns. These acts are meant to guide one's ancestors and celebrate the festival for spirits. Lanterns are also lit on the Shang Yuan Festival, but they are typically hung, since it celebrates the world of the living. Conversely, water is associated with the netherworld, so Zhongyuan Festival lanterns are naturally set afloat in the water. The tradition of releasing river lanterns traces back to primitive societies, when fire was perceived as the origin of all things, and releasing lanterns into the river was a form of worship.

Among the various versions of the Ghost Festival celebrated in China, the grandest is the Zhongyuan Festival on the Mid-July, seen as a fusion of popular folk, Taoist, and Buddhist traditions. Besides the Zhongyuan Festival, others are observed on the third day of the third lunar month, the first day of the tenth lunar month, and even during Qingming Festival, with some regions including the sixth day of the sixth lunar month. The reason Qingming Festival is rarely referred to as Ghost Festival is mainly because the memorial activities typically take place during the day, and only involve ancestors of one's household.

Ghost Festival Dates for 2024

2024 Ghost Month: 09/03 (Tue) - 10/02 (Wed)

2024 Ghost Festival: 09/17 (Tue)

Future Ghost Festival Dates for the Next 5 Years

2025 Ghost Month: 08/22 (Fri) - 09/19 (Fri)

2025 Ghost Festival: 09/06 (Sat)

2026 Ghost Month: 08/12 (Wed) - 09/09 (Wed)

2026 Ghost Festival: 08/26 (Wed)

2027 Ghost Month: 08/31 (Tue) - 09/29 (Tue)

2027 Ghost Festival: 09/14 (Tue)

2028 Ghost Month: 08/19 (Sat) - 09/16 (Sat)

2028 Ghost Festival: 09/02 (Sat)

2029 Ghost Month: 08/10 (Fri) - 09/07 (Fri)

2029 Ghost Festival: 08/24 (Fri)

When does the Ghost Gate open?

According to traditional beliefs, the Ghost Gate first opens on the first day of the 7th lunar month. On the night of the 14th day of the 7th lunar month (11:59pm), which is early morning of the 15th day (00:00am), the Ghost Gate is considered fully open. It then slowly closes, until the Ghost Gate is completely shut on the 30th day of the 7th lunar month.

So in summary:

- Ghost Gate starts to open: 1st day of 7th lunar month

- Ghost Gate is fully open: Night of 14th day / early 15th day

- Ghost Gate slowly closes: 15th day onwards

- Ghost Gate completely shut: 30th day of 7th lunar month

The 15th day of the 7th lunar month, when the Ghost Gate is open, is known as Ghost Festival or Zhongyuan Festival. During this time, ghosts and spirits are believed to be able to freely move between the spirit world and the human realm. The opening of the Ghost Gate enables ghosts to interact with the living.

8 Taboos to Avoid during the Hungry Ghost Festival

Don't come home too late.

After sunset, the yang energy is weaker and people feel more tired than in the morning. Combined with poorer visibility at night, those who are sensitive may get easily frightened.

Don't swim in unfamiliar bodies of water

Elders often advise not to swim, especially in unfamiliar bodies of water, during the Ghost Festival. It is believed that this period is when water ghosts take turns to come out, so swimming in unfamiliar waters increases the risk of accidents.

Don't stick chopsticks upright in rice bowls

By custom, only offerings are stuck with incense. Sticking chopsticks upright in rice bowls may cause them to be mistaken for offerings and attract greedy spirits, affecting health.

Don't pat shoulders or heads

According to folk beliefs, the living have three fires on their shoulders and crowns to protect against yin influences. Patting others' shoulders or heads may put out the fires and attract frights.

Don't step on spirit money

Spirit money on the ground is burnt as offerings to ghosts. Stepping on them offends the ghosts and brings misfortune.

It's believed such money is meant for Ox-Head and Horse-Face and those who pick it up invite misfortune. Don't steal offerings

These hold special meaning and stealing them shows disrespect to ancestors, risking misfortune.

Don't hang wind chimes or whistle

These attract ghosts and spirits, so avoid them to prevent frights.

What (and When) is the Hungry Ghost Festival in China?

Updated 06/9/2022

Published 02/20/2020

Sherrie Johnson, BA in Liberal Studies

Sherrie Johnson, BA in Liberal Studies

Contributing writer

Discover how ancestors are honored during the Hungry Ghost Festival in China, including its history, traditions, and superstitions.

Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure .

The Hungry Ghost Festival in China involves a month-long tradition of honoring the dead, called the Hungry Ghost Month. Though relatives and friends celebrate the deceased all month long, several days during the month have become more important than others.

Jump ahead to these sections:

What is the hungry ghost festival in china , what’s the history behind the hungry ghost festival , when does the hungry ghost festival take place each year , popular hungry ghost festival traditions, traditional food for the hungry ghost festival, how to celebrate the hungry ghost festival in china: etiquette and tips.

Whether you take a trip to China or visit the streets of a local China town during this month, you'll see the entire population (young and old) celebrate this phantom-oriented festival.

The Chinese believe that the gates of hell (and possibly heaven) open during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar. During this time, the spirits of the dead wander the earth looking for pleasure, entertainment, and revenge against their enemies. The Chinese believe that these ghosts will create mischief of their own if they can’t find any available entertainment.

It's different from the Qingming Festival, where celebrants honor the ghosts of deceased ancestors and remember family members . The Hungry Ghost Festival involves the spirits of people that didn’t receive a proper Chinese funeral or died due to murder or suicide. The festival occurs in the middle of the month. The goal is to ward off evil intentions from hungry spirits that have been wandering the earth. 

What does it celebrate?

Commemorating death in different cultures differs widely from country to country. In China, numerous festivals celebrate the spirits of honored ancestors and family members. The Hungry Ghost Festival looks after the deceased that no one remembers or cares for. 

On the first day of the month and throughout the month, families burn fake money so the spirits have money to spend while wandering the earth. By the middle of the month, the Chinese believe that the hungry ghosts have run out of money. On the 15th day of Ghost Month, the Hungry Ghost Festival occurs.

The festival entertains the spirits and provides them with food, money, and even supplies like clothing. Along with entertainment, the festival wards off the evil intentions of any disgruntled spirits by appeasing them with gifts.

Where is it celebrated?

You’ll find the Hungry Ghost Festival celebrated in several East Asian countries, including:

Thanks to the ease of international travel, you’ll also see this celebration pop up in China towns and in other areas with a high concentration of Buddhist and Taoist believers.

Who typically celebrates it?

Those who follow the Buddhist, Taoist, and Chinese folk religions typically celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival. 

Nobody knows the exact origins of the Hungry Ghost Festival and Hungry Ghost Month. Origin stories tend to vary among Buddhists and Taoists. 

One story from the early days of Buddhism may have significantly influenced the Hungry Ghost Festival: 

Long ago, a monk named Mu Lin found out that his mother, who had died, was condemned to the underworld where she could neither eat nor drink. Mu Lin couldn't bear to see his mother hungry or tortured, so he made her a bowl of rice. However, the grains of rice turned into flaming coals and she couldn’t take a bite. She was condemned to wander as a hungry ghost!

Horrified, Mu Lin appealed directly to Buddha. Buddha told Mu Lin that only the collective prayers of Buddhists could release his mother from her fate. The next day, on the 15th, Buddha and his disciples prayed for Mu Lin’s mother. She was released as a hungry, wandering ghost.

The Hungry Ghost Festival occurs on the 15th day of the 7th Chinese lunar month. That means the festival typically falls somewhere in August or September on the Western calendar.

Wondering when the Hungry Ghost Festival will take place? Learn the dates for the next several years:

2021: August 22 2022: August 12 2023: August 30 2024: August 18 2025: September 6 2026: August 27 2027: August 16

You can take advantage of a number of interesting festivities and traditions during the Hungry Ghost Festival. Choose a few or do them all when participating with family members or friends.

Burn fake money and incense

People believe that ghosts require money and other goods once they leave. Most people like to offer fake money made from jos paper.

I n China, you might see temporary structures set up to burn piles of jos paper for the community. You’ll also see people burning piles of “money” in front of houses, on sidewalks, in fields, and in other areas where people believe ghosts will pass. 

Burn other provisions

Burning paper replicas of clothing, electronics, and other items can also ease the hungry ghosts' journey. Shops often specialize in selling all types of paper goods during Hungry Ghost Month for this purpose.

Present food offerings

People often leave food offerings on a plate outside their doors or in areas with other offerings, such as pieces of fruit, rice, tea, and sweets.

Prepare a Hungry Ghost Festival feast

On the night of the Hungry Ghost Festival, people believe that the connection between the living and dead is the closest. On this night, you can prepare a huge feast for your family and the ghost ancestors of your family. Prepare a full spread of your family’s favorite dishes and leave a few seats for your family’s ghosts and the spirits of household gods to show up.

After your family feast, you offer the feast to passing spirits. You set up a makeshift altar on the curb in front of your home and arrange plates of food from your feast for spirits. You can also burn more money or paper goods that they can take with them as they pass by your home.

Attend a Chinese opera or theatrical event

Entertainment and community celebrations are common throughout China during the month and especially around the 15th. Plan to attend one of these events which often feature opera and theatric performances. Just make sure to leave the front row of seats open! The empty seats are for the guests you can’t see.

Make a floating lantern

In Chinese belief, a floating lantern is placed on a river. This guides spirits away from your home and back to the underworld. Place a floating lantern on any body of water and watch as it floats away.

Avoid hungry ghosts (at all costs)

The Hungry Ghost Festival and Hungry Ghost Month is chock full of superstitions and traditions to avoid angry and upset ghosts:

  • Don’t go out after dark unless making an offering (the night is for ghosts, not for people).
  • Don’t leave the door to your house open (ghosts might come in uninvited).
  • Don’t go swimming (a ghost might drown you).
  • Don’t ever disturb roadside offerings (ghosts will get angry at you if you do).
  • Don’t sing or whistle (ghosts might whistle back).

Follow these commonly recommended tips and you should make it through Hungry Ghost Month without encountering any otherworldly specters!

It’s only natural that the Hungry Ghost Festival would feature food! All throughout the month, the ghosts receive plenty of food from families for their ancestral ghosts and for those wandering ghosts they hope to appease. Take a look at the traditional foods you’ll most frequently see offered.

Plates of fruit

You'll often see fruit such as bananas, oranges, and other types of small fruit on makeshift altars throughout the month and during the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Bowls of rice

People assume that hungry ghosts would want the foods they enjoyed while living. They place bowls of rice on altars along with fruit and the items listed below to form a food offering.

Piles of sweets

Sweets, such as small desserts, candies, and confectionaries, often join the fruit and rice offerings. Candies and other sweet items join the daily offerings of food to please hungry spirits as they pass by.

Cups of tea

Tea is also a staple in many Asian cultures and is certainly a predominant drink in China. Ghosts are bound to be hungry and thirsty. Food takes care of their hunger and tea takes care of their thirst.

Favorite foods

Families will offer sumptuous items such as cuts of meat, noodle dishes, rice dishes, desserts, fruit, and tea on makeshift altars during the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Whether you’ve celebrated this tradition with your family for years or you’re an interested Westerner celebrating with friends, take a look at a quick list of dos and don’ts.

Do take cues from those you’re with. If you’ve never celebrated before, keep an open mind and follow your friends’ lead.

Do stay inside after dark. The spirits take over at night, so those who adhere to the traditions will stay inside.

Do participate as much as you can. Ask questions if you’re unsure of something and learn as you go.

Don’t sit in empty rows. Invisible attendees get front-row seats in theaters and events. 

