![Hungry Ghost Festival Exploring the Hungry Ghost Festival is an incredibly fascinating experience](https://static.vinwonders.com/production/hungry-ghost-festival-1.jpg)
Exploring the Hungry Ghost Festival is an incredibly fascinating experience (Source: Collected)
The Hungry Ghost Festival is a traditional Chinese festival observed to honor and appease the wandering spirits of the deceased. It is believed that during this time, the gates of the underworld open, allowing the spirits to visit the living world. People make offerings of food, burn incense, and perform rituals to ensure the spirits’ well-being and happiness. You can also explore and experience this festival during your Vietnam travel.
1. What is the Hungry Ghost Festival?
The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival or Yulan Festival, is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival celebrated in several East Asian countries.
According to the Chinese lunar calendar, it takes place on the fifteenth night of the seventh month. In Chinese culture, the fifteenth day of the seventh month is known as Ghost Day, and the entire seventh month is considered the Ghost Month, during which ghosts and spirits, including deceased ancestors, emerge from the lower realms to visit the living. The essence of the Ghost Month lies in the reverence for the deceased, with filial piety extending to ancestors even after their passing.
Activities during this month include preparing food offerings, burning incense, and offering paper items such as money, gold, and luxurious goods to the ancestral spirits. There is also an element of fear and the need to appease potentially unhappy and angry spirits. At the end of the festival, small paper boats and lanterns are released into the water to guide the ancestral spirits and other deities safely to the afterlife. If you get the chance for Asia travel during this festival, you will have the opportunity to explore and experience this unique festival firsthand.
![Hungry Ghost Festival Releasing lanterns](https://static.vinwonders.com/production/hungry-ghost-festival-2.jpg)
Releasing lanterns to guide the spirits of ancestors and other deities to the otherworld in a safe manner is a traditional and meaningful practice (Source: Collected)
2. Why is Hungry Ghost Festival celebrated?
The reasons for organizing the Hungry Ghost Festival differ between Taoism and Buddhism.
Taoists concentrate on pacifying the released wandering souls from the underworld, whereas Buddhists emphasize the virtue of filial piety. According to Taoist beliefs, human destiny is governed by three deities: Tian Guan Da Di, the heavenly ruler who grants happiness; Di Guan Da Di, the earthly ruler who forgives sins; and Shui Guan Da Di, the ruler of water who alleviates dangers. Zhong Yuan Jie, which occurs on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, marks the birthday of Di Guan Da Di, who descends to Earth on this day to record the deeds, both good and evil, of every individual. During the seventh lunar month, the gates of hell open, allowing hungry ghosts to roam the Earth in search of food. Traditionally, Taoist priests perform rituals and offer food, while devotees visit temples to repent for their sins and pray for happiness and protection from disasters.
In Buddhism, the Hungry Ghost Festival is known as the Yu Lan Pen Festival, derived from the Sanskrit name for the Buddhist Ullambana Festival. Yu Lan means “to hang upside down” in Chinese, and pen refers to a container filled with food offerings. Yu Lan Pen symbolizes the offerings made to relieve ancestors from suffering in purgatory. The festival, originating from the story of Mu Lian, commemorates his filial piety towards his mother. The legendary tale is also believed to be the origin of the Chinese custom of making offerings and praying for one’s ancestors during this annual festival.
![Hungry Ghost Festival The tradition of making food offerings during the Ghost Festival is a way to show respect and provide for wandering souls](https://static.vinwonders.com/production/hungry-ghost-festival-3.jpg)
The tradition of making food offerings during the Ghost Festival is a way to show respect and provide for wandering souls (Source: Collected)
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3. All about the celebrations of Hungry Ghost Festival in Asia
3.1. Preparation
- Buy your ritual offerings: Joss paper offerings for the Yulan Festival generally consist of basic and practical items. Paper money, gold ingots, simple jewelry, clothing, and basic incense are common offerings.
- Check your calendar to find a community festival: The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated throughout the month by various Chinese neighborhoods, family associations, and trade groups. If you live in China or near a large Chinese community like San Francisco or Singapore, there is a good chance you will find one of these festivals nearby during Hungry Ghost Month.
- Make or purchase a floating lantern: During the evening of the Hungry Ghost Festival or the final night of Ghost Month, it is traditional to bid farewell to the roaming spirits by setting a paper lantern afloat on the river.
- Fold your joss paper: If you purchase a set of basic joss paper currency, it is common practice to fold the sheets into the shape of simple gold ingots used in ancient China. This is a popular activity that the whole family can enjoy together.
- Prepare your family dinner: Like many traditional Chinese festivals, the Yulan Festival includes a family dinner. And don’t forget to set aside an extra one or two empty seats for the deceased.
