Funeral fashion show to inject life into Hong Kong's Hungry Ghosts Festival

In Chinese culture the Hungry Ghost Festival takes place during the seventh month of the lunar calendar, when some believe spirits – perhaps hostile and vengeful – are released from behind the gates of hell to roam the human world.

Even today in Hong Kong it is common to see people burn offerings and leave food by the roadside for the hungry ghosts.

But one local thinks the annual ritual is taken too seriously, especially by older generations, and has come up with a plan to inject some life into the event – a fashion show for burial clothes.

“Western people celebrate their ghost festival, Halloween, in a fun way,” says Catherine Lui Sze-wai, co-founder of education advocacy group Liberal Union. “So why should Hongkongers be so fearful of our ghost festival?”

Younger people find the festival creepy, said liberal studies tutor Lui, and some end up seeking blessings from deities despite normally calling themselves atheists.

At Lui’s ghoulish gala, to be held on Ghost Day – the 15th day of the seventh lunar month - August 10 this year – the models will strut their stuff wearing qipao and changshan. The festival is on the 15th day of the seventh month but it is observed on the 14th day in southern China.