Don’t mess with altars and offerings. Not only should you not disturb offerings left out for hungry spirits (you might get a curse placed on you!), but it’s not respectful or polite.

Don’t talk about ghosts. During Hungry Ghost Festival, ghosts become a little like the elephant in the room. Everyone accepts that they’re around, but no one speaks about them directly.

Honoring Ancestors and Ghosts Unknown

The Hungry Ghost Festival honors ancient ancestors and the spirits of people unknown and unloved. Use this special time to gather with family and celebrate what matters most — caring for others.

  • Radez, Wes. “Hungry Ghost Festival Traditions.” Hungry Ghost Festival Family Guide, Chinese American Family, 10 May 2020. chineseamericanfamily.com .  
  • Radez, Wes. “Hungry Ghost History and Folklore.” Hungry Ghost Festival Family Guide, Chinese American Family, 10 May 2020. chineseamericanfamily.com .
  • Sim, Cheryl. “Zhong Yuan Jie (Hungry Ghost Festival). Heritage and Culture, Singapore Infopedia, September 2020. eresources.nlb.gov.sg .

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8 Ways to Celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival in 2023

From ghost-feeding ceremonies to folding joss paper ingots, discover the vibrant traditions of this annual East Asian religious holiday.

hungry ghost festival celebrations

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What is the meaning behind the Hungry Ghost Festival?

How to celebrate ghost month, what to avoid during ghost month.

Known as Zhongyuan Festival in Taoism (also spelled Daoism) and Yulanpen Festival in Buddhism , the month-long celebration kicks off at the start of the seventh lunar month of the year in the Chinese calendar. During the annual event, it's believed that spirits are allowed to break free from the afterlife and roam the earthly realm. To pay tribute to the dearly departed, Buddhists and Taoists celebrate by orchestrating ghost-feeding ceremonies, folding joss paper ingots and partaking in other meaningful cultural customs designed to ease the suffering of the dead and prevent mischievous encounters with restless spirits. It's a time for people reflect on the transient nature of life, express gratitude to their ancestors, and reinforce familial bonds.

Whether you're looking for ways to celebrate with your own family or are simply hoping to deepen your understanding of this enchanting and reverent annual celebration, here's everything you need to know about the Hungry Ghost Festival.

When is the Hungry Ghost Festival in 2023?

According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the entire seventh month of the year is known as "Ghost Month." In 2023, according to the Gregorian calendar, that means Ghost Month will start around August 16 and end around September 14 .

The Hungry Ghost Festival, or "Ghost Day," is always celebrated on the 15th night of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. That means, in 2023, the date of Ghost Day is Wednesday, August 30 .

Ghost Month is an annual event celebrated primarily by Chinese communities in Asian countries including China, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, and Indonesia. It holds significant cultural and religious importance, and typically falls in July, August or September.

According to traditional beliefs, during this month, the gates of the afterlife are opened and the spirits of ancestors return to walk amongst the living. These wandering spirits are referred to as "hungry ghosts," since they're believed to be restless and in need of appeasement. The festival aims to honor and respect these spirits through various rituals, performances and offerings. "The Ghost Festival popular in Asian traditions is a unique way of answering our questions about death through reconnecting with the dead and their past," says Dr. Jiang Wu , an East Asian Studies professor at the University of Arizona.

One significant aspect of the festival is the practice of offering food and material possessions, like money, to the spirits. It is believed that these offerings provide comfort and sustenance to the hungry ghosts, ensuring their well-being and preventing them from causing mischief or misfortune. The festival also sees communities engage in vibrant cultural festivities and rituals dedicated to honoring one's lineage and preserving family traditions. "These rituals and ceremonies are often facilitated by Buddhist monks or Daoist priests to release the 'ghosts' of their ancestors from the suffering in hells and feed them with the symbolic food of compassion," Dr. Wu explains.

Hungry Ghost Festival celebrations and ceremonies vary from region to region. However, there are some common practices across communities. For example, on Ghost Day, "tablets of the diseased ancestors and relatives must be displayed, and rituals of venerations must be performed," according to Dr. Wu. Likewise, popular ritual operas, such as the Buddhist legend of Mulian releasing his mother from hell, are often staged.

As night falls, it's also customary to burn paper money commonly known as joss paper, along with other paper offerings for the deceased. "Paper lanterns will also be released in rivers and lakes during the night to guide the spirit of their ancestors to return to home," Dr. Wu explains. "However, the general atmosphere today is not spooky or horrifying. Rather, it has gradually evolved into a celebration of family continuity and community solidarity."

Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, founder of Miss Panda Chinese and author of First Mandarin Sounds , echoes this sentiment, adding, "In Chinese culture, Ghost Month is a cultural event — it's about paying respect to deceased family members and the deceased with no families. The festival centers around showing respect, instead of being solely perceived as a celebration, as some may think outside of the Chinese community."

Consider the following meaningful ways to pay homage to your family and ancestors during the Hungry Ghost Festival:

1. Fold joss paper ingots

hungry ghost festival celebrations joss paper ingots

In addition to burning paper money, it’s common practice to fold joss paper sheets into the shape of gold ingots, a.k.a. gold bars, which were used as currency in ancient China. It's a fun and easy craft for the whole family — just buy some joss paper sheets and check out a joss paper ingot folding tutorial online to get started.

2. Make floating lanterns

hungry ghost festival celebrations floating lanterns

It's a tradition to float paper lanterns down a river as a way to lead spirits home during the Hungry Ghost Festival. To make your own, you'll need string, coated paper plates, and tissue paper, as well as a paper lantern tutorial to show you how it's done.

3. Create butterfly puppets

hungry ghost festival celebrations paper butteflies

According to legend, insects like butterflies, moths, and grasshoppers are believed to be the spirits of ancestors returning for a visit. Pay tribute to these gentle creatures by having your kids create butterfly puppets using craft paper and Popsicle sticks.

4. Hang orange decorations.

hungry ghost festival celebrations hanging citrus craft

In Chinese culture, oranges symbolize good luck and wealth and they're often part of the offerings during the Hungry Ghost Festival. Spruce up your home for the holiday by hanging DIY citrus fruit decorations made from paper and yarn.

5. Cook up some sticky rice dumplings.

hungry ghost festival celebrations peng kway

Teochew png kueh , savory dumplings filled with stir-fried rice, peanuts, garlic, shallots, and more, are often associated with Hungry Ghost festivities. Traditionally dyed in an auspicious pink hue, these dumplings symbolize good fortune and can be presented as offerings to ancestors.

6. Attend community celebrations and performances.

hungry ghost festival celebrations community performances

Communities will typically stage operas and other types of performances throughout Ghost Month. Just make sure to leave the front row empty, as that row is typically reserved for spirits.

7. Enjoy a family dinner together.

hungry ghost festival celebrations enjoy a family dinner

Like many traditional Chinese holidays, the Hungry Ghost festivities may include a family dinner. However, unlike other holidays, the focus is less on the symbolism of the food and more about feeding ancestors. Simply enjoying a family meal is a great way to pay tribute (just make sure you set an extra place or two at the table for the departed).

8. Perform an appeasement ceremony.

hungry ghost festival celebrations appeasement ceremony

It's tradition to set up a makeshift altar outdoors in order to display offerings for passing ghosts. In addition to joss paper, joss sticks, and incense, offerings can include uncooked rice, peanuts, candies, raw noodles, fruit, and even bags of salt and sugar. Small cups of tea and rice wine are also appreciated.

While the holiday revolves around many customs designed to display filial piety, there are also activities and practices that are considered taboo, as a way to show respect to the spirits and avoid attracting negative energy. Traditionally, some of the most common Hungry Ghost Festival taboos include:

  • Swimming in rivers or going near bodies of water
  • Holding weddings or other large parties that involve loud music
  • Taking photographs or recording videos at night
  • Moving into or buying a new home
  • Disturbing or stepping on offerings
  • Hanging clothes outside at night
  • Watching scary movies

While some take these Ghost Month don'ts to heart, "the young generation in Chinese society no longer takes it seriously," according to Hsiung-Blodgett. Similarly, adherence may vary among different regions. If you are in doubt or wish to observe local customs, it's best to consult with local communities or seek guidance from those familiar with the traditions of the specific region.

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Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan , where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent . Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé. 

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How to Celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival

The religious observance is an important part of East Asian culture and showcases the values of the community.

river lanterns lit to celebrate the ghost festival in guilin

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When is the Hungry Ghost Festival?

How should i celebrate the hungry ghost festival.

Designed to symbolically and ritualistically appease, comfort and fulfill these spirits, there are many traditions, rituals and offerings that happen during what is known Hungry Ghost Festival — also known as the Hungry Ghosts Festival, Ghost Festival or Ghost Day.

“The Hungry Ghost Festival is considered a time of reunion and remembrance, strengthening the bond between the living and the deceased,” says Jenelle Kim , a doctor of Chinese Medicine and author of Myung Sung: The Korean Art of Living Meditation .

The festival is an annual event observed primarily by Chinese communities in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, mainland China and regions with diasporic Chinese populations throughout the globe. The origins of the festival are rooted in both the Chinese religion and philosophy known as Taoism (also spelled Daoism), and in Buddhism, which has its roots in India. In Chinese communities, the Hungry Ghost Festival is called Zhongyuan Festival by Taoists and Yulanpen Festival by Buddhists.

Kim says, “The Hungry Ghost Festival is a religious observance and an integral part of East Asian culture. It showcases the beliefs, traditions and values of the community, fostering a sense of unity and shared identity.”

While some associate the Hungry Ghost Festival with Halloween — some call the festival “Chinese Halloween” — the main goal of the festival is venerating the dead through spiritual, symbolic and cultural rituals. Similar traditions around the world that honor the deceased include Día de los Muertos in Mexico, Chūgen and Bon in Japan, Pchum Ben in Cambodia and Sat Thai in Thailand.

What is the Hungry Ghost Festival?

While the Hungry Ghost Festival and Ghost Month are all about honoring and respecting deceased souls by paying homage through various symbolic and spiritual practices, the nuanced meaning of the holiday differs based on whether you emphasize the Taoist or Buddhist origins.

paper lantern at chinese hungry ghosts festival

According to the National Library Board of Singapore , the Taoist tradition emphasizes the importance of appeasing and pacifying wandering souls who are released from the underworld during the Ghost Month, while the Buddhist religion underscores the importance of filial piety, which is a Confucianist virtue that values respecting one’s parents, elders and ancestors.

In Chinese Heritage in the Making: Experiences, Negotiations, and Contestations , scholar Selina Ching Chan writes that in the Chinese Buddhist tradition, the Hungry Ghost Festival is associated with the story of Mulian, which is the Chinese name for Buddha’s disciple Maudgalyâyâna. In this well-known Chinese Buddhist tale, Mulian saves his mother from punishment in hell through ritual chanting. The story has been re-enacted since the Tang and Song dynasties in China through annual local operas that are performed during Hungry Ghost Festival.

Chan writes that starting with the Song dynasty, Taoist traditions became integrated into the Hungry Ghost Festival. The Taoist tradition emphasizes the needs of hungry ghosts who have been released during Ghost Month. Opposed to peaceful spirits or one’s own family members, hungry ghosts are often those who experienced tragic or wrongful deaths.

For instance, Chan writes that the earliest performance of the Chaozhou Hungry Ghosts Festival in Hong Kong was organized by a group of migrant workers from Chaozhou. The migrants moved far from their families of origin, were unmarried, and worked dangerous jobs at the piers to make a living.

“In the [Hungry Ghost Festival] rituals, they commemorated these bachelor fellow-workers who died from industrial accidents or misfortune. It was believed that these people would become vicious ghosts if they were not properly worshiped after death,” she writes. “The Hungry Ghosts Festival was therefore meant to pacify those who died due to misfortune and to ensure that peace and order would prevail in the local community.”

