Ghost Month

In Chinese culture, there is an event which is the Hungry Ghost Festival held in the month, July, of the Chinese Lunar New Year. It is taken seriously because people believe that the gates of hell are opened to let out the hungry ghosts who then wander to seek food on Earth during the month. Therefore, most of families and companies would celebrate this festival on 7th of the month to remember their dead family members and pay tribute to them as well as pray and pay tributes to other unknown wandering ghosts so that these homeless souls will not intrude into their daily life and bring along misfortunes or bad luck. On the other hand, 7th of July of the Chinese Lunar New Year is also a day called the Chinese Valentine’s day. Thus, the young generation pays attention to the day as Valentine’s Day more than the Hungry Ghost Festival.