Chinese Ghost Month Taboo / 鬼月禁忌
Updated :- In year 2016, The chinese hungry ghost month will begin on 3rd August 2016 and will end on the 31st August 2016
In year 2015, The chinese hungry ghost month will begin on 14th August 2015 and will end on the 12th September 2015.
In year 2014, The chinese hungry ghost month will begin on 27th July 2014 and will end on the 24th August 2014.
In year 2013, The chinese hungry ghost month will begin on 7th of August 2013 and end on the 4th September 2013.
In year 2012, The chinese hungry ghost month will begin on 17th of August 2012 and end on the 15 September 2012.
In year 2011, The chinese hungry ghost month will begin on 31st of July 2011 and ends on the 28th of August 2011.
In year 2010, The chinese hungry ghost month will begin on the 10th of August and end on the 7th of September.
The Chinese ghost month or commonly known as the Hungry Ghost festival falls on the 7th Month of the chinese lunar calendar. At this time, the gate of hell is opened so the spirit and soul of the otherworld is free to roam on ours.
Listed are things that one should avoid doing during the chinese seventh lunar month aka the hungry ghost festival. NOTE:- Much of this has been told down to me by the elders. DO not take it too seriously.
01) One should not pee on a tree because it may offend the spirits that resides there.
02) It was said that young people should not wander around too late into the night during the ghost festival for fear that spirits would follow the individual home.
03) It is bad luck to kick or disturb offering to the hungry ghost such as joss stick, candle and food offerings. All these item are mean for appeasing the spirits and ghost.
04) It is also inauspicious for couple to get married during the hungry ghost month.
05) During the month, Chinese Operas would be staged to perform and entertain the spirits and soul during the hungry ghost festival. Usually the front row of seats are reserve for the spirits so it is not advisable to sit on it especially during the first day of the festival. It is said that one may get possess if the individuals luck is low.
06) It would be best to avoid swimming during this month as victims death by drowning may cause the individual to drown. Some has experience their leg been drag/pull into the water.
07) During this month it is not auspicious to visit a sick person in the hospital, attend an funeral, moving house and starting a new business.
08) Avoid talking about ghost during this month as it may offend wandering spirits.
09) Wearing black clothing are consider inauspicious during this time of the year too. So is red if I’m not wrong.
10) It is advisable not to have the main door of a premise open all night long. This apparently will invite negative energy into the house.
11) Leaving an umbrella open outside the house in the night is also considered a no-no as spirits may take shelter under them.
12) Opening an umbrella INSIDE the house after it was used in the night is also not advisable. It is said that one may bring/carry in spirits to the house.
13) One should also avoid going into a jungle during this time. Tree with long leaves are consider very yin and it’s not advisable to take shelter there.
14) One must also not kill any rare insect (moth, grasshopper, butterfly, etc) that visits the house during this time. They apparently are manifestation of spirits or ancestors paying a visit.
15) To begin/start renovation to your premise during this time is inauspicious. This is said to be disturbing any spirit/soul residing there.
16) I was told that moving/placing a fish tank into a house this month is also considered inauspicious. Water is considered a Yin element.
17) Celebrating birthdays in the middle of the night during the seventh Chinese ghost month is inauspicious.
18) Taking out wet clothes for drying in the night. Apparently, Spirits would try them on and will bring misfortune to whoever that wears it after.
19) High heel shoes are also not advisable during this time. I was told that spirits/soul could easily possess the victim when their heel are high up. But do not worry as the person would need to be in a very bad luck to be effected.
20) It is inauspicious to have the chopstick stab onto the rice while eating. Do this would signify that the food is an offering to the good brothers/spirits.
21) The chinese believe that each person contain an unseen trinity fire which is located on the forehead and shoulders. These are to protect them from been possess and bad luck. It would be advisable not to pat anybody shoulder or forehead at this time.
22) During this ghost month it is advisable not too look back or respond when somebody calls your name from your back.
23) Do not place your sandals facing the headboard of your bed to avoid unwanted spirit sleeping along.
24) Avoid taking photographs in the evening. Having a photo taken with the spirits is inauspicious and may led to trouble.
25) One should avoid playing with spiritual games like the Ouija Board, Spirit Pen, etc.