“The festival is based on the belief that during the seventh month, the gates of hell are opened, and the spirits of the deceased, particularly restless and hungry spirits, are released to visit the living realm,” says Kim. “It is believed that these spirits have unfulfilled desires and seek comfort, offerings, and prayers from the living.”

The Hungry Ghost Festival takes place during a single day of Ghost Month, which is during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This year, the Ghost Month corresponds approximately to August 16 to September 14, 2023 in the Gregorian calendar.

The Hungry Ghost Festival is usually held on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, though some regions celebrate it on the 14th day of the month. This year’s Hungry Ghost Festival will be held on August 30 .

People celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival through various rituals designed to honor, acknowledge and satisfy the spirits of the dead. These practices include active objects and gestures that people can offer to spirits and also superstitions and practices to avoid during Ghost Month.

hungry ghost festival in medan

“The Hungry Ghost Festival involves various rituals aimed at appeasing the hungry ghosts and providing them with offerings. People make food offerings, burn incense and joss paper and set up temporary altars or stages for performances. These offerings are meant to provide nourishment and fulfill the needs of the wandering spirits,” says Kim.

Practices to do during the Hungry Ghost Festival:

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Some people prepare food up to three times a day to offer to the hungry ghosts. By burning incense and making food sacrifices to pacify the ghosts, it is believed that the spirits will remain peaceful and satisfied. Food offerings are an important part of the holiday because the ghosts are thought to be hungry after roaming the land of the living since the beginning of Ghost Month.

Honor ancestors

Families will often create temporary altars with photographs of their ancestors and ancestral tablets, burn incense, and host a hearty dinner with extra seats at the table to offer to souls who have passed.

Burn paper money

A common practice during Ghost Month is to burn paper money made with joss or incense paper outside a home or business, on the street, in a field, or at the temple. This burnt money is known as “ghost money,” and is a currency offering for hungry ghosts to use while they roam during Ghost Month. You can also fold the joss paper into the shape of gold ingots, a form of currency, to offer to the ghosts.

Attend performances

Street fairs and festivals are common during this time and you can often catch an opera performance of the Buddhist tale of Mulian, whose heroic rescue of his mother from hell is a paragon of filial piety.

Sail lantern boats

A common practice you may see during the Hungry Ghost Festival is the folding and floating of small boats lit with candles into a river. The body of water represents the “river of hell,” where the spirits of the dead rest. It is believed that the candles from the boats would illuminate the river, leading spirits to the light and releasing tortured or trapped souls from purgatory.

Along with things to do during the Hungry Ghost Festival and Ghost Month, you’ll want to make sure to avoid some activities that could warrant the unwanted attention of hungry ghosts. Kim says, “During the festival, certain taboos are observed to avoid attracting the attention of malevolent spirits…These customs are followed to protect oneself from unwanted spiritual encounters.”

Practices to avoid during the Hungry Ghost Festival:

Staying out late

Ghosts are known to have their strongest energy at night, so you should try to get home before dark. Children, the elderly, and pregnant people are known to be especially vulnerable during the evening.

Touching food or money offerings

You never want to take food or money that belongs to ghosts, lest you offend a spirit, so don’t touch any offerings prepared by others that you might see outside.

Hanging clothes outside

It is believed that if you hang clothes outside to dry, wandering ghosts may get caught in the loose garments and you’ll bring the spirits inside your home by accident.

One superstition is that ghosts will try to drown people in order to reincarnate themselves into living bodies. Swimming and water activities are generally avoided during Ghost Month.

Scheduling major life events

It is advised to avoid important events like weddings and surgeries, along with things like buying a new house or opening a business during the Hungry Ghost Festival and Ghost Month.

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  • Chinese Festivals
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2024 Chinese Ghost Festival, August 18, 2024

Chinese ghost month and festival.

The Ghost Month is the seventh lunar month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar . The 15th lunar day of the 7th lunar month is the Chinese Ghost Festival. The Chinese formal name of the Ghost Festival is Chung-Yuan 中元. The first lunar day of the 7th lunar month is on August 4, 2024. August 18, 2024, is the 15th lunar day, which is the Chinese Ghost Festival. The first lunar day of the 8th lunar month is on September 3, 2024. Therefore, Ghost Month is from August 4 to September 2 in the China time zone.

Many Chinese families have both Buddhism and Taoism as their religions. The dead souls before reincantation are called ghosts. Most of them are jailed in hell. The folklore says the ghosts have one-month parole and will roam the towns in the 7th lunar month every year. People have better feasting on them. People are afraid that ghosts play trick-or-treat games. That is why the Chinese call the 7th lunar month "Ghost Month".

Buddha's Story and Ghost Festival

To feast on the ghosts is from a Buddhist story. Moggallana 目犍連 was one of Buddha Shakyamuni 's best disciples. He had various supernormal powers with his divine eyes. One day, he saw his deceased mother had been born among hungry ghosts. He went down to hell and filled a bowl with food to provide for his mother. Before reaching his mother's mouth, the food turned into burning coals that couldn't be eaten. Moggallana cried sorrowfully and asked for help from Buddha. Buddha said the sins of his mother were deep and firmly rooted; they couldn't be forgiven just by only using divine power. It required the combined power of a thousand monks to get rid of her sins. The Buddha told Moggallana that, " the 15th day of the 7th lunar month is the Ullambana Day for the assembled monks of all directions. You should prepare an offering of clean basins full of hundreds of flavors and the five fruits, and other offerings of incense, oil, lamps, candles, etc. to the greatly virtuous assembled monks. Your present parents and the parents of seven generations will escape from suffering." Following Buddha's instructions, Moggallana's mother obtained liberation from suffering as a hungry ghost by receiving the power of merit and virtue from the awesome spiritual power of assembled monks on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. Today, similar rituals are held in the Buddhist temples on this day for the deliverance of all suffering spirits.

Chinese Ghost Festival Altar and Offerings

Chinese Ghost Festival Altar

People at home prepare lots of food to worship the gods and pray for the spirits of their ancestors, and then treat the homeless ghosts. Some cities will spend weeks building a multi-story sacrificial altar. The Taoists will fast, take a bath, wear formal dress and perform the religious ceremony to pray for good luck for spirits on Chung-Yuan Day. The lighting decoration of the altar at night is the entertainment for ghosts. Certainly, Chinese parents will bring children there for sightseeing and to learn about the traditional culture.

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By Master Allen Tsai on November 11, 2023

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Ghost Month and the Hungry Ghost Festival: Key dates and events

The Ghost Month occurs in the seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar, with the Hungry Ghost Festival happening in the middle of that period.

In the Chinese culture, the gates of hell and heaven are believed to be open during this month. The ghosts can then roam the living realm and the spirits of the deceased ancestors can return to visit the living.

Whether you're a believer or not, here are some key dates and events to note during this seventh lunar month (All dates are for 2023).

1. The night before the first day of the Ghost Month (15 August)

To mark the opening of the gates of hell and heaven, people will prepare food offerings and burn incense, candles, and joss paper, also known as paper money.

As both good and evil spirits are believed to start to enter the living realm, these offerings are to appease the roaming ghosts and pray for safety.

While the offerings differ from family to family, they generally include loose tea leaves, peanuts, candies, and fruits like oranges that symbolise good luck.

A few may prepare more traditional items like uncooked rice, raw noodles, and rice wine for the “hungry ghosts”.

To keep things simple, shops that sell incense have also come up with package deals that consist of joss paper and simple food offerings like loose tea leaves and candies.

2. Hungry Ghost Festival (30 August)

The Hungry Ghost Festival, a traditional Taoist and Buddhist festival, falls on the 15th day of the Ghost Month.

It marks the peak of the month, when it's believed all the spirits are now in the living realm.

Celebrations become more elaborate during this period, such as holding feasts and auctions at the HDB void decks or temples.

This is also the day when people would prepare a table of food for the visiting spirits of the ancestors. The food offerings include bowls of cooked rice and dishes that the ancestors enjoyed.

For a more sumptuous meal, some may add roast chicken and roast pork. Huat kueh , the Chinese steamed cake that symbolises prosperity, may also be offered.

While people generally burn incense and joss paper for their deceased ancestors on this day, some may also burn paper replicas.

These include watches, jewellery, luxury villas, sports cars, and clothes. The more modern-day paper items feature technology like laptops and mobile phones. The offerings are similar to those of the Qing Ming Festival.

3. Getai performances

One of the most significant activities during the Ghost Month is getai, which literally means "song stage".

It is a colourful live performance for not just people to enjoy, but also the spirits, who will "occupy" the first row of seats. Remember not to sit in the first row, even though it's "empty"!

Although the getai performances are usually meant for the Ghost Month, they also extend way past the month at times.

Previously, when pandemic restrictions due to COVID-19 were in place, getais even went online.

4. The last day of the Ghost Month (14 September)

The last day of the Ghost Month is when all the spirits are believed to return to where they came from.

To give them a proper send-off, people would prepare food offerings and burn incense and joss paper again.

Here's what you need to know about the Hungry Ghost Festival and the Ghost Month .

Do you have a story tip? Email: [email protected] .

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A Guide to Ghost Month in China

Important Holidays During Ghost Month and Fun Vocabulary Words

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The 7th lunar month in the traditional Chinese calendar is called Ghost Month . It is said that on the first day of the month, the Gates of Hell are sprung open to allow ghosts and spirits access to the world of the living. The spirits spend the month visiting their families, feasting, and looking for victims. There are three important days during Ghost Month, which this article will delve into.

Honoring the Dead

On the first day of the month, ancestors are honored with offerings of food, incense, and ghost money—paper money which is burned so the spirits can use it. These offerings are done at makeshift altars set up on sidewalks outside the house.

Almost as important as honoring your ancestors, offerings to ghosts without families must be made so that they will not cause you any harm. Ghost month is the most dangerous time of the year, and malevolent spirits are on the lookout to capture souls.

This makes ghost month a bad time to do activities such as evening strolls, traveling, moving house, or starting a new business. Many people avoid swimming during ghost month since there are many spirits in the water which can try to drown you.

Ghost Festival

The 15th day of the month is Ghost Festival , sometimes called Hungry Ghost Festival . The Mandarin Chinese name of this festival is 中元節 (traditional form), or 中元节 (simplified form), which is pronounced "zhōng yuán jié." This is the day when the spirits are in high gear. It’s important to give them a sumptuous feast, to please them and to bring luck to the family. Taoists and Buddhists perform ceremonies on this day to ease the sufferings of the deceased.

Closing Gates

The last day of the month is when the Gates of Hell close up again. The chants of Taoist priests inform the spirits that it’s time to return, and as they are confined once again to the underworld, they let out an unearthly wail of lament.

Vocabulary for Ghost Month

If you happen to be in China during Ghost Month, it could be fun to learn these vocabulary words! While terms like "ghost money" or "ghost month" are only applicable to Ghost Month, other words like "feast" or "offerings" can be used in casual conversation.

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Home » Hungry Ghost Festival in China – History, Tradition, Celebration, & More

Hungry Ghost Festival in China – History, Tradition, Celebration, & More

  • Last Updated On: February 12, 2023

The Hungry Ghost Festival (中元节) is a unique and significant event in Chinese culture, celebrated annually during the seventh month of the lunar calendar. Originating from ancient beliefs about the afterlife, this festival is a time for Chinese people to pay respect and offer food, drinks, and other offerings to the spirits of their ancestors.

In this article, we will explore the history, beliefs, and customs surrounding the Ghost Hungry Festival, providing a deeper understanding of this important cultural tradition.

