TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Sunday (Aug. 4) marks the beginning of the seventh month on the lunar calendar, and the beginning of Ghost Month.
Traditional folklore surrounding the month says the gates which usually separate the realm of the living from the realm of the dead are open. Many believe this allows spirits, both benevolent and malevolent, to visit, and people may be taken unwillingly to the spirit realm.
Among believers in Taiwan, there are dozens of taboos observed during Ghost Month, which will ostensibly help people avoid being noticed or troubled by malevolent spirits, commonly known as “hungry ghosts.” According to some astrologers, this year’s Ghost Month may be especially inauspicious for those born in the year of the tiger, and those born in the year of the dog, rabbit, sheep, or dragon, should also be cautious over the next four weeks.
One of the most common taboos is to avoid swimming, especially in natural bodies of water like rivers, lakes, and the ocean. It is also common for people to avoid staying out too late, visiting cemeteries, and making important decisions like signing a business contract or moving into a new residence.
Other taboos relate to clothing and grooming. For example, it is considered an inauspicious time to trim hair, shave one’s legs or body, or cut one’s fingernails.
The superstitious will also advise against wearing heavy makeup or clothing that is too revealing, so as not to attract the attention of lustful ghosts. It is also considered a bad idea to wear too much black, white, or red clothing, since these colors are associated with funeral practices, or wealth, in the case of red.
Further, there is a taboo against wearing dirty, damaged, or moist clothing, as dressing in an unkempt manner may make one appear similar to the dead. For more taboos observed during the month, check out these lists of Ghost Month taboos compiled by Taiwan News in previous years.
In mid-August, temples around Taiwan will hold ceremonies to coincide with the full moon (Aug. 19) on the fifteenth day of the lunar month, when the gates to the spirit world will be open widest.
Different regions of Taiwan have special celebrations to honor the dead. Some of the most famous events this month include the opening and closing of the gate ceremonies at Keelung’s Lao Da Gong Temple, the Holy Pig festival in Taoyuan, the Ghost Grappling festivals in Toucheng, Yilan, and Hengchun, Pingtung, as well as the Water Lantern Festival at Keelung’s Badouzi Harbor.