To know more about offering to the hungry ghost do read my small article Praying to Hungry Ghost
NOTE:- Kindly understand that we DO NOT provide any DATE SELECTIONs services. However, we strongly feel that if you plan to do anything important, it would be advisable to select an auspicious date to do so.
鬼月禁忌
在此让各位网友了解(中元節)称为(鬼月)禁忌
和忌諱,以下可让大家参考和避免冲犯
在農历七月初一开始鬼门关就会打开让陰魂来到阳间亨用人世间丰盛供品和祭品等等
鬼门关打维持一个月的现在开始要注意以下禁忌和忌諱了。
1) 七月时候尽量不要在一棵樹上撒尿，因為這可能會得罪駐留在樹里或停留的好兄弟陰魂。
2) 七月时候尽量不要遊荡到三更半夜会很容易让陰魂跟着你回家。
3) 七月时候不要去踢到或擾亂提供給陰魂亨用供品和祭品，比如香，蠟燭和食物,金銀纸種類等等。
4) 七月时候是不吉利的月份比較不适合情侶在这期間結婚如果是没办法情况下尽量选择吉日。
5) 七月时候会有中國戲曲或舞台在中元節期間娛樂给陰魂观看,通常前排座位是保留给好兄弟鬼魂坐的,因此人是不可坐在上面的。
6) 七月时候不要去海边和河边游泳会很容易溺水让陰魂找替身。
7) 七月尽量不要去醫院看望病人和參加葬禮,等等
8) 七月时候避免在這個月談鬼，因為這样可能比较會得罪好兄弟陰魂。
9) 在七月时候尽量不要穿太多黑色衣服会影响运气没那么好,建议穿黄或红和鲜艳颜色。
10) 七月时候到晚上不要把大門开放一整夜這样很容易把好兄弟鬼魂招進屋子里。
11) 七月时候晚上不要在屋子外打开雨傘,很容易让好兄弟陰魂会附在雨傘里。
12) 七月时候尽量不要在屋子里面撑开雨傘是属于收魂的法器容易让陰魂躲藏在里面。
13) 七月时候應該避免在這段時間進入叢林樹大葉子茂盛被認為是很陰，好兄弟陰魂会在陰森的地方暫避。
14) 七月时候不能殺死任何稀有昆蟲（蛾，蝗蟲，蝴蝶等）会可能是好兄弟阴魂或祖先化身。
15) 七月时候裝修房子或公司這段時間都是属于不吉利的时候。
16) 在七月期间移動在屋子里面的魚缸都是不吉利的。
17) 七月时候期間慶祝生日尽量不要到半夜也是不吉利的。
18) 七月时候不要在晚上把湿衣挂在屋外晒会让陰魂试穿过,人再拿出来穿会影响到运气不好。
19) 七月时候在晚上尽量不要穿高跟鞋会很容易让陰魂上身。
20) 七月时候尽量在吃饭时后不要把筷子插在白饭上面,只有在供奉(好兄弟)时才会把筷子插在白饭。
21) 七月时候尽量不要拍打两肩及头顶,人有三把火就在三个地方拍熄对方的火容易让陰魂找麻烦。
22)七月时候尽量荒郊野外或人烟稀少的地方如有人叫你的名字不要轻易回头或回应。
23)七月时候尽量不要把鞋头的方向对着床头那么容易让陰魂上床和你一起睡。
24)七月时候尽量不要在晚间拍照会容易拍到陰魂然后一起带回家。
25)七月时候尽量不要玩碟仙,銀仙,笔仙等等,会容易发生事情可能陰魂上身的问题。
注意： 以上忌諱和禁忌是让网友们参考有什么写錯敬請諒解，本网站不提供任何選擇吉日服務。但是，本网站強烈認為，如果你打算做什麼重要的事情，请選擇吉日才去做。
Below:- A picture of Tua Pek and Dee Pek, Da Er Bo Ye / 大二爷伯, (First and Second Uncle) paper effigies.
My Time – my.72dragon.com – A web blog where i catalog chinese temples in malaysia.
is it ok for the so-called pamamanhikan of my boyfriend’s family to our house during the ghost month?
Hello, This…..i am not too sure. Probably, your elders/relative would have an answer to this.
Hi
Can I “open door” for my new flat during ghost month? open door as in my key collection is on ghost month, and can we g and open our new flat door?
Thanks
Hi, I guess should not be a problem but its best to select an auspicious date to do so.
Hi. Would like inquire if its ok to move items/things over to a new place during the Ghost Month, but not to move-in/ live in after the Ghost Month? What would i need to do? Thank you very much.
Hi, There shouldn’t be a problem moving things to a new place as long you are not planning to moving-in during this time.
Hi. Would like to know if we can celebrate birthday on August 20th? Which means it is the 14th of Ghost month.
Would like to add. I just bought my bed and they are sending it by this 16th of August. Is it proper to do so? Please do advise me. Thank you.
Hi Lee,
There should be no problem celebrating your birthday so long as its not done late in the night. As for your bed, consult the almanac or an expert to check if 16 is an auspicious day.
Hi
Me n brother are planning to start a pet grooming business,,, we already found a space,, is it okay to start renovating the space even though the ghost month (aug 7 2013) is starting already? We might start renovating on the 15th if the plan pushes thru… I’m planning to open the shop on sept 8,2013.. Pls advice. Thanks
Hi,
My advise would be to select an auspicious date for the renovation.
Hi,, can u suggest an auspicious date and time we can start renovation? My sign is dragon, born August 31,1976 and my brothers bday is december 3,1985.. What are the offerings we should make before starting renovation? Thank you
Hi,
We do not provide date selection services. Kindly, consult an expert and i believe other infomation may be required beside the DOB.
Take care.
Hi i just want to ask , if we can visit our soon to be ninong and ninang for the wedding . we already told them verbally before the ghost month. but if we will go to their place personally to give the “fabric” for the gown. is it advisable if we can visit them in the ghost month ?
Hi,
I am not too sure about the customary part. It’s best to consult your elders or relatives..
Hi, im celebrating my birthday in a club on 21 aug, would that be inauspicious? what should i do?
Hi, your options…
1- consult your local priest.
2- re-schedule or re-venue.
3- go ahead as planned and hope for the best.
Cheers..
Hi, wondering if you have heard about not cutting hair is it during the whole month or at certain time of the day cause my hair is getting long and need a haircut
Hi,
I have heard of this but its only practice during CNY. Do you know the reasoning of why one shall NOT cut their hair during the ghost month?
I actually know a few who would consider hair cutting on this month as AUSPICIOUS. They believe that this will cut all the bad and inauspicious things away. Well, you got to do what you got to do to look GOOD. 🙂
We have 2 stalls in our house for business… one is occupied by us. The other one is been renovated before the Ghost month.( last week ). is it ok to continue renovating?
I estimated that the renovation will be finish by next week. is it ok to transfer our present business to the renovated stall next week? then renovate the other stall?
Since you’ve already started renovating BEFORE the ghost month, it’s okay to continue the the work and so on.
Hi, It is auspicious to transfer a house on August 8, 2013? Thanks waiting for the answer
Hi,
Certain people believe that moving house during the ghost month is consider INAUSPICIOUS and 8 August 2013 falls in the chinese ghost month.
Hi, thank you for that answer, by the way I start transferring my things today early in the morning, what should i do or there is something lucky charms to distract the bad luck? pls answer,….
Thank you
Hi,
I’m not too sure of any definite way of doing so. A visit to a local temple would help.
Hi, Im renting a room in a compound, and i transfer a room in the same compound also, it is inauspicious
I heard cannot fap (M@sturbation) on 7 month , i just did it at home ! what are the consequences . i’m scared ! please tell me what to do
Hi, Can’t help you as i do not have such infomation. Am not even sure about the consequences part..maybe you could enlighten us with what your have heard.
We are planning to start our kitchen renovation. We need to retile our kitchen, remove current kitchen cabinets and remove current kitchen appliances. Can we start the first part of the pre-construction on August? Then actual renovation after the ghost month?
Thanks
Hi,
As mention all groundbreaking or begining of any renovation shall not done in the ghost month as this may disturb any spirits/soul residing there. If you really need to proceed, it is advisable to consult an expert for an auspicious date.
Hi, We are about to start building our new house by the 21st of August will this bring bad luck or anything??
Hi,
There are many factors to Bad luck. Do consult an expert.
hi,i want to open internet cafe this month,what should i do? open it or wait to end the ghost month? thank u so much…
Hi,
If you believe in ghost month do and don’t and you do not want to take chances, then wait for the month to be over.
🙂 Cheers
thanks 🙂
what date on september is the best day to open my business…?
This you gotta look for an expert providing date selection services. 🙂
Hello,
I am going to start a company, and was planning to wait until after Sep 4th. But now I have the chance to get my company name in a project, that will expose me to a lot of potential future clients. The project application´s deadline is Aug 31st. Is it ok to register the company, to be able to use the name for the project, if I don´t do any other activities in the company until after Sep 4th?
Hi,
Yes, you should register your company but as usual…i do suggest you select an auspicious date for doing so. 🙂
Hi,,
Is it ok if i burning incense after 7pm and plat tibeten music instrument through my ipad music collection? Is this also make the ghost comfort if i played some soothing buddha and ancient old time chinese instrument? And i just put some 3 orange on my diningtable. Is that also consider give feed to hungry ghost?
Hi,
There shouldn’t be a problem with burning incense after 7pm. why should there be one? I’m not too sure about the tibetan music thingy and not too sure about instrumental music that that would comfort ghost. And also.. 3 orange on your own dining table would “NOT” be call “feeding” the hungry ghost.
Cheers
hi! i’m planning to do some spring cleaning of our house. is it okay to move our things around the house like moving our cabinet to a different position?
Its shouldn’t be a problem.. 🙂
Hi,
Thanks for the advice. I heard that weeping during this period is bad. Is it true? Why is it so?
Regards,
Jan
Hi Janine,
Personally, i not sure if weeping in this period is bad. From what i know…… when relative souls/spirit visits and sees their family members weeping “over them” , they will be reluctant to return back to the otherworld as they would feel that they are still misses by those around. Certain oldies mention that this will also make the soul/spirit journey to the otherworld more difficult.
🙂
may i asked in advance the ghost ear for 2014 for us to be prepared for wedding, business, house condo unit transfer, etc.. kindly advise us ahead of time possible now thank you
Chinese Ghost month 2014 begins on 27 july 2014 and ends on 24th August 2014.
During ghost month is it okay if we move things/rearrange things inside the house? What will happen if we do?
Hi Enzo,
There shouldn’t be any problem re-arraging things in the house during the the ghost month.
Thanks for your great info, but can you please use the correct grammar?
Hi,
Thanks for the advised. i’ll sure look into it. 🙂
What is wrong with the grammar? The main point is that you understand thats all.
Hi can I ask what will happen if I pick up a cell phone is that bad luck for ghost mouth
Hi,
Not too sure about this.
Thank you for the info here.
Hi, the mother of my friend passed away and we are planning to go to his mothers wake tonight, is it ok? Or do i have to do somthing after so to cast away any badluck? Pls advise thanks
Hi, Do seek your local temple for advise.
Hi we are preparing for business opening on october. So we are doing all the contracts for office renovations, signing the office lease contracts etc. Is it okay to do it this aug 28? Please help
Hi,
The chinese ghost month end on the 4th September 2013. It would be advisable to check if August 28 is auspicious for the business owners.
Hi,
I would like to know if there is any specific process during this festival?
The first thing to do or prepare until the last thing to do or prepare.
I have a research to do about this festival and i found that it is a bit hard for me to find this information.
If possible, can you give me you email for me to ask more questions regarding this festival? thanks.
Hi Edd,
You could reach me via the contact form above. 🙂
Hi, we moved in our new house last aug. 20 because of the typhoon maring, what can we do to contradict since we moved in this ghost month?
Hi,
I’m not too sure of any definite way of doing so. A visit to a local temple would help.
Hi,
I would like to check with you, is it true that one shall not cut their hair during the 7th month? Because I have heard from a few friends of mine including my girlfriend. So I’m in doubt whether I should go cut my hair or not.
Hi,
As replied on earlier comments, No hair cutting is usually practice during CNY. Do you know the reasoning of why one shall NOT cut their hair during the ghost month?
I actually know a few who would consider hair cutting on this month as AUSPICIOUS. They believe that this will cut all the bad and inauspicious things away. Well, you got to do what you got to do to look GOOD. 🙂