History of Celebrating Hungry Ghost Festival in China

The Hungry Ghost Festival is a traditional Chinese festival with a long and rich history. The festival has its roots in ancient Chinese beliefs about the afterlife and the spirits of the dead. Here’s a look at the history (鬼月) of the Zhong Yuan Jie in China:

#Ancient Origins

The origins of the Zhong Yuan Jie can be traced back to the ancient Chinese belief that the spirits of the dead needed to be appeased in order to avoid causing trouble or harm to the living. The festival was originally celebrated in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and has since evolved into the event we know today.

# Ancestor Worship

One of the key aspects of the Hungry Ghost Festival is ancestor worship, which involves paying respect to one’s ancestors and offering them food, incense, and other offerings to placate their spirits. This practice has its roots in the belief that the spirits of the dead are hungry and in need of sustenance during their journey back to the world of the living.

# Cultural Significance

The Ghost Hungry Festival has become an important cultural event in China, with communities coming together to celebrate and pay their respects to their ancestors. The festival is seen as a time of both reverence and joy, with many families gathering to offer food and drinks to the spirits, light incense, and enjoy music and other forms of entertainment.

# Modern Celebrations

Today, the Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated by Chinese communities around the world, with elaborate ceremonies and offerings made to the spirits. Despite its association with death and the afterlife, the festival is a lively and colorful event that is embraced by people of all ages and backgrounds.

# Influence on Other Cultures

The Ghost Hungry Festival has also had a significant impact on other cultures, with many elements of the celebration being adopted by other Asian countries and communities, including Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore.

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The Month of the Ghosts

The seventh month of the lunar calendar is known as the “ghost month”, and is believed to be the time when the spirits of the dead return to the world of the living. During this month, it is believed that the spirits roam freely and can cause trouble if they are not properly cared for and pacified. To appease these spirits, families offer food and other offerings at ancestral altars, and may also participate in Chinese opera performances to entertain the ghosts.

Ghost Hungry Festival Facts

The Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as Zhong Yuan Jie or Yu Lan, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated by Chinese communities around the world. Here are some interesting facts about the festival:

  • The festival takes place on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. It is believed that during this time, the spirits of the dead return to the world of the living and are in need of food and offerings.
  • The origins of the festival can be traced back to ancient Chinese beliefs about the afterlife, where it was believed that the spirits of the dead needed to be placated and appeased in order to avoid causing trouble or harm to the living.
  • During the festival, offerings of food, drinks, incense, and joss paper are made to the spirits, and families often gather to pay their respects to their ancestors.
  • Entertainment is also a big part of the festival, with many communities putting on elaborate musical and theatrical performances to entertain the spirits and appease their hunger.
  • It is believed that by offering food, incense, and other items to the spirits, the living can receive blessings and good fortune in return.
  • The festival is often seen as a time of both reverence and superstition, with many people avoiding certain activities, such as swimming or traveling, for fear of angering the spirits.
  • Despite its association with the dead, the Hungry Ghost Festival is a joyful and lively event, filled with music, food, and celebration.

Beliefs and Practices

One of the central beliefs of the Ghost Hungry Festival is the importance of ancestral worship. During this time, families make offerings of food, drinks, and other items to the spirits of their ancestors, seeking to appease them and ensure their continued protection and blessings. Offerings may include burning incense, joss paper, and other symbolic items to communicate with the spirits.

Celebrations and Traditions

The Hungry Ghost Festival is a time of celebration and tradition, with many communities coming together to pay homage to their ancestors. One of the key elements of this festival is the performance of Chinese opera, which is believed to entertain and appease the spirits of the dead. Streets and homes may also be decorated with traditional symbols and offerings, and families may gather to make food offerings and pray to their ancestors. The act of feeding the ghosts is considered very important during the festival, as it is believed that spirits are hungry and thirsty during their journey back to the world of the living.

How to Celebrate Hungry Ghost Festival With Friends & Family?

The Hungry Ghost Festival is a traditional Chinese celebration that is celebrated by many people around the world. Whether you are part of the Chinese community or simply interested in experiencing this unique festival, there are many ways to celebrate the Ghost Hungry Festival with friends and family. Here’s how:

Offer Food and Drink: One of the key aspects of this Festival is offering food and drink to the spirits of the dead. This can be done by setting up a table with offerings such as fruit, rice, and other food items, along with drinks such as tea and wine.

Light Incense: Lighting incense is another important part of the festival. This can be done by burning incense sticks and offering them to the spirits, along with food and drinks.

Hold a Feast: Another way to celebrate this festival is to hold a feast in honor of the spirits. This can be done by preparing a meal for friends and family, or by gathering at a local restaurant to enjoy traditional Chinese dishes.

Watch Performances: Many communities hold performances and entertainment events as part of the Hungry Ghost Festival. This can include theatrical performances, music, and dance.

Make Offerings to the Spirits: In addition to food and incense, other offerings can be made to the spirits, such as joss paper, money, and other items. These offerings are believed to bring good luck and fortune to the living.

V isit Temples: Visiting temples and participating in ceremonies is another way to celebrate this festival. This can involve offering incense and food, as well as participating in religious rituals and activities.

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In conclusion, the Hungry Ghost Festival is a rich and important cultural tradition in China, steeped in history and filled with meaningful beliefs and practices. From ancestor worship to offerings of food and entertainment, this festival is a time to pay respect and honor the spirits of the dead. Whether you are a part of Chinese culture or simply interested in learning more about this fascinating event, the Ghost Hungry Festival is sure to leave a lasting impression.

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when does ghost festival start

The Hungry Dead and the Envoys of Hell: China’s Ghost Festival

The 15th day of the seventh lunar month in China marks Zhongyuan Festival, also known as Hungry Ghost Festival. According to ancient legend, on this day, the gates of hell swing wide open, granting passage to ghosts and spirits to traverse the human realm and partake in offerings. During this ancient festival, elaborate worship rituals are conducted by people to pay homage to their departed ancestors.

Zhongyuan Festival has its roots in Taoism, which categorizes elements into three types: heaven, earth, and water. These are referred to as the shangyuan (upper element), the zhongyuan (middle element), and the xiayuan (lower element), overseen by the Celestial Official, Earthly Official, and Water Official, respectively. The 15th day of the seventh lunar month also marks the birthday of the Earthly Official, which is the origin of Zhongyuan Festival. In Buddhism, this day is called Ullambana Festival, and its origins are entwined with the Buddhist tale of Maudgalyayana, or Mu Lian in Chinese, a disciple of Buddha who journeyed into hell to rescue his own mother.

Maudgalyayana, also known as Mahāmaudgalyāyana or by his birth name Kolita, stood out as a disciple of paramount significance in the lineage of Sakyamuni Buddha and was hailed as the “foremost in supernatural powers.” His mother, driven by greed during her lifetime, fell into the realm of hungry ghosts after death. Unable to bear his mother’s suffering, Maudgalyayana harnessed his supernatural abilities to summon sustenance for her. However, as the delectable fare neared her lips, it transmuted into scorching charcoal, perpetuating her hunger. Helpless, Maudgalyayana sought refuge in the Buddha’s wisdom. The Buddha instructed him that on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, he should prepare five types of edible fruits boasting a hundred flavors, place these offerings in a vessel, and offer them to monks from all corners. By harnessing the collective power of the monks, they could bestow salvation upon the wandering spirits and ultimately rescue his mother. Maudgalyayana followed the Buddha’s guidance and liberated his mother from her anguish.

Over time, this Buddhist event was passed down and came to be known as Ullambana Festival, also referred to as Yulanpen Festival in Chinese. Yulan is a transliteration from Sanskrit, meaning “relief from suffering,” while pen refers to the vessel used for offerings. Alternatively, it has been suggested that Yulanpen is the phonetic rendering of the complete term Ullambana. The commemoration gained substantial popularity in southern China during the Northern and Southern dynasties (420-589). Over time, it has evolved into a vibrant folk carnival, a day when people lavishly honor their ancestors at home. As night falls, the landscape is enlivened by theater performances, lion dances, river lanterns, and an array of other entertainments. This atmosphere is a testament to the seamless integration of Buddhist and Taoist influences.

Within this tapestry of amusements, a defining feature is the customary masquerade, when people dress up as various types of ghosts and monsters. In the Jiangnan region, located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, ghostly carnivals were a captivating tradition during the Qing dynasty. People concealed their original appearance, pretending to be ghosts and monsters as they meandered through the streets. Among all the grisly figures, two legendary “hell envoys” emerged, famously known as the Heibai Wuchang, or the Black and White Impermanences. The White Impermanence, or Baiwuchang, cloaked in white attire and baring a pale face, while the Black Impermanence, or Heiwuchang, donned a deathly black mask with long fangs and a spitting tongue. There was also the Big Head Ghost, with a head bigger than that of a cow juxtaposed with a childlike body, wobbling with each step. Additionally, countless nameless ghosts passed downtown in groups, their chirping echoing all the time. The ghosts in people’s minds were imitated in the real world.

So, what exactly do the ghosts haunting Zhongyuan Festival look like? In religious paintings from the Qing dynasty depicting the Liberation Rite of Water and Land, a Buddhist ritual performed by monks, most of the ghosts are portrayed as humanoid figures with withered faces. One painting in particular — the “Unprovoked Dead Ghosts” — depicts a group of ghosts who die unnatural deaths by falling off horses and being stuck underneath toppling carts and collapsing houses. In addition, the ghost images in zhima , or folk paper charms, are unclothed little people with two flesh-toned horns protruding from their heads and a rather lewd appearance.

Influenced by folk traditions, professional painters also delved into the portrayal of ghosts. Gong Kai (1222-1307), a painter during the last years of the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279), drew “Zhongshan Going on an Excursion,” a painting illustrating Zhong Kui, a Taoist deity exclusively devoted to fighting ghosts and exorcising evil spirits, traveling with a group of small ghosts, including a black one. Luo Ping, an artist from the Qing dynasty (1636-1912), was also adept at capturing ghostly imagery. Legend has it that his eyes held a unique quality that allowed him to see ghosts even in the daytime. His collection of paintings, “Ghosts Amusement,” has endured through various versions over time. One iteration shows a dozen or so ghosts with disheveled hair running around in the rain, while another portrays the Black and White Impermanences detaining two ghosts.

Another image, which is of a ghostly figure painted using light ink, obscures the ghost’s facial features. This conception stems from the viewpoint in the Book of Rites which posits that upon death, a person’s soul can separate from the body and manifest as a ghostly shadow in the form of chi , the vital energy that runs through all living beings. Modern painter Pu Ru stands as one of the champions of this style. His artworks are replete with striking spectral shadows on paper.

Humans have long speculated about life after death. Chinese antiquity, in its ceaseless quest for answers, has explored this query extensively — spanning from the ancient rituals of Zhongyuan Festival to the unrelenting creation of images of ghosts.

Translator: Zhang Yuzhao; editors: Elise Mak and Ding Yining.

In-text images: All images are from the public domain, collected and provided by Sheng Wenqiang.

(Header image: Ghostlike warriors from Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) painter Yan Hui. Courtesy of Sheng Wenqiang)

when does ghost festival start

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Chinese Ghost Month

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In the Ghost Month, evil spirits reach the peak. According to the legend of scapegoat, children, senior citizens, weak or sensitive people should not go out at night, or they will be attacked by the evil spirits. Also, you should keep away from entering the water, especially sea. In short, you should stay away from risks and supernatural games, especially in the night of Ghost Festival. → Taboos to Avoid during Hungry Ghost Month Some people often take items to avoid evil spirits with them, such as amulet, prayer beads, coarse salt, glutinous rice, cross and lodestone with particular energy. It is better to believe the function of these items as long as your normal life is not affected. For many people, they can feel at ease regardless of the effect.

