The Vietnamese are deeply vested in the belief of the Lunar Calendar. Despite most activities these days go on with the Gregorian one, people still keep track of dates the old way. Many holidays and festivals are held on the occasions of the moon.
Lunar July
In many Asian countries, Lunar July signals bad luck and curses of the wandering lost souls. It is believed that sometime during the first half of the month, the gate of hell is open and the ghosts from the Lower Realm will roam free on Earth. The ancestors and the deceased relatives will find their way back to visit living descendants. Other so-called “lost ghosts”, which have no home and hear no prayers, will wander around, lost, lonely and bitter. The ancestors find their way back by tracing back the offerings and prayers of children, and upon feasting will bless them with good luck. Meanwhile lost ghosts, the ones with no relatives, forgotten by descendants or those who died without proper burial have nothing offered to them and will angrily curse bad luck upon strangers.
Vietnamese widely believe that Lunar July is the month that ghosts roam around and create trouble for just everyone. Many wholeheartedly blame their bad luck in July on the ghosts. To this modern day, even more than in the past, people often restrict themselves from doing major projects or embarking on trips during this period of time. Others, mostly Buddhist practitioners, go on a vegetarian diet and pray for a rather amount of time during the day. It is believed that the evil lost ghosts tend to stay with the likes of them, so the bad person will end up paying a high price because of his companions.
The Festival of the Hungry Ghosts
The most notable event of this month, July 15th is the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. Vietnamese families will prepare two feasts during the day. The first one is offered early, usually at noon, to ancestors. The second one, often offered sometime after sunset, is meant for the lost souls. People sometimes go to temples to pray to deceased relatives, while monks ask Buddha to forgive condemned souls that have committed sins in their human days and are cursed to be hungry ghosts. Many people also bring offerings to the temples and donate for the purpose of feeding these ghosts. After the monks finish their prayers, people are encouraged to act the part of the ghosts and fight for the food. It is a day that everyone eases up and forgives the sinful souls.
For many in Vietnam, it is common belief that living children should burn hell bank notes and joss paper to offer ancestors. These notes are believed to hold value in the afterlife, which is just a mirror image of this world. These days, the commodities include the latest techs and the most modern devices, from iphone to all types of vehicles and even entire houses. On this day, depending on each region, people will also light up lotus-shaped lanterns to guide the ghosts back in the afterlife. These lanterns are floated on rivers in great numbers, and when their light burns out, it is then that the ghosts have found their way back.
Perhaps strange to most, the day of the Festival of the hungry ghosts also happens to be Vietnamese (Lunar) Mothers’ Day. People pay homage to their parents and ancestors, be them living or deceased. The custom is that one spends some time thinking of their mother’s great heart and being thankful. People whose moms have passed away will wear a white flower on their shirt during the day, while others whose moms are still will have a red one. This very simple custom is largely practiced throughout the country, and bears a very sacred and deeply unique mark of Vietnamese culture.
Ghost Month is a time for Vietnamese people to remember their ancestors and show respect for the dead. It is also a time to reflect on the impermanence of life and the importance of making good choices.
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