Ghost Month, the seventh month in Taiwan’s traditional lunisolar calendar, began on Friday. It’s a time when spirits come to the world of the living for an annual vacation. And they need to be wined and dined, lest they cause mischief and misfortune.
Late at night on Thursday, Taiwan entered Ghost Month, which falls on the seventh month in the traditional lunisolar calendar.
Temples around the country celebrated the occasion with special events.
A group of students from Paraguay came to see water lanterns being released in Yilan.
One of them says the students have an interest in Taiwanese culture and they’re curious about the event.
Because of the pandemic, celebrations in Yilan were smaller this year and did not include a procession through the streets.
Lin Cheng-fang, an expert on folk customs, says during Ghost Month, lanterns are released every three days in Yilan. They are an invitation for spirits to visit the city and enjoy the offerings laid out for them.
At the same time, a temple in Hsinchu is packed with people waiting to see one of the temple’s doors open to let the spirits into the world.
Temple head Cheng Geng-ya says the door is only open for a month each year, and that time is a vacation for the spirits.
Last year’s event was canceled due to COVID, so many came out this year to witness it.
A temple in Keelung celebrated the start of Ghost Month with a lantern raising ceremony. Over a thousand were lit at the same time.
Keelung Mayor Lin Yu-chang says that life is returning to normal after the pandemic and there are no limitations on attendance this year.
According to traditional beliefs, Ghost Month is a time of caution. Many people avoid undergoing surgery, moving house, getting married, whistling, and going out after dark. But spirits can be appeased with offerings of food, alcohol and paper money. Now that’s the kind of vacation both the living and the dead can enjoy.
Tomasz Koper, RTI News