- Perform your outdoor appeasement ceremony: After dinner is finished and night has fallen, go outside with your offerings to appease the passing spirits. It is common to set up a makeshift altar on the roadside. In addition to the joss paper offerings, arrange plates of uncooked rice, peanuts, raw noodles, unpeeled fruit, tea, rice wine, and meat for the spirits. Lighting the joss paper and incense completes the ritual.
![Hungry Ghost Festival The market for joss paper offers a wide variety of designs and styles](https://static.vinwonders.com/production/hungry-ghost-festival-4.jpg)
The market for joss paper offers a wide variety of designs and styles (Source: Collected)
3.2. Activities
Ghosts and goblins, spooky stories, and incense make the Hungry Ghost Festival a great joy to share with your children. It is a month-long opportunity to observe old superstitions, tell ghost stories, and reinforce the importance of family as well as the necessity of caring for the less fortunate. Ghost Month concludes with a ghost-feeding ceremony on the night of the Hungry Ghost Festival, filled with fire, smoke, and ritual offerings.
3.3. Taboos
During the seventh lunar month, people avoid going out at night and swimming to prevent encounters with malevolent spirits or being dragged away by “water ghosts”. They also respect offerings along the roadside and avoid peeking under altars to prevent angering hungry ghosts.
Believers are cautioned against wearing red, as spirits are believed to be attracted to the color. They should also refrain from using drugs and alcohol, as it is believed to make them more susceptible to possession by ghosts. Staying away from walls is advised, as ghosts are thought to cling to them. Cutting hair, shaving, and hanging clothes outside at night are also discouraged. Activities such as marriage, moving, and buying new vehicles are not recommended during this time.
![Hungry Ghost Festival Preparing a complete vegetarian feast in honor of the Hungry Ghost Festival](https://static.vinwonders.com/production/hungry-ghost-festival-5.jpg)
Preparing a complete vegetarian feast in honor of the Hungry Ghost Festival (Source: Collected)
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4. Things to know about Hungry Ghost Festival in Vietnam
In Vietnam, the Hungry Ghost Festival is considered a time for forgiving condemned souls and granting them freedom from hell. The “homeless” are nurtured and appeased through food offerings. Additionally, the living can also benefit from releasing birds and fish. The lunar month during which this festival takes place is commonly referred to as the Month of Lonely Spirits, believed to bring forth haunting and particularly unfortunate events.
Influenced by Buddhism, this festival coincides with Vu Lan. In modern times, Vu Lan is also celebrated as Mother’s Day. Those with living mothers often carry a red rose as a gesture of gratitude, while those without mothers may carry a white rose and participate in ceremonies to pray for the deceased.
![Hungry Ghost Festival The Vu Lan Festival is a significant celebration in the cultural and religious traditions of the Vietnamese people](https://static.vinwonders.com/production/hungry-ghost-festival-6.jpg)
The Vu Lan Festival is a significant celebration in the cultural and religious traditions of the Vietnamese people (Source: Collected)
This is the best time to visit Vietnam. You can experience the festivals at some famous destinations such as Hoi An Ancient Town, Hanoi Old Quarter, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. In addition, you shouldn’t miss out on exciting sightseeing and entertainment spots such as Vinpearl Aquarium and VinKE, VinWonders Nam Hoi An, VinWonders Nha Trang, and VinWonders Phu Quoc.
- Vinpearl Aquarium and VinKE: At VinKE, children have the opportunity to explore a play-and-learn area and discover their aspirations through a variety of thrilling job-simulation games. On the other hand, Vinpearl Aquarium provides visitors with a chance to immerse themselves in a miniature oceanic world teeming with thousands of marine creatures and offering a diverse range of exciting experiences.
- VinWonders: Including VinWonders Nam Hoi An, VinWonders Nha Trang, VinWonders Phu Quoc, here, you can immerse yourself in the realm of wildlife, delve into a vibrant underwater world, experience exhilarating rides, and witness captivating performances. Make sure to visit VinWonders and embark on an adventure like no other.
![Hungry Ghost Festival Enjoy the amusement at the VinWonders entertainment paradise](https://static.vinwonders.com/production/hungry-ghost-festival-8.jpg)
Enjoy the amusement at the VinWonders entertainment paradise
>>> Book tickets of VinWonders Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Nam Hoi An, Vinpearl Aquarium and VinKE for the best entertainment ever!
The Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as the Zhongyuan Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival that is observed to honor and appease the wandering spirits of the deceased. It is believed that during this time, the gates of the underworld open, allowing the spirits to visit the living world. People make offerings of food, burn incense, and perform rituals to ensure the well-being and happiness of the spirits. The Hungry Ghost Festival is a time of reverence and remembrance for ancestors, and it holds great significance in Chinese culture.
>>> Book tickets of VinWonders Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Nam Hoi An, Vinpearl Aquarium and VinKE to get the ultimate enjoyment!
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