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Hungry Ghost Festival 2022

Discover the rich traditions of Singapore’s Chinese population during The Hungry Ghost Festival, which honours the memories of the deceased.

Banner of different Buddhist and Taoist gods.

The Hungry Ghost Festival is rooted in Buddhist and Taoist culture and happens during the seventh month of the Lunar calendar—take note of the dos and don’ts of the season.

A man conducts traditional Hungry Ghost Festival prayers.

A man conducts traditional Hungry Ghost Festival prayers—a common sight on the streets of Chinatown.

Just as the Americans have Halloween, the Chinese have the Hungry Ghost Festival (also known as Zhong Yuan Jie  in Chinese), a festival held in honour of the dearly departed.

According to traditional customs, the souls of the dead are believed to roam the earth during the festival, and these ghosts can get up to mischief if ignored. To prevent this, all sorts of offerings are made during this period, which is the seventh month in the lunar calendar.

Making offerings

Notice those dark-coloured metal bins scattered around residential areas and housing estates?

They are specifically provided to contain the stacks of hell money and paper offerings, such as cars, watches and jewellery, that are burned by relatives to appease their deceased family members—taking care of their material needs even in the afterlife.

Do watch your step in case you trample on food left out in the open. Although many place their food offerings (oranges, rice or even suckling pig) and joss sticks on proper altars, others tuck them at the side of footpaths or trees.

Boisterous shows

And as if satisfying the ghosts’ appetites for money and food wasn’t enough, taking care of their entertainment is also important.

A mainstay of the festival is the ' getai ' performance, thrown as a popular mode of entertainment for the wandering spirits.

Large tents are set up in open fields to host raucous dinners and auctions in heartland estates like Ang Mo Kio and Yishun. There are performances too, such as Chinese operas and ' getai ' (literally ‘song stage’ in Chinese, or live stage performances), which feature tales of gods and goddesses, bawdy stand-up comedy, as well as song and dance numbers.

'Getai' today is a very different animal—jazzed up with snazzy LED panel lit stages. Young perfomers sing both traditional songs in dialect and thumping techno versions of English and Mandarin pop ditties. It appears that even the tastes of the spiritual world are moving with the times.

Everyone is welcome—so sit back and enjoy the show. Just remember not to sit in the front row, unless you want to rub shoulders with the ‘special guests’.

Where to Go

Overview of the Chinatown precinct in the evening

Asia Paranormal Investigators

Founded in 2005, the Asia Paranormal Investigators (API) is a paranormal research society based in Singapore that strives to analyze any strange occurrences happening in Singapore and around the region.

Interior of Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple

Hungry Ghost Festival History and Folklore

This article is part of our Hungry Ghost Festival Family Guide . Sign up for our newsletter to receive our best activity, recipe and craft ideas before every Chinese holiday.

The Hungry Ghost Festival is a time when restless ghosts rise, when makeshift roadside altars glow with burning joss paper and when the living do everything they can to appease the wandering spirits. It’s one of the two big annual festivals designated specifically for the dead — the other is the Qingming Festival in the spring.

The Story of Ghost Month

Ghost Month lasts the duration of the 7th month on the lunar calendar. The Chinese believe that the gates to the underworld are opened on the 1st day of the month, releasing the captive ghosts to roam the earth among the living until the gates are closed again on the last day of the month. In contrast to the Qingming Festival , which honors family ghosts and ancestors, the Hungry Ghost Festival is intended to pacify the restless ghosts of strangers and uncared-for dead. That is, spirits who did not receive a proper burial or those who died through murder or suicide. During the duration of Ghost Month, the spirits seek out worldly pleasure and even revenge against those who did them harm while they were alive. To pacify these hungry ghosts, the living observe superstitions and make offerings of food, money and entertainment all month long, culminating with an outdoor ghost-feeding ceremony on the night of the Hungry Ghost Festival. It’s believed that content ghosts won’t cause trouble, especially for those among the living who faithfully serve them.

The Story of Mu Lian

Though much of the Hungry Ghost Festival’s origin myth is lost to time, many attribute the holiday’s focus on the destitute and less fortunate to the influence of Buddhism. Specifically, there’s a story about Mu Lian, a monk who rescued his mother from hell. Horrified to find his mother committed to the fiery depths of the underworld, Mu Lian appeals to Buddha for help. He’s told in response that only the power of joy harnessed through the collective effort of mass prayer could save her. When the ritual is performed by the Buddha and his disciples on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, Mu Lian’s mother is released. Many point to this story as the reason why the Hungry Ghost Festival focuses so much on easing the suffering of the wandering ghosts, as well as exonerating their spirits.

When is the Hungry Ghost Festival?

The Hungry Ghost Festival takes place every year on the evening of the 15th day of Ghost Month, the 7th month on the lunar calendar. There is no time off granted for the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Hungry Ghost Festival Dates Through 2026 are below.

Your turn! Do you have any other questions about Hungry Ghost Festival history and folklore? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!

HT: Photo by the photojournale .

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8 responses.

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Is it all right to afterward eat the food we offered or give it to the poor and hungry? If not, what do we do with the food?

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Thanks for your question, Tony. Traditionally, the offering is left outside overnight before it’s generally cleared away, either by municipal services or the family. That said, you’ve got spirit of the holiday right, in the sense of looking after those less fortunate. Giving non-perishable goods to a homeless shelter might be your family’s modern adaptation. ~Wes

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Hello, I’m currently engineering a fall festival with my students. One of the cultures and settings of the event is the “Hungry Ghost Festival.” Could you possibly share your thoughts as to the must haves a person would find in my little Chinese village if the “Hungry Ghost Festival” were taking place. I’m looking for attributes which will provide a more sound cultural experience. Thank you.

Hi Gary, sounds like fun! You’ll find more detail in the site’s Hungry Ghost Festival pages, but at a high level, I’d suggest emphasizing the theme of looking after the destitute and those less fortunate, specifically in this case the ghosts without families to look after them. Taking care to avoid cultural caricature, an interesting display might incorporate elements of a traditional ghost-feeding ceremony , such as paper and food offerings meant to appease the passing ghosts. In summary, focus on the holiday’s universal, accessible themes, supported by explanations of the specific cultural practices. Hope that helps! ~Wes

Thank you. I had incorporated the Chinese lantern festival a few years back which was a huge success and am looking forward to this event as well.

Excellent! If there’s an easy opportunity, I’d love to see a picture when the event is past. ~Wes

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Wei Guan Shang

There is so much similarity in the diverse cultural traditions honoring the dead. There are the bright and cheerful aspects and then there are the dark and fearful ones as stark contrast and so many variations in between. I would like to add that our remembrance of the dead can be on a daily basis via sincere prayers offered and in good deeds done on behalf of the deceased. What we do and what we fail to do in this life have a great impact on all our own lives here and on our afterlife…so vigilance, or the lack of, to our true and noble heritage not only impacts upon advancing the betterment of our world and all in it, our pure, kindly, goodly deeds and seemly conduct affects those in the next world as well. Wei

Thank you for sharing your reflection and daily practice, Wei. Very much agree. ~Wes

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Ghost Festival

Ghost Festival

What is Ghost Month?

The Chinese people believe that their deceased Chinese ancestors come out of hell during the first day of the 7 th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. They believe that these ghosts roam around the lands to search for entertainment. This is the reason why the night has been associated with fear and creep. Many Chinese people become afraid of these ghosts believing that they may do harm to them or simply because they are just spooky. Because of this, Chinese people follow certain traditions during the Hungry Ghost Month.

What is the Ghost Festival?

Within the Hungry Ghost Month is the Hungry Ghost Festival also called Yulan Festival. It is a traditional Taoist and Buddhist festival that is held mainly in China as well as other Asian countries. In Chinese tradition, the 15 th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar is the Ghost Festival or the Ghost Day which is the day when deceased ancestor come out from the lower realms. Just like the Qingming Festival and the Double Ninth Festival, Chinese people pay homage to their ancestors during the Ghost Festival. But in addition to this, the deceased are believed to visit those who are living.

What is the history of the Ghost Festival?

The Ghost Festival has a quite rich history. Its origins can be traced back to when beliefs about Ghost Month came to be.

What is the history of Ghost Month?

Ghost Month happens for the entire duration of the 7 th month of the lunar calendar. This is the month where the Chinese people believe that the gates to the underworld are opened thereby releasing captive ghosts that roam around the places of the living. And on the last day of the Ghost Month, the gate closes again.

According to experts, the origin of the Ghost month can be traced back to when people started to believe that something should be done with the ghosts believed to have emerged from the lower realms during the month. Hence, what they do is that they honor ancestors and family ghosts. In particular, they pacify the ghosts who were not able to receive proper burial either because they have committed suicide or they were murdered. The Chinese believe that these ghosts come back to the living to seek revenge. Things that are done by Chinese people include offering food, entertainment, and money all month long during the Ghost Month believing that doing so will prevent the ghosts from causing trouble.

What is the origin of the Ghost Festival?

According to historians, the origin of the Hungry Ghost Festival ca neb traced back to the story of a Buddhist Monk who thought and longed for his parents. Such monk was said to be a psychic who was able to know what happened to his parents after they died. He found out that his father was in heaven but his mother was not. His mother went to the lower realm due to her greediness when she was still alive.

The monk is said to have been advised by Buddha to offer a meal to his mother during the 15 th day of the seventh month of the lunar festival. This then evolved and became quickly adopted by the Chinese people including the Confucians. This is how the Ghost Festival celebration originated.

When is the Ghost Festival?

The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday that is typically held on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, which usually falls in August or September in the Gregorian calendar. However, the exact date may vary from year to year. In 2022, the Ghost Festival is on August 30th.

Why celebrate the Ghost Festival?

The obvious reason why the Ghost Festival is an important celebration is that it is one of the most-preserved cultures and traditions in China and also in Asia. Though the celebration inspired a little bit of fear and spookiness, the fact the most people now celebrate the day with entertainment and family reunions, it has become a good day where people can spend time together with their loved ones, both living and deceased.

How to Celebrate the Ghost Festival?

There are so many different activities done to celebrate the Ghost Festival. The staple ones that always appear in the event are the following:

Burn Some Incense and Joss Paper

One usual activity for the Ghost Festival is the burning of some incense and joss paper. Chinese people usually smolder piles of fake money and replicas of house, cars, and electronics that they believe the deceased needed in their afterlives. Most people burn these things in their backyards. But there are also those who do it on the streets.

Offer Foods for the Departed

Another staple activity during the event is offering of foods for those who have died. As mentioned earlier, the offering of food to the departed is an advice given by the higher-ups believing that ghosts can be entertained and calmed down when they are offered foods during the event. That is during the event, you can see some small plates with food left along the roadside. There are offerings to ghosts who may have passed.

Attend Some Chinese Opera

Ghosts are also believed to seek entertainment during this day. Hence, the Chinese people hold special operas to entertain both the living and the dead.

Throw A Ghost Festival Feast

Chinese people believe that the bridge between the living and the deceased is at its strongest during the night of the Hungry Ghost Festival. What you can do during this time is to throw a feast in your own home where you can serve foods to your relatives and also some set aside for your deceased ancestors.

Send Off Lanterns

Chinese people also tend to send off lotus-shaped lanterns on the river or lake during the night of the Ghost Festival. They believe that doing so will allow the ghosts to have a guide back to the underworld where they belong.

Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival: Parade, Blessing of the Fleet and more return for 2024

when does ghost festival start

The Fort Myers Beach Lions Club Shrimp Festival returns this weekend for its 66th year ― and its first since Hurricane Ian devastated the island and its shrimping industry.

