Ghost month

By James Jimenez

In times like these, if you’re not always thinking of a way to make a bit more money, then you’re probably not doing yourself justice. But if you are, well, hit pause on your entrepreneurial impulses because it’s Ghost Month!

Deeply rooted in Chinese tradition, the Ghost month is an annual period when the spirits of the dearly departed are believed to be roaming the earth. Originating from the Taoist and Buddhist traditions, the seventh month of the lunar calendar is believed to be the time when the gates of the underworld are flung open, allowing spirits to visit the living. While this furlough from the afterlife is available to all who have passed on, according to legend, the spirits that actually wander the earth during this time are the “hungry ghosts,” poor, unfortunate souls who may have died tragically, were not given a proper burial, or did not receive adequate offerings after their death. As a result of that deprivation, they come back seeking food and comfort, and it is up to the living to perform rituals of appeasement and, in so doing, protect themselves from misfortune.

As you can imagine, it is a time redolent with rituals, customs, and cultural significance, giving us a window into spiritual beliefs and practices that have been passed down through the generations. Unfortunately, our incredibly reductive modern society and sensibilities have all but trivialized Zhongyan Jie, so that now, most people – while they are aware of the observance – think of it only in terms of “malas” or ill fortune.

A better approach

A better approach to the Ghost month would be to acknowledge its significance, especially in multicultural society like ours (incidentally, multiculturalism is a hallmark of democracy. That really snippet of information really has nothing to do with ghost month; I just wanted to slip that in). And if you are so minded, maybe you can even find echoes of ghost month ritual practices with your own traditions. After all, we all have loved ones who have gone ahead.

During Ghost month, more traditional families prepare elaborate meals and offer them to the spirits. Placing the food offerings on home altars, temples, or in public places, it is believed that the spirits partake of the essence of the food. Non-Buddhists and non-Taoists often sneer at this practice, mistakenly thinking that food offerings are intended to be literally eaten by ghosts. These people forget that they too engage in ritual offerings during religious gatherings such as fiestas and during times of bereavement, such wakes or funerals. Sure, these other traditions may not present this food as offerings to the dead, but in both cases, the offering of food is in remembrance of the dead, and in celebration of our lingering spiritual connection to them.

Also during Ghost month, a lot of joss paper – also known as ghost money – is burned as a form of spiritual money transfer, so to speak. In much the same way, some Christian traditions, particularly within the Orthodox and Catholic churches, burn incense, with the rising smoke symbolizing prayers ascending to heaven. It is, to continue a metaphor, simply a difference in currency.

These are just two of the most common Ghost month practices. You probably know more, and with a little bit of open-mindness, you might even be able to find points of commonality, proving the democratic (there’s that word again!) axiom that our differences do not divide us, as much as they unite us.

A bad reputation

However, the deep cultural significance of Ghost month cannot entirely erase the bad reputation it has developed, thanks to pop-fengshui practitioners. And since we are not wont to leave elephants in the room unaddressed, hang on to your seats for the things you shouldn’t do during the Ghost month.

The biggest don’t is to start a new venture. Business deals, moving houses, or (gasp!) getting married are all verboten from – this year at least – August 5 to September 2. The fear is that the wandering spirits might meddle or, worse, bless your new endeavor with a heaping dose of bad luck. Mamalasin ka.

You should also avoid staying out late. Remember, spirits operate round-the-clock, with the dark of the night being a particularly active time for them. If you stay out at night – or in the version of Filipino folklore, whistle while walking past a graveyard – you might be in for an unexpected, and unpleasant, encounter of the spectral kind.

And, since many of the wandering spirits are those who drowned, it is also not a good idea to tempt the fates and go for a swim alone, whether it be in the ocean or in a pool. Personally, I’d stay away from bathtubs too.

The Silver Lining

Admittedly, I might’ve painted Ghost Month to be an unremittingly gloomy and spooky time – like a month-long Halloween minus the candy. But the reality is, Ghost Month is actually a time for family members to strengthen their bonds. If you approached Ghost month with the right attitude, you would rightly say that it is a gentle reminder for us to take a moment to remember those who have gone before, even during the busiest of times.  And for those who hustle, take this as an opportunity to reflect and think on whether that latest business venture that’s gotten you so excited is actually a good idea. Who knows, maybe the Ghost Month might actually be the sign you needed to cool your jets and not to rush headlong into an uncertain thing.