3 Facts About The Hungry Ghost Festival

Share this story
Besides the do’s and don’ts or the practices people would follow, here are some exciting things that are not usually mentioned about the Hungry Ghost Festival:
1) The Buddhism origin story of the Hungry Ghost Festival
Image obtained from Wikipedia
The Hungry Ghost Festival is also referred to as the “Yulanpen Festival” because of its Buddhist origin story about a monk named Mulian.
Mulian traveled to the underworld to help his mother, as she was suffering in hell for being too greedy with the money he left her to help other monks.
She was starving, so he tried to feed her some food, but it immediately turned into fire once it reached her mouth.
Buddha told him that the only way to relieve her hunger was to offer food that is placed in yulan bowls to monks on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month; hence, the name.
Because of his actions, his mother was reincarnated into a human.
2) Not everyone celebrates the Hungry Ghost Festival on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month.
Image obtained from Reddit
The Hungry Ghost Festival is usually celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month; however, this is not always the case for everyone, as people from southern China would celebrate this holiday a day earlier.
They began this practice long ago “to avoid being attacked by enemies during the inauspicious day” and eventually adapt to it.
3) People would release a lantern to the river.
Image obtained from www.taiwannews.com.tw
In the evening of the Hungry Ghost Festival or at the end of the Ghost Month, people would write their deceased loved ones’ names in a glowing lantern and release it to a river for them to find their way home.
Which fact surprised you the most? Comment it down below!
Share this story
Related Posts
7 Clever Ways to Sneakily Pay the Restaurant Bill
- Posted by Jodie Tanco
- 0 comments
Do you want to treat your family or friends without the fuss? If so, then you better learn the 7 clever strategies to sneakily pay the restaurant bill.
Dishonor on Your Cow: Ways You Have Probably Disappointed Your Ancestors
- Posted by Regiena Siy
- 0 comments
6 Pandemic Struggles that Chinoys Can Probably Relate to
- Posted by Regiena Siy
- 0 comments
Top 10 Chinese Surnames in the Philippines
- Posted by Jodie Tanco
- 0 comments
Ever wondered what the most common Chinoy surnames are? Take a look at our list here!
Why You Should Watch Vlogger Mike Chen
- Posted by Mary Matias
- 0 comments
Enjoy passing the time by watching vlogs? Then you should check out Mike Chen, one of the most well-known Chinese vloggers in the world. Learn more about him here.
GEM: Discover the Pop Princess Hailed as China’s Taylor Swift
- Posted by Jodie Tanco
- 0 comments
Dubbed as China’s Taylor Swift, Mandopop artist G.E.M. is shooting herself up all the way to the top of the Chinese music scene. Get to know her here.
8 Things You Didn’t Know Came from China
- Posted by Mary Matias
- 0 comments
The Chinese have contributed a lot of inventions that are still widely used today. Here are some interesting things you didn’t know were invented by the Chinese.
Things Non-Traditional Chinoys Still Find Useful
- Posted by Stephanie Liao
- 0 comments
If you’re even the tiniest bit Chinese, there are Chinese traditions you can’t escape: Chinese New Year, the Mooncake Festival, birthday noodles, or even fireworks. Whether or not you follow these traditions, there may be some things of Chinese origins that you still find useful in your daily life.Here are some things that even non-traditional Chinoys may find helpful.
Where to Study Chinese Abroad: Beijing Edition
- Posted by Jodie Tanco
- 0 comments
Thinking of studying in China? Here are the best Beijing-based universities for international students to learn Chinese in!
5 Banned Books in China
- Posted by Mary Matias
- 0 comments
Throughout history, there have been many banned books in China. Curious to know some of them? Read on here.
9 Things Non-Traditional Chinoys Should Know
- Posted by Stephanie Liao
- 0 comments
The struggle is real when you belong to a Chinoy family but just aren’t Chinese enough. Here are a few things to keep in mind at family gatherings so that you can get at least a few nods of approval from the relatives before retreating back to the comfort of your own home.
Everything You Need to Know About the Blue Dragon Festival
- Posted by Jodie Tanco
- 0 comments
Commemorating one of the most auspicious animals in Chinese mythology, the Blue Dragon Festival is said to be a time perfect for wishing for good blessings, good weather, and a good harvest.