The fest celebrates that enduring industry with a parade, an arts-and-crafts fair, a shrimp-eating contest, the annual Blessing of the Fleet and lots more.

"This is so important," says co-organizer Shelby Stites, a past president of fest organizers the Fort Myers Beach Lions Club. "Because it’s local pink gold. It's what made Fort Myers Beach into what it is today."

But just like the Beach changed after Hurricane Ian , the popular shrimp fest is seeing big changes, too.

The biggest: Unlike previous fests, this one will be spread out all over Fort Myers Beach and San Carlos Island. Events are scheduled at local bars, restaurants and businesses, in addition to a central arts-and-crafts fair at Bayside Park.

Erickson & Jensen Seafood ― the last major Beach shrimping company that's still standing ― looks forward to the event every year.

But especially now.

"It gathers the community," says sales manager Anna Erickson, whose father Grant Erickson co-owns and manages the company. "We need to bring people back to Fort Myers Beach. And this festival is a great way to get people down there. … It’s just a way to get the community functioning again."

The festival has been a Fort Myers Beach tradition for more than six decades.

"It’s gonna bring that positive energy to the area," Erickson says. "We're very excited about that, you know. Very excited to let people know, 'Hey, events that you've been going to your whole life, they're still going on.'"

Proceeds from the festival benefit the Lions Club's various charities. "It all goes back into the local community for those in need," Stites says.

Hurricane Ian's impact in Fort Myers Beach shrimping

The shrimping industry is closely tied to Fort Myers Beach and the rest of Southwest Florida, Stites says. That's why the fest celebrates it every year.

"When tourists come to Southwest Florida, it's to eat the local product," she says. "It’s incredibly important."

But that industry hasn't been the same since Hurricane Ian.

The island's other large, historic shipping company ― Trico Shrimp Co. ― went out of business after the 2022 hurricane. San Carlos Island is also home to smaller, independent boat owners and companies.

Erickson & Jensen had 11 boats operating in the Gulf of Mexico before Hurricane Ian. Now there are only five, says co-owner and manager Grant Erickson.  Three more are being repaired, and the other three were scrapped.

That, combined with rising diesel-fuel costs and competition from cheap, imported shrimp, has deeply hurt Erickson & Jensen's bottom line.

"We're struggling," Grant Erickson says.

But they're not quitting, his daughter says. And they’re looking for other ways to make money, including selling other products besides shrimp.

"We're not gonna give up," Anna Erickson says. "We're gritty. We're making it happen."

Changes to the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival

This weekend's shrimp fest celebrates that perseverance and people's enduring love for shrimp ― what Stites refers to as "pink gold."

But things are a lot different this year. The fest's usual home, Lynn Hall Memorial Park, is still being repaired after Ian. The restrooms aren’t open, Stites says, and there are no utilities ready for food vendors to hook up.

"We couldn't make it happen," she says.

Then the Town of Fort Myers Beach stepped in and offered them the street in front of Bayside Park. And organizers took them up on it.

The fest's annual arts-and-crafts fair is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday between First and Third streets on Old San Carlos Boulevard. The fair coincides with the town's weekly Bayside Park Concert Series ― now expanded to two days for the shrimp fest. Live bands will perform from noon to 7 p.m.  Saturday and Sunday, Stites says.

The street in front of Bayside Park is a much smaller space than Lynn Hall Memorial Park, though, so shrimp fest organizers had to make some changes. That includes a scaled-down arts-and-crafts fair: Just 40 food and arts-and-crafts vendors instead of the usual 100.

Bayside Park will also showcase the annual Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival Queen's Pageant. Local young "princesses," ages 15-20, will compete at 1 p.m. Saturday to wear that sparkly shrimp-queen crown and for other titles, including People's Choice, Miss Photogenic, Miss Personality.

Most other shrimp fest events, however, will be moved to elsewhere on Fort Myers Beach. Here's a look at everything else happening Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10, during the Fort Myers Beach Lions Club Shrimp Festival:

Shrimp Crawl: Shrimp's on the menu at Fort Myers Beach bars, restaurants

The newest of those events is the week-long Shrimp Crawl, which replaces the usual Lions Club shrimp boil. The crawl started March 4 and continues through Sunday, March 10.

Shrimp lovers get a passport and take it to any of 16 participating Beach bars and restaurants for shrimp-themed food and drinks. Once they get at least six passport stamps, they can turn in their raffle ticket at the Lions Club T-shirt booth at the arts-and-crafts fair. The tickets will be drawn for one of more than 40 prizes donated by Beach businesses.

The idea is to give shrimp-boil fans something new and fun to do, Stites says. "We're sending them out and promoting the local economy and the shrimping industry ― which has always been the mission of the shrimp festival."

Passports are available at Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel, Erickson & Jensen Seafood and the Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

Erickson & Jensen Seafood is providing the shrimp for the shrimp crawl, Stites says. Menu items include shrimp tacos, a Shrimply The Best Margarita, peel-and-eat shrimp, grilled shrimp, shrimp bisque, shrimp-and-crab gumbo, a shrimp po'boy and more.

Shrimp fest parade and Matazanzas Bridge closing

The two-hour Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival Parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and travels about two miles along Estero Boulevard from Fort Myers Beach Elementary School to the base of the Matanzas Bridge.

To prepare for the parade ― and also a 9 a.m. 5K run ― the Matanzas Bridge will be closed from 9 a.m. to noon, Stites says. People can still access Fort Myers Beach from the southern end of the island, though.

Her tip: Get there early if you plan to come by the Matanzas Bridge.

"Traffic starts at about 7:30," she says. "If you're not in line, you're not getting over unless it's by foot."

This year's parade features more than 40 units, she says, including Queen's Pageant "princesses" riding atop Corvettes, the dance team The Calendar Girls, law-enforcement vehicles and floats from various Beach businesses.

This will be the first parade since Hurricane Ian, so Stites says they're not sure what the turnout will be. But it’s usually busy.

"It's normally thousands," she says. "I have no idea what to anticipate this year. But it is a sea of people. So rows and rows of people along Estero Boulevard."

Beach Talk Radio will broadcast live and stream video of the parade on its website and Facebook page, she says.

Blessing of the Fleet at the FMB shrimp docks

A big part of the annual shrimp festival is the Blessing of the Fleet, where a St. Raphael's Episcopal Church priest blesses the shrimp boats at the Fort Myers Beach docks.

The Blessing of The Fleet usually starts with a traditional church service at St. Raphael's. But this year, that 10 a.m. Sunday service moves to a tent at the Erickson & Jensen Seafood shrimp boat docks.

Then, at 11 a.m., there will be a dedicated service just for the shrimp fest. "He'll say prayers," Stites says. "They'll sing songs. It’s a short, 30-minute service."

After that, the Reverend Michael Rowe walks out to the Erickson & Jensen shrimp boats with holy water and palm fronds, and he blesses each one.

"The important thing about that is he's blessing the three boats that they've got running, as well as the boats that they have not gotten up and running yet," Stites says. "Everything's getting blessed, in hopes of getting everyone back in order."

Following the blessing, people can take part in a Pink Gold Shrimp Celebration at noon, including shrimp to eat (10 shrimp for $10), beer, Blessing of the Fleet T-shirts for sale and 50/50 raffle tickets.

Anna Erickson says her family's company loves hosting the annual event.

"It's just a great tradition," she says. "People love it. The shrimpers love it. It makes them feel valued by the community. It’s an all-around positive thing to do."

Shrimp-eating contest

The 2024 shrimp-eating contest would've been the 10th-annual event, Stites says, if you include the years the shrimp festival has been canceled due to Hurricane Ian and COVID.

This year's shrimp-eating contest moves to the restaurant The Whale, where 10 participants compete at 2 p.m. Sunday to down the most peeled, boiled shrimp they can. All they get to eat with it is water and cocktail sauce.

"It’s whoever can eat the most shrimp in eight minutes, or whoever finishes three pounds of shrimp first," Stites says. "They're pre-peeled, so they don't have to do anything but shove'em down."

This year's contest includes the return of initial champion Carl Cius, who won the eating contest for three years in a row starting in 2015, Stites says. Cius couldn't be reached for comment.

Best things to do this week in Lee: Beach Shrimp Fest, Sanibel Shell Show, Disney on Ice

More about the Fort Myers Beach Lions Club Shrimp Festival

For more information about the shrimp festival and all its events, visit fortmyersbeachshrimpfestival.com or facebook.com/ShrimpFestFMB .

Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at [email protected] . Follow or message him on social media: Facebook ( facebook.com/charles.runnells.7 ), X (formerly Twitter) ( @charlesrunnells ), Threads (@crunnells1) and Instagram ( @crunnells1 ).

when does ghost festival start

Cheltenham Festival 2024 race card, dates, start times and full four-day schedule

The horse racing season will get into its stride this month as the great spectacle that is Cheltenham Festival gets under way.

The Festival will take place over four days in March, starting with Champion Day, then it’s Style Wednesday on day two, and St Patrick’s Day falling on day three before finishing with Gold Cup Day.

There will be 28 races to enjoy, beginning with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the Arkle Challenge Trophy and the Champion Hurdle on the opening Tuesday, and Friday’s finale will feature the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup .

Legendary Irish trainer Willie Mullins will be looking to make it six years in a row as the trainer with the most wins at the Festival, while his jockey Paul Townend has been the outstanding rider in three of the past four years. The jockey who broke that streak, Rachael Blackmore, will also be riding at Cheltenham this year.

  • FOLLOW LIVE: Cheltenham Festival day one tips, odds winners and latest updates

Find the latest Cheltenham odds and free bet offers with Independent Sport ready to provide daily coverage from the festival and get our free betting newsletter for the latest Cheltenham odds, offers and tips. Sign up here .

When is 2024 Cheltenham Festival?

The Festival begins on Tuesday 12 March and concludes on Friday 15 March.

The first race is scheduled for 1.30pm GMT each day, and the final race of the day is set to begin at 5.30pm. The championship race will be run at 3.30pm.

Get our free betting newsletter for the latest Cheltenham odds, offers and tips. Sign up here .

Here is the full race schedule:

Champion Day – Tuesday, March 12

13:30 - Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: 1. Slade Steel 7/2; 2. Mystical Power 10/3; 3. Firefox 11/2

14:10 - Arkle Challenge Trophy: 1. Gaelic Warrior 2/1F; 2. Found A Fifty 13/2; 3. Il Etait Temps 7/2

14:50 - Handicap Steeple Chase: 1. Chianti Classico 6/1; 2. Twig 28/1; 3. Meetingofthewaters 6/1

15:30 - Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy: 1. State Man 4/11F; 2. Irish Point 9/2; 3. Luccia 50/1

16:10 - Mares’ Hurdle: 1. Lossiemouth 4/6F; 2. Telmesomethinggirl 25/1; 3. Hispanic Moon 50/1

16:50 - Juvenile Handicap Hurdle: 1. Lark In The Mornin’ 9/1; 2. Eagles Reign 80/1; 3. Ndaawi 12/1

17:30 - National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup: 1. Corbetts Cross 15/8; 2. Embassy Gardens 7/4F; 3. Mr Vango 14/1

Style Wednesday – Wednesday, March 13

13:30 - Novices’ Hurdle

14:10 - Novices’ Steeple Chase

14:50 - Coral Cup Hurdle

15:30 - Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase

16:10 - Cross Country Steeple Chase

16:50 - Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Steeple Chase Challenge Cup

17:30 - Champion Bumper

St Patrick’s Thursday – Thursday, March 14

13:30 - Turners Novices’

14:10 - Pertemps Network Final

14:50 - Ryanair Steeple Chase

15:30 - Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle

16:10 - Magners Plate

16:50 - Jack de Bromhead Mares Novices’ Hurdle

17:30 - Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup

Gold Cup Day – Friday, March 15

13:30 - Triumph Hurdle

14:10 - County Handicap Hurdle

14:50 - Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

15:30 - Cheltenham Gold Cup

16:10 - Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase

16:50 - Mares’ Steeple Chase

17:30 - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle

How to buy tickets

Tickets are being sold to the general public across the four days. There are a number of options, including the Club Enclosure, the Tattersalls Enclosure and Best Mate Enclosure, which is the cheapest with prices from £52 per person. Grandstand tickets have sold out.

Check here to see if you are eligible for Cheltenham free bets .

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

The 2024 Cheltenham Festival gets under way on 13 March

‘Power Book II: Ghost’ Ending With Season 4

The 'Power' spin-off stars Michael Rainey Jr and Mary J. Blige.

The Big Picture

  • Power Book II: Ghost 's explosive fourth season will mark the end of one chapter in the Power universe.
  • The series follows Tariq St. Patrick as he struggles with his father's legacy and protecting his family.
  • Starz announces new spin-off series, Origins , to trace the origins of popular Power characters Ghost and Tommy.

Since ending its six-season run, Starz's crime thriller series, Power , has birthed a number of spin-off shows. One of the television series' offshoots is Power Book II: Ghost , which is set to premiere its fourth season on June 7 after being renewed in January 2023 . The first brick in the expansion of the Power universe, the series has come to the end of the road. Starz has revealed that the series will be ending after its fourth season.

Over the years, the Power franchise has proven to be a brilliant hit for Starz, a fact that is not lost on the premium network. “ This explosive season of Ghost is a fitting crescendo in a decade of an immensely popular franchise — fans will not be disappointed ,” said Kathryn Busby , president of programming at Starz. “While this marks the conclusion of one chapter, our commitment to the Power universe endures with more compelling storytelling on the horizon.” The final season of Power Book II: Ghost has been split into two parts. The first portion of the series' swansong will premiere on June 7 , an auspicious date in the Power universe as it marks the decade-long anniversary since the release of the mothership series in 2014. The second part of Ghost will follow on September 6 .

As previously mentioned, Power Book II: Ghost was Starz's first series in its bid to expand the Power universe. Starring Michael Rainey Jr as Tariq St. Patrick, son of one of the flagship series' main protagonists, James St. Patrick aka Ghost ( Omari Hardwick ). In the spinoff series, Tariq battles with the looming shadow of his father's legacy, straining beneath its weight while seeking to understand who his father really was. The young St. Patrick will have to understand how his father's memories have made him who he is today, and how, just like his father - he must protect his family. Alongside Rainey Jr, Power Book II: Ghost stars Mary J. Blige , Cliff “Method Man” Smith , Gianni Paolo , Woody McClain , Lovell Adams-Gray , LaToya Tonodeo . The rest of the series cast includes Alix Lapri , Larenz Tate , Caroline Chikezie , Lightskinkeisha , and Michael Ealy as Detective Don Carter.

The 'Power' Universe Keeps Expanding

Season 4 will see Brett Mahoney return to showrun and executive produce the series. Original Power creator, Courtney A. Kemp , returns to executive produce alongside Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson , Mark Canton , and Chris Selak . News of Power Book II: Ghost ending with a fourth season comes hot on the heels of another recent Starz announcement. The network revealed plans to further expand the Power universe with the ordering of a fourth spin-off series , Origins . The new series will follow and trace the origins of two of Power 's most popular characters, Hardwick's Ghost and Tommy ( Joseph Sikora ). A comprehensive tale of how the pair grew into the men we meet in the flagship series will be explored. While Ghost might be coming to an end, Power Book III: Raising Kanan is currently in production for its fourth season, and Power Book IV: Force has started production on Season 3.

Season 4 of Power Book II: Ghost will premiere its first part on June 7, 2024, with the second part following on September 6. Past seasons are streaming now on Starz.

Power Book II: Ghost

Watch on Starz

Writing isn’t so mysterious, and other lessons learned at the L.A. Times Festival of Books

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books logo with colorful tent illustrations.

The Festival of Books has released its lineup. Author Zan Romanoff is most excited for these panels.

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Good morning and welcome back to the L.A. Times Book Club newsletter.

For the next few editions of the newsletter, you’ll be hearing directly from authors. Next up …

I’m Zan Romanoff, an author, cultural critic and podcaster. (Who isn’t, these days?)

The first time I attended the L.A. Times Festival of Books, I was in my mid-20s. I was unemployed, living at home after a long stint on the East Coast, and working on what I hoped would be my first novel.

It was hot. It’s always hot on festival weekend. I traipsed all over USC’s campus in impractical shoes, frequently getting lost and raising plenty of blisters in the process. I eventually arrived at the blessedly air-conditioned classrooms where I could listen to authors I admired talk about their writing rituals and editorial processes.

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I had always wanted to write, but I never knew how to talk about it. Writing seemed like a secret, magic thing, and I worried that I would sap my powers if I tried to examine them. L.A.’s own Eve Babitz, of course, has the perfect anecdote about this. In her novel “Sex and Rage,” one character looks at another’s painting and asks, of her color choices, “Is that the blue you’re using?” In response, she stops painting all together. She can’t stop questioning herself. I feared the same thing happening to me.

But listening to other artists talk was demystifying. Novels take seemingly forever to write. And it can’t be magic the whole time; sometimes it is just work. Those author conversations helped me think about how to actually do all of that work, even on days when I wasn’t gripped by divine inspiration. I learned about techniques like reverse-outlining, (where you turn a full draft into an outline so that you can see its structural skeleton). But mostly, I learned that it was OK to be frustrated and anxious. That it was, in fact, unavoidable.

Five years after I attended the Festival of Books for the first time, I found myself on a panel side by side with some of the same writers I had admired years before. I’ve been back every year since, moderating panels and speaking on them.

I’m looking forward to so much of what’s in store for the 2024 Festival of Books. Thousands of curious, creative people will gather to think and talk about writing and reading, magic and work. It’s a gift every time.

The full book festival lineup is now published. You can find it here .

And here are some of the panels and conversations I am most excited about.

The L.A. Times Festival of Books is coming!

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books promo visual that shows a reader and states that the festival is April 20-21.

Arts & Culture: A Conversation on the Immigrant Experience, presented by the Pulitzer Prizes Sunday, April 21, 10:30 a.m. Featuring Viet Thanh Nguyen, Hector Tobar, Sanaz Toossi Moderated by Marjorie Miller

Writing in Public Saturday, April 20, 10:30 a.m. S. Geeley Mudd 123 Featuring Hari Kunzru and Maggie Nelson Moderated by David Ulin

Shining Stars of Romance: Navigating Success in the Genre Sunday, April 21, 3 p.m. Town and Gown Featuring Xio Axelrod, Christina Lauren, Tia Williams Moderated by Elissa Sussman

Does A.I. Dream of Electric Sheep? AI and Technology in Contemporary Society Saturday, April 20, 2 p.m. Taper Hall 101 Featuring Malcolm Harris and Brian Merchant Moderated by Joanne McNeil

California State of Mind: Publishing in the West Saturday, April 20, 3 p.m. Albert and Dana Broccoli Theater Featuring Kate Gale, Chris Heiser, Michelle Tea, Steve Wasserman Moderated by Laura Cogan

The Week(s) in Books

Emily Raboteau sits for a portrait

With Ramadan well underway, School Library Journal recommends Ramadan-related reads from picture books up to YA.

Lorraine Berry interviewed Emily Raboteau, author of “Lessons for Survival: Mothering Against ‘the Apocalypse,’ ” for The Times. If you’re interested in the Tibbets Brook project she writes about, there are local versions happening too.

Katya Apekina’s fantastical “Mother Doll” might be less practical, but it’s still very worth your time. Jim Ruland interviewed Apekina about her psychic side and how to make generational trauma funny.

The International Booker Prize — which honors the best novels and short story collections in translation published in the U.K. and/or Ireland every year — announced its 2024 longlist . The prize’s website notes that “While some authors and their books might be unfamiliar to English-speaking readers, many are considered to be their respective countries’ greatest living writers.” So if you’re looking to diversify your reading list, this is the perfect place to start.

If you’re in the mood for love, get excited: Publishing startup Zando just announced that it will be adding a romance imprint, Slowburn, to its stable this summer.

Poet, essayist, translator, teacher and activist Lyn Hejinian died recently. For more on her life and legacy, the Paris Review has some beautiful remembrances .

Bookstore faves

Every couple of weeks, we ask an L.A. bookseller what they’re selling and what they’re loving. This time, it’s Mads Gobbo, manager of North Figueroa Bookshop. When I moved to Eagle Rock in 2021, one of the things I was saddest to leave behind was my proximity to the small, independent bookstore Skylight Books. So I was thrilled when North Figueroa Bookshop, managed by a Skylight alum, Gobbo, opened up just 10 minutes from my house. North Figueroa is a joint venture between two L.A.-based independent publishers, Rare Bird and Unnamed Press. It also stocks titles from a variety of houses. I spoke to Mads about what she’s been reading, selling and loving lately.

Inside North Figueroa Bookshop with bookshelves of books and several chairs.

What do most people ask for when they come in?

We have endless asks for the Sarah J. Mass “Court of Thorns and Roses” series.

When I was at Skylight, it was so much easier to say, “Oh, this is a bestseller. This is the book that everybody wants.” I am not having that experience in Highland Park. We have a very broad range of shoppers who are looking for very different things. People come in asking for Bibles a lot. We have a lot of families coming in. There’s a lot of magic practitioners in the neighborhood looking for obscure occult texts.

And then we have queer readers who are looking for something juicy and beguiling. I’ve been selling a lot of “Dead in Long Beach” by Venita Blackburn.

What else has been selling well?

The books that are selling the best for us right now are our book club picks. Our main book club is reading “Pedro Páramo” by Juan Rulfo, which is a translated Mexican novel that was recently reissued with a new translation and a forward by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Juan Rulfo was not really a novelist; he was more of an oral historian. He traveled all over rural Mexico and collected oral histories and folklore. “Pedro Páramo” is kind of a ghost story about this vanished small town in rural Mexico and its inhabitants who are all ghosts.

Rare Bird and Unnamed will have booths at the Festival of Books — what should people check out there?

They have been collaborating on a retrospective of the art photography and unclassifiable writing of William Vollman. It’s called “Shadows of Love, Shadows of Loneliness.” The process of making that book was pretty wild, because Vollman doesn’t use a computer. He doesn’t have a smartphone. So if they wanted to work on the manuscript with him, they would have to actually go up to Sacramento. It took them many years to pull this project together, just because it was so eccentric in its construction.

What isn’t out yet that you can’t wait to recommend?

I just read Paul Yamazaki’s missive on bookselling, “Reading the Room.” He’s the longtime buyer at City Lights and the most famous bookseller in the U.S., if that’s a thing. He’s a wonderful, super generous person who has helped so many young people come up through bookselling and shape their own philosophies.

I think we’re in an era where we’ve lost touch [with] the physical experience of art, and the experience of art in community. Everything’s moved online; we don’t own anything anymore. Reading Paul’s book was a reminder that bookselling is an intentional craft. You are physically in a space with someone listening to their interests, helping them articulate their aesthetic philosophy, their moral commitments. And then you are guiding them to expand those commitments and interests through new work.

Books are really about making connections, and that’s absolutely Paul’s philosophy. Books are about exploring your curiosity and finding your way to a community that reflects your values. I hope that we can all move towards that, and not deeper into the internet.

