The Hungry Ghosts Festival （中元节）

Every year, between the months of August and September marks one of the biggest scale Chinese tradition observation in Singapore; it is commonly known as The Hungry Ghosts Festival (中元节) or to the European world, the Chinese version of Halloween except instead of just one day where the ghouls roam free, the Chinese version marks an entire lunar month during which the Taoism religion believes the "Gates of Hell (鬼门关)" are thrown open to allow these "good brothers & sisters (好兄弟姐妹)" or "ancestors' spirits (祖先)", who have endured 11 months of hunger and suffering to come up to the mortal realm for a month holiday of solid feasting of food offerings as well as collect "incenses and paper ingots (元宝蜡烛香)" offered by their descendants, so that they may "buy off / bribe" the hell guards for an easier time when they return back to hell.

Incenses and paper ingots (元宝蜡烛香) ~ courtesy of Jerome Wong

It is also during this specific month, where I recall my parents telling us from young what the taboos are, such as:

1.) Do NOT step on or near the burned pile of paper ingots as these represent their currency in the underworld (now, you wouldn't like it if someone steps on your money right?)

2.) Do NOT wander out too late as the 'ghouls' are out roaming the streets as Chinese believes that these ghouls comprises of people who once suffered 'unjust' deaths and are out looking for a living substitute so they may reincarnate).

3.) Do NOT turn your head around if you ever hear 'someone' calling your name.
4.) Do NOT move house (might risk inviting the 'ghouls' into your home).
5.) Do NOT get engaged or married (might risk getting married to a 'ghoul' partner)

Ghoul Couple (鬼夫妻) ~ Courtesy from Google

As a celebratory function manner to entertain these affectionately termed "good brothers & sisters (好兄弟姐妹)"; the Taoism temples or dialect associations will host large scale dinners on tented open fields especially around homeland areas or near their workplaces.  Often at these dinners, there will be an open auction for the dinner attendees to bid on 'lucky items' at ridiculous prices to bring home and naturally, these raised funds are either donated to charity organizations or as operations funds for the temples and associations.

A typical celebratory dinner setting. ~ Courtesy from Google

 Another common sight during the Hungry Ghosts Festival is the traditional Chinese Street Operas, where the performers wore heavy makeups and periodic costumes and acted out opera classics such as Mulian Rescue His Mom (木莲救母) - a filial story of how a son named Mulian stormed Hell to rescue his mother by offering to suffer the punishment on her behalf;

A scene from the play: Mulian Rescue His Mom (木莲救母)
~ Courtesy from Google

Another play one may get to see could be the famous Journey to the West (西游记) - the journey of the Tang Monk (唐僧) to the West to obtain scriptures accompanied by Monkey King Sun Wu Kong (孙悟空)，Piggy (猪八戒) and Sandy (沙僧).

A scene from the play: Journey to the West (西游记)
~ Courtesy from Google

A modