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.
hey again,
I forgot to ask this is it okay to sing out loud, or sing during the ghost month? is it okay to write a book during the ghost month and maybe perhaps if God willing is it okay the book of mine will be published during the ghost month? I do need to know the answers, I’m sorry if I’m a little annoying hehe, I just need great advice, thank you very much 😀 again, have a nice day! Cheers! 🙂
There shouldn’t be a problem to sing out loud and publishing your book during the seventh month.
please answer my new questions
Can I ask if I can swim in the day?
Hi, If you believe these taboo would effect you, then its advisable not to do so.
Can i have new pets during this month ? Like hamsters ?
Hi, I couldn’t find any information about not having pets during this time.
hi. if i go swimming in a theme park is that okay? ill be going on 11aug
HI, If you believe these taboo would effect you, then its advisable not to do so.
the elders told me before that during ghost month, getting married is not advisable… but as the admin had said so, it is best to seek advise from a professional (fengshui masters – i guess?) , going to the dermatologists for facial is okey as long as the clinic is not inside the hospital premises… but then again it’s all up to you if you believe in it…
Hi, I forgot it was ghost month and accidently killed a bug (it looked almost like a grasshopper or cricket). Now I feel really bad. Is there a way I should apologize?
Hi,
Not too sure on how to answer this as there are a dozen way to interpret the accidental killing of the bug. Probably, you would feel better by doing some good deed during this time.
Cheers.
what if baby is born on July 27, 2014??
Hi,
What about the baby born that day? Hope he/she is healthy and cute.
Hello!
We are still having a house renovation which started early July but the banging or loud noise is already done before the start of the Ghost Month (knowing that it is a “no no”). My question is, I am planning to put some coins on a ground on this new post before it is poured with cement, does that affect a hungry ghost, is it a “no no”?
Additional Note: Putting coins has something to do with Feng Shui and I know Ghost Month is not Feng Shui, I just want to make sure about putting coins before pouring a cement for it may attract a Ghost or such. Besides the taboo advices and such, I want to also know your personal opinion about it?
Hi Jetty,
Based on what you have mention… So as long as the renovation started before the Chinese ghost month, any works done between it should be Okay. Different school of feng shui has its own different thoughts. Coins burial, to my knowledge, should be done on an auspicious day. I was told that if it is done on a inauspicious day and wrong location, the bad energy will be trap in the house. Do ask the person whom you got these advised from for a clearer picture.
Cheers,
We will move to our new build house on august 3. Do you think that day would be auspicious? Please advise. Thank you.
Hi Neneni,
We do not provide date selection services. Kindly seek advise from professional feng shui / date selection expert.
Cheers,
me and my live-in partner experienced lots of problems yearly starting august.. 2013, our bag with 100,000.00 cash was lost, our eldest daughter been hospitalized for almost 2 weeks, 2009- to 2012, still money problem and family been brought to hospital.. aug. 8, 2013, we opened our 1st food business, and it became a reason of our family problem…so we stopped the resto and closed it. now, 2014, we are again afraid that something wrong will happened again… what’s the best thing to do?
Hi! We bought a house before the ghost month and the seller is still processing our papers until today. We haven’t move because we need to make some revisions like putting grills, blinds, etc which is scheduled next week.
Is it safe to push thru with the installation of grills, etc within the ghost month?
Thanks!
Hi,
As far as i know, installation of grills and blinds should be okay as long there is no major earthworks or wall rebuilding.
im going to open my laundry bussiness this aug.8 is it okay to open in this date? and what can i do to push away the badluck from this “ghost month” they called?..
is that ok to give birth during this time? Today until Aug 21 is the date which my OB-gyne told me the possible date i will give birth. Thank you!
Hi,
I do not have any information on this matter. I personally think its okay to have a child anytime of the year. Congratulation.
