According to folklore, the seventh lunar month is also known as the month of “amnesty for the dead”, that is the time when the spirits are released, the hell will open the gates for the souls to return to their families. But not every soul has a place to return to, people call these wandering, homeless ghosts. In these days, besides making offerings to invite the spirits of relatives to return home, people often set up prayers or give alms food to the spirits to hope them to bless.

The custom of worshiping spirits originated from China. Chinese Buddhists call this offering the “放 焰 口 Release the burning mouths”, which is to offer alms and prayers for hungry mouths of the devil. But the Folk broadened pronunciation into “The Hungry Ghost Offering”, that is offering alms to the spirits who wandered, no one was a relative on earth to worship.

The custom of worshiping the soul is related to the story between Mr. Ananda (often referred to as Ananda) and a fire-breathing demon. One evening, Ananda was sitting in the retreat, when he saw a thin, dry, hungry ghost, small neck and long, spit fire coming out. The devil said that three days later, Ananda will die and will reincarnate into the realm of hungry ghosts, his face burned as black. Ananda was so scared, he asked the devil to show him how to avoid misery. The hungry devil said, “Tomorrow, you have to give us the hungry ghosts a box of food, and make offerings to the Three Jewels, you will have a long life, and I will be reincarnated.” Ananda brought stories to the Buddha. The Buddha gave him the mantra called “…陀羅尼(S: Dhāraṇī)”. Ananda prayed in the ceremony and got blessed … The custom of worshiping the soul originated from this legend, so today people still say that worshiping the soul is Reported from the dynasty, with the original meaning of “releasing the devil’s mouth”. Later, it was broadly understood into other meanings such as forgiving sins for all the dead (amnesty for the dead) or offering alms to the spirits. is currently on the 14th of lunar month, and in Vietnam this time lasts a whole month, with no specific date. On the other hand, people often call July the “month of the soul” without luck, so people often avoid a house-buying or business during this time.

Many people think that this is an unlucky when they ate foods for the ghosts. However, this concept is somewhat negative because snatching foods in the Hungry Ghost Offering is also a beauty in Vietnamese traditional culture with a humanistic meaning. It is normal to eat after snatching. Today, the Development of economy, the Hungry Ghost Offering also becomes “conditional” than before when many wealthy homeowners choose to use money to do this. This has led to not only children participating in this activity and also adults. They scramble to get the most money so often happend unfortunate incidents.

When holding “the Hungry Ghost Offering” there are taboos to know:

That is when the food in the the Hungry Ghost Offering have been taken things, we must not rob them. And if your foods get snatched by others, you shouldn’t resist. Since it’s very likely that a hungry demons is reclaiming their stuff, we shouldn’t fight with it.
You should come early before the ceremony and waiting for the host finished. You shouldn’t snatch offering when the host is doing the ceremony because this will be dispute with ghosts.

In addition, Folk often handed down 18 things not to do during these seventh month lunar. Here is a tradition passed down from generation to generation.

Families should consider this as an occasion to worship their ancestors, actively work for good, not waste.
The taboo in the month of the ghost is lack of scientific basis, this is just a habit and psychology of Vietnamese people.

Do not hang the bell in the bed because the bell will attract the attention of the devil, when people sleep, they will be easily disturbed.
Weak people should not go out at night in the days of the ghost because it will be unfortunate.
Do not pluck foot hair on this day because the folk believe that “A leg hair governing the three demons”, the people have more hair on their legs, the less likely the devil will come.
Do not arbitrarily burn paper, votive because that will make the devil come.
Do not eat clumsy offerings because it is for the devil, if you have not prayed to eat will bring disaster to you.
Do not dry your clothes at night because the visible demons will “borrow” and leave “demons” in the clothes.
Those who go out at night are not allowed to call each other’s names, otherwise the devil will remember the names of the called people, which is a bad omen.
Do not swim because the devil will joke with you, if not careful, they will make you to mess your legs.

Do not make your family to startle, their souls are easily attacked by demons.
The banyan tree in front of the house is a gathering place of the demons, they love that places, so we shouldn’t play around there.
Do not stay up too late, because so the spirit will weaken, easily infected with “evil spirit”.
In the corner of the dark corners are the places where demons often gather and rest, not to approach them.
Do not pick up the money scattered on the road, because maybe it is money they offer to bribe the demons of buffalo heads and horses face, if anyone commits a taboo, will be in danger.
When going through deserted places, do not turn your head to look back, even though it feels like “someone” is following you or calling your name. Because it could be teased by the devil.
When you go to bed without the head of the shoes facing the bed, the devil will see that the living person is lying in bed and they will go to bed with you.
Do not stick chopsticks standing in the middle of the rice bowl because it is a form of sacrifice, just like the type of incense burning, easy to lead the devil into the dining hall.
Do not stay alone during this time, otherwise you will be easily led or harassed by the devil.
Do not take photos at night, because the devil always loitering around will “invisible” on photos with the living, that’s not good.

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