Vietnamese Ghost Month: Origins, Customs, and Taboos
You might have been familiar with the western Halloween, which is originally created to worship the dead. In Vietnam, there is a whole month spared to honor these souls as well, which is called Ghost Month. In this article, we would delve into the origin of this custom while reminding you of important do's and don'ts to avoid getting into any awkward situations.
1. Origins
Vietnamese Ghost Month, or Vietnamese Hungry Ghost Month, is the period of time in the year which falls on the seventh month in the lunar calendar (around August and July). At this time, it is believed that souls in hell will be released to the Earth.
Ancient Vietnamese believe that humans consist of two main components: the body and the soul. Good people’s souls after death will go to heaven while evil people instead will go to hell. This month, the King of Hell will allow them to visit their families and accommodations. That is why it is important to refrain from doing certain activities.
2. What not to do?
There are some activities which will be considered taboo in this time in order not to disturb or annoy these souls. These include not going out late at night, removing body hair, eating food on the altar, taking pictures at night, swimming, holding weddings…
According to specialists, these taboos may stem from weather features in lunar July. In July, major events will usually be obstructed because of frequent downpours. That’s why swimming and hanging clothes at night is dangerous because you might easily get cold, while the rest has not been clearly explained.
3. Offering customs
Customs and offering ceremonies are also initiated in order to soothe these hungry and lonely souls and prevent them from being naughty and playful while at the same time making wishes for their deceased loved ones. Such ceremonies are usually held in late afternoon or night as ancient people reckoned that they are very vulnerable to sunlight.
Overall, Vietnamese Ghost Month is an exciting and long-lasting tradition of Vietnamese people and foreigners must be highly aware of these traditions in order to integrate better and not get baffled by these.
