Friday, August 15, 2008

Ghost Month.

The machine-gun blasts of firecrackers and clouds of smoke and burning embers announce that Ghost Month is upon us. The guards of the lower realm have taken vacation, and they've set the spirits free to roam the earth until they return.

With no boundaries between living and dead, this is the best time to appease one's departed ancestors. Generous offerings are laid out, meals are served to empty seats, and paper money is burned in large smoke-billowing stacks.

Given that ghosts have more freedom than usual, it's best to take some caution in Ghost Month. It's a bad time to be born, and you shouldn't swim in rivers or lake- the spirits dwell below the waters surface. In case you're still worried about the ghosts, parades are held in which dancers dress as the four ghost-guards, to remind the spirits that they are waiting to contain them once again...

3 comments:

Ange said...

I woke up to the firecrackers this morning myself and I desperately wanted to take photos of some of the offering tables I passed on the street but without the costumed dancers it just doesn't seem quite as exciting. Wish I could've gotten to Chinatown today...

Prêt à Voyager said...

That's awesome! I love the lore, and I especially love the top shot of the masked guy on the street!

Anne

chanpheng said...

I was in Penang, Malaysia during August and it really is an incredible festival. In the central part of the city, each street had a different set of entertainments, from Chinese opera to heavy metal - all to keep the ghosts happy during their visit to this world.