Thursday, September 3, 2009

好兄弟-where got ghosts?

The 'Hungry Ghost Festival' or 中元节 falls on the 7th month of the lunar New Year. If you do not know anything about the 'Hungry Ghost Festival', just imagine it as 'Halloween for Americans'.

Hungry Ghost Festival is a popular occasion celebrated by the Chinese. It is believed that during this month, the gates of hell are opened to free the hungry ghosts from Hell who would then wander to seek food on Earth. Some even think that the ghosts would seek revenge on those who has wronged them in their lives. The reason why the Chinese celebrate this festival is to remember their dead family members/relatives and pay tribute to them. They also feel that offering food to the deceased appeases them and ward off bad luck. It is common to see 'wayang' shows in some neighbourhoods. It is believed that such entertainment would please those wandering ghosts.

Today is the mid of the 7th month. Many Chinese went to temples to offered prayers to their deceased relatives and burn joss sticks & incense paper to them. Some even burn paper clothings, paper houses, paper gold ingots and many other luxury items like branded handbags, paper cars, etc.


Well, I think it's best to treat a person well when he/she is alive, no point offering prayers or burn all sorts of items when the person is gone! We all know these are business gimmicks... Will the deceased receive the items? Only GOD knows...

In our hearts... where you lies...


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