Things To Avoid At Home During Hungry Ghost Month

Those who are very superstitious will believe in the taboos associated with Hungry Ghost Month, which falls between Aug 23 to Sep 21 this year. There's a long list of things to note, such as food to abstain from, and travel habits to avoid, lest you risk offending the spirits. 

If you're part of the "better be safe than sorry" crowd, here's a list of things you should avoid doing at home, according to old superstitions.

1. ⁠Don’t hang clothes out to dry at night

Clothes hung outside in the dark can resemble human figures from afar, and spirits may be attracted to such silhouettes. They may "latch" onto the clothing and sneak into your home when you bring in the laundry. Shudder. 

2. Don't leave food uncovered 

Food that's left out is believed to attract hungry ghosts, especially the ones that did not receive proper funeral rites, or have been forgotten by their families. The spirits 'absorb' the essence of the food, and it's bad luck for humans to consume it.

3. Don't play music or instruments loudly at night

Playing music loudly at night doesn't just make you a terrible neighbour, it might also attract wandering spirits in search of entertainment and company. Think of it as an open-jio to ghosts to come and join the party. 

Some also believe loud noises are disruptive to spirits and an act of provocation.

4. Don't play with Ouija boards or other spirit communication tools 

You're opening a direct line of communication to the spiritual realm and you don't get to decide who or what comes through. During this period, there are more spirits around, and you might attract those that are clingy, or worse, malevolent.

5. Don't light red candles

The colour red is generally associated with celebration in Taoist beliefs. By lighting a red candle, you might unintentionally draw attention from ghosts thinking you are preparing an offering for them. 

6. Don't leave doors open at night 

Open doors can be seen as an invitation for spirits to visit your home. While your home is a safe sanctuary, leaving doors wide open can weaken its protective spiritual boundary and allow bad energy to enter. 

7. Don't hang wind chimes in your bedroom 

In some Chinese cultures, wind chimes are believed to attract and intensify spiritual energy. In fengshui, wind chimes may draw the attention of wandering spirits to your space. 

8. Don't leave water exposed overnight

In Chinese customs, water has long been thought to be a medium that attracts spirits and energy, both positive and negative. Water exposed overnight may contain negative energy, which when consumed, can cause misfortune and even sickness. 

9. Don't renovate or move

This is likely one of the biggest 'do-nots'. Renovations come with loud drilling and hammering, as well as a flurry of activity. The commotion can be a huge disruption to lingering spirits and you might also accidentally trespass into their space.

Renovations are also thought to 'break' the sanctity of one's home, allowing negative energy to enter easily.

The Hungry Ghost Month is also believed to be an unlucky time to carry out big events, which includes moving. 

Photos: Lylah To/ Pexels, miram Oh, Kalon/ Unsplash