Hungry Ghost Festival: 7 activities to avoid, from photography to swimming

Lock your doors and windows: the Hungry Ghost Festival (Yu Lan Festival) is upon us. On this night – the 15th night of Ghost Month – we can expect to see peak supernatural activity.

Ghost month takes place during the seventh month of the lunar calendar, which this year runs from August 1-29. Taoists and Buddhists believe that during this month, the gates of hell are opened for “hungry ghosts” to roam the land of the living, searching for food, money, entertainment, and (possibly!) souls.

What you need to know about the Yu Lan Ghost Festival

Hungry ghosts are the spirits of those who have died, but are not at peace. This may be because they committed a wrongdoing while living, were not given a proper burial after death, or are not being “fed” enough offerings by their descendents.

To make sure that no bad luck befalls you tonight – or for the rest of the month – here are some activities to avoid.

It may cause offence to them – and you really wouldn’t want that.

During the ghost month, spirits of those who have drowned will actively look for someone to take their place. So if you happen to be swimming or doing water activities, they might try to pull you under the water!

Behind the scenes at the Hungry Ghost Festival: how the living dedicate a month to honouring the dead

A ghost might try them on and leave behind its negative energy, giving you bad luck.

Or you might capture a spirit in your photograph.

It is an invitation for ghosts to enter your house.

Not that this is acceptable at any time of the year, but it’s an especially bad idea during Ghost Month, as spirits often hide inside trees. This is why it’s also a good idea to stay away from the woods at night.

Aside from being bad table manners, sticking your chopsticks in your food makes them resemble the joss stick offerings to the dead. Hungry ghosts may mistake your food for offerings and take over your body to consume it, indirectly cursing you.