Ghost Month

Fun fact for the day:

This is how Ghost Month was explained to us:

The seventh month of Taiwan's lunar calendar is known as Ghost Month. Taiwanese believe that a person's spirit/soul continues on living after death in hell or an alternate afterlife. Since they are capable of affecting the lives of the living, spirits need to be induced to act graciously rather than adversely. Moreover, ghosts need money to enjoy their afterlife.

Also, "certain categories of spirits can be particularly troublesome, however. Women who died before marriage are said to be potent sources of yin – as opposed to yang – which need careful channeling for communal good. (According to ancient Chinese philosophy yin forces are more dark, passive and feminine, while yang forces are more light, active and masculine.) People who commit suicide or die by drowning are also considered risky, but perhaps most worrying are those “hungry ghosts” who do not have filial descendants making offerings to them" (from smashjack discussion forum)

SO. Taiwanese people believe that the gates of hell open up on the seventh month and the spirits/ghosts come out. (Some people don't even swim because they fear being drowned by the ghosts in the water).

To appease these ghosts, people purchase or bring out these big cans/urn-like bins to burn 'ghost money' in. The money is basically fake, paper money but you can only get it at special stores. And the reason you burn it is because it turns into smoke so the ghosts can apprehend the funds - this gives them better afterlives and in turn, makes them look upon you with favor.

Side note: we were told that allergies are especially awful during ghost month because of all the smoke in the air. Obviously not everyone burns ghost money, but most people do just to keep all their bases covered... just in case.

Ghost Money

Appeasing the ghosts.