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Ultra Music Festival is coming to Miami. From kick off to the lineup, here's what to know

The festival goes from friday, march 22 until sunday, march 24, by monica galarza • published march 17, 2024 • updated on march 17, 2024 at 8:45 am.

The  Ultra Music Festival  is officially returning to downtown Miami's Bayfront Park for three days of EDM acts from around the world.

The outdoor electronic music festival  draws thousands of people to South Florida every year  for the show-stopping headliners and overall Miami experience.

From line up to safety measures, here is everything you need to know about the upcoming festival:

When is the Ultra Music Festival?

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The festival goes from Friday, March 22 until Sunday, March 24.

It will run from 4 p.m. to midnight on Friday, 1 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, and 1p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. 

Who is set to perform?

when does ghost festival start

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when does ghost festival start

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There are countless artist slated to perform for this year's Ultra Music Festival.

Among them are Afrojack, Alan Walker, Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, Eric Prydz, Hardwell, Martin Garrix, Peggy Gou, Steve Aoki, Tiësto, Zed's Dead and many more.

Calvin Harris is also expected to appear, making this his first time back at the festival since 2013.

For the full lineup, click here .

How can I get tickets to the Ultra Music Festival?

If you want to attend the Ultra Music Festival, you can purchase 3-day general admission tickets or VIP tickets.

Tickets range in price based on the tier you choose, but you need to act fast because tickets sell out quickly.

For tickets, click here .

What is the Resistance Miami club residency?

Ultra’s Resistance residency is an underground techno and house concept at the M2 nightclub in South Beach.

The residency is the same weekend as the Ultra Music Festival and gives people a chance to hear some of the many talents that grace the stages at the festival.

Artists like Adam Beyer, Adriatique, Peggy Gou, Amelie Lens and Eric Prydz, are expected to perform.

This is the second time Resistance hosts a club residency outside of Ibiza.

What safety measures will be in place at the Ultra Music Festival?

The Ultra Music Festival aims to keep the health, safety and well-being of fans, artists, and staff as a top priority.

There will be a zero-tolerance policy prohibiting illicit drug use and possession. Narcotic laws will be strictly enforced and police officers will be working the event in an undercover capacity.

Eventgoers are urged to stay hydrated and first aid tents will be plainly visible and located throughout the event grounds to help anyone in need.

This year, there will be a limit on the size and type of bag that may be brought into the venue.

Although festivalgoers are encouraged not to bring bags to the festival, the items outlined below are permissible:

  • Bags made of clear plastic, clear vinyl or clear PVC, which do not exceed 13”x17” in size
  • One-gallon clear zip-top bag
  • Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand either with or without a handle or strap is allowed
  • Hydration packs, which are NOT backpacks, will be allowed (Please refer to the image below)
  • “Fanny-pack(s)” or similar waist-packs will be allowed
  • Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis for medically required items after proper inspection

What type of ID do I need for the Ultra Music Festival?

If you are going to Ultra, you will need to show ID to enter. Below are the acceptable forms of identification for entry to the festival.

  • A valid U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
  • Valid foreign government-issued passport (must have photo and date of birth)
  • Valid foreign government-issued identification card or driver's license (must have photo and date of birth) along with a photocopy of a valid passport from the same country as the identification card or driver's license provided
  • U.S. military ID (active duty or retired military)
  • Valid U.S. Drivers Licenses or other state photo identification cards issued by a State Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) for the sole purpose of identification (must have photo and date of birth)
  • Valid Native American tribal photo ID (must have photo and date of birth)
  • Valid Canadian Drivers License or Identification Card (must have photo and date of birth)

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when does ghost festival start

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  1. Ghost Festival in 2024/2025

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  2. Wadd

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  3. The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival in modern

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  4. Amazing Highlights From the Phi Ta Khon Ghost Festival

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  5. The Chinese Ghost Festival: Origins, Customs, and Facts

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  6. Asia's Ghost Festivals

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VIDEO

  1. 7th Month Ghost Festival

COMMENTS

  1. Ghost Festival

    The Ghost Festival or Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as the Zhongyuan Festival in Taoism and the Yulanpen Festival in Buddhism, is a traditional festival held in certain East and Southeast Asian countries. According to the Chinese calendar (a lunisolar calendar ), the Ghost Festival is on the 15th night of the seventh month (14th in parts of ...

  2. Hungry Ghost Festival (Ghost Month 2024)

    The Hungry Ghost Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals in China. It is also named Zhongyuan Festival by Taoists, or Yulanpen Festival by Buddhists. The festival falls on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. ... Ghost Month Start Day ( August 4, 2024): The gates of the underworld open, and all ghosts ...

  3. Hungry Ghost Festival, Chinese Zhongyuan Festival

    The Hungry Ghost Festival is one of several important festival days of Ghost Month (鬼月) - the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar. It is thought that the ghosts of Chinese ancestors are let out of hell on the first day of the month. It has been the scariest month of the year for thousands of years. They roam around looking for ...

  4. Ghost Festival: 2024 Ghost Festival Dates

    As a traditional cultural festival in memory of ancestors, the Ghost Festival takes respecting ancestors and showing filial piety as the core. Festival Lunar Date Gregorian Date Zodiac; Ghost Festival: July 15, 1936: Aug 31, 1936 : Rat: Ghost Festival: July 15, 1937: Aug 20, 1937 : Ox: Ghost Festival: July 15, 1938: Aug 10, 1938 :

  5. Zhongyuan Jie

    So in summary: - Ghost Gate starts to open: 1st day of 7th lunar month. - Ghost Gate is fully open: Night of 14th day / early 15th day. - Ghost Gate slowly closes: 15th day onwards. - Ghost Gate completely shut: 30th day of 7th lunar month. The 15th day of the 7th lunar month, when the Ghost Gate is open, is known as Ghost Festival or Zhongyuan ...

  6. What (and When) is the Hungry Ghost Festival in China?

    On the 15th day of Ghost Month, the Hungry Ghost Festival occurs. The festival entertains the spirits and provides them with food, money, and even supplies like clothing. Along with entertainment, the festival wards off the evil intentions of any disgruntled spirits by appeasing them with gifts.

  7. History of the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival

    The Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as the Ghost Festival is celebrated either on the night of the 14th or the 15th day (depending on where you live in China), of the seventh month of the lunar year, known in the West as August.In other countries, which celebrate a similar festival, it is observed earlier or later. The Hungry Ghost Festival is the most important festival of the Hungry Ghost ...

  8. Hungry Ghost Festival: How to Celebrate Zhongyuan

    The Hungry Ghost Festival, or "Ghost Day," is always celebrated on the 15th night of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. That means, in 2023, the date of Ghost Day is Wednesday, August 30 .

  9. How to Celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival

    Kim says, "The Hungry Ghost Festival is a religious observance and an integral part of East Asian culture. It showcases the beliefs, traditions and values of the community, fostering a sense of ...

  10. What is the Hungry Ghost Festival?

    The Hungry Ghost Festival falls on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month (30 August in 2023), with Ghost Month running from 16 August to 14 September this year. ... Don't move to a new house, start new businesses, or marry, as the Ghost Month is considered to be an inauspicious time; Don't pick up money found on the street, and if you do ...

  11. How to Celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival

    Hungry Ghost Festival 2024 is August 18, 2024. It takes place every year on the evening of the 15th day of Ghost Month, the 7th month on the lunar calendar. Here is a collection of easy family activities, crafts and customs with step-by-step directions to help your family make nice with any ghosts who may come calling at your doorstep.

  12. Ghost Festival

    The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, Zhongyuan Jie (中元節), Gui Jie (鬼節) or Yulan Festival (traditional Chinese: 盂蘭盆節; simplified Chinese: 盂兰盆节) and Ullambana Festival, is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival held in certain East Asian countries. According to the Chinese calendar (a lunisolar calendar), the Ghost Festival is on the 15th ...

  13. 2024 Chinese Ghost Festival, August 18, 2024

    August 18, 2024, is the 15th lunar day, which is the Chinese Ghost Festival. The first lunar day of the 8th lunar month is on September 3, 2024. Therefore, Ghost Month is from August 4 to September 2 in the China time zone. Many Chinese families have both Buddhism and Taoism as their religions. The dead souls before reincantation are called ghosts.

  14. Ghost Month and the Hungry Ghost Festival: Key dates and events

    2. Hungry Ghost Festival (30 August) The Hungry Ghost Festival, a traditional Taoist and Buddhist festival, falls on the 15th day of the Ghost Month. It marks the peak of the month, when it's believed all the spirits are now in the living realm. Celebrations become more elaborate during this period, such as holding feasts and auctions at the ...

  15. A Guide to Ghost Month in China

    Qiu Gui Su. Updated on June 15, 2018. The 7th lunar month in the traditional Chinese calendar is called Ghost Month. It is said that on the first day of the month, the Gates of Hell are sprung open to allow ghosts and spirits access to the world of the living. The spirits spend the month visiting their families, feasting, and looking for victims.

  16. Chinese Ghost Festival

    The ghost month refers to the 7th lunar month. The following chart shows the exact date for the festival and the ghost month in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026: Year. Date of Ghost Festival. Ghost Month. 2023. August 30th. August 16th - September 14th. 2024.

  17. Hungry Ghost Festival in China

    The Hungry Ghost Festival (中元节) is a unique and significant event in Chinese culture, celebrated annually during the seventh month of the lunar calendar. Originating from ancient beliefs about the afterlife, this festival is a time for Chinese people to pay respect and offer food, drinks, and other offerings to the spirits of their ancestors.

  18. The Chinese Ghost Festival: 12 Facts to Know

    2. The Festival Is Both 30 Days and Just One Day. Strictly speaking, the Chinese Ghost Festival takes place on the fifteenth day of the Chinese lunar seventh month. However, the entire seventh month is popularly regarded by the Chinese as the ghost month (鬼月; guiyue ), i.e., the time when spirits are allowed to visit the mortal realm.

  19. The Hungry Dead and the Envoys of Hell: China's Ghost Festival

    Aug 30, 2023 5 -min read # tradition # history # arts. The 15th day of the seventh lunar month in China marks Zhongyuan Festival, also known as Hungry Ghost Festival. According to ancient legend, on this day, the gates of hell swing wide open, granting passage to ghosts and spirits to traverse the human realm and partake in offerings.

  20. Ghost Month: Meaning, 2024 Dates, Do's and Don'ts, History

    Zhongyuan Festival. Zhongyuan Festival, also Ghost Festival, falls on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. In the night (early morning and late night), ghosts get together and evil spirits reach the peak. On this very day, people would burn money and invoke ancestors and ghosts with sacrifice. Likewise, public places sacrifice on the next day ...

  21. Hungry Ghost Festival 2022

    Founded in 2005, the Asia Paranormal Investigators (API) is a paranormal research society based in Singapore that strives to analyze any strange occurrences happening in Singapore and around the region. Devotees flock to this Taoist temple at Arumugam Road, near Paya Lebar Road, during the Hungry Ghost Festival.

  22. Hungry Ghost Festival History and Folklore

    The Hungry Ghost Festival is a time when restless ghosts rise, when makeshift roadside altars glow with burning joss paper and when the living do everything they can to appease the wandering spirits. It's one of the two big annual festivals designated specifically for the dead — the other is the Qingming Festival in the spring. ADVERTISEMENT.

  23. Celebrating The Ghost Festival: A Cultural Tradition

    The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday that is typically held on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, which usually falls in August or September in the Gregorian calendar. However, the exact date may vary from year to year. In 2022, the Ghost Festival is on August 30th.

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    If you want to attend the Ultra Music Festival, you can purchase 3-day general admission tickets or VIP tickets. Tickets range in price based on the tier you choose, but you need to act fast ...