Hi, if i burn joss papers and offer offerings for my ancestors, can it be August 9 or August 10 in eastern standard time? daytime or night time? and also can i burn the joss paper in the kitchen area where the air vent is? i dont think i can burn joss paper outside in this neighborhood.
Hi, May I know if there is any taboo for buying new electronic items for home during 7th month? I am thinking of buying microwave for my pregnant sister.. Thanks.
Hi, There is no taboo buying any electrical item during this time. However, there are taboos on giving certain gift to pregnant people. Do consult with your sister before sending the item.
Thank you for your reply.
Hi. If the ghost month is between 27th if July to 24th of August, and new construction of our house is not advisable, is it ok to start the construction a day after the last day of tge ghost month or you may advise us to start the construction on September. Thank you.
Hi, It should be okay to start construction on your house one day after the ghost month but i do suggest you get a professional opinion on selecting an auspicious day for ground breaking.
Hi there, i am renting out a bed space and the tenant will be moving in on the 15th of Aug 2014. Is that ok?
i washed my clothes and done late at night…i hang my wet clothes outside maybe it was 1 am already… what would you advice to avoid bad luck from no.18 activity…
HI, Avoid doing so in future if you believe these taboo would effect you.
Can we move in to our new house on Aug.25, after the ghost month?
Hi, It should be okay to move in after the ghost month but i do suggest you select an auspicious day to do so.
Please help i accidentally killed a beetle cuz it’s in my hand.. I am really scared
Hi.. my partner plan to make a reservation payment for house project this friday aug.22.. Is it bad-luck? your response will highly appreciated. Thanks
Is it ok if we move to our newly constructed house this august 25, pls give me some advices of what i should and shouldn’t do before and during the moving in. Thanks
Hi, As like any major things done during the chinese ghost month, it would be advisable to check if the 25th is an auspicious date to moved into your new house. We are unable to advise you on what are the should and should’t do for house moving as customary belief and tradition varies from culture to culture.
How come it is ok to have baby, but not ok to have wedding, move house, etc?
when does the ghost month starts and end last 2009
Hi Kate, Chinese Ghost Month in 2009 Begins on August 20 till 18 Sept.
hi, i am opening a boutique on August 15, 2015. should i cancel it? is it part of the ghost month? thank you
You could arrange for an auspicious date for the opening and yes the 15 is the 2nd day of the chinese ghost month.
Hello, I would like to ask if we can start our house renovation before the Ghost Month starts and continue into it for another few weeks? Or should we avoid any renovation work at all? Please advise. Thank you.
If you begin before the 7th month, you could continue with the renovation(if you feel comfortable) without stopping. Just avoid moving in during the ghost month.
Hi,
We are migrating to Canada and flight already confirmed on Aug. 24, 2015. I will book a hotel for a few days until we move to an apartment. I need your advice as our house move in is within the ghost month. Can a house blessing by a priest and prayers can deflect any bad energy or bad luck if any? Your response will be very highly appreciated.
Thank you.
Hi,
Yes, It would be advisable to get a priest to cleanse the house before moving in. Do obtain an auspicious date from him too.
We are planning to open a new branch for our travel and tours is it ok to process papers like dti, mayor’s permit, contract etc during ghost month?
Don’t see an issue to that.
Hi,
I signed a contract last july 25,2015 , the start of the business will fall on the ghost month including the construction. Will it affect with the ghost month? Should i pursue or cancell and wait for the ghostonth to end.
Is there anything i can do?
Thank you
Hi, Well, if you are not in a hurry and is afraid that the ghost month would effect your business then put it on hold OR you could visit your local feng shui person to obtain an auspicious date for ground breaking.
Hello, we also started house renovation before the 7th month, but there are some house defects found after renovation. Can we rectify the defects during 7th month (eg. floor tile damage to change out, cabinet door damage to change out, ceiling fan and curtain installation). Can we do staycation in the new house during this month even we have not officially move in? Please advise. Thank you.
Yes, you can repair the defects on the 7th month since (i assumed) you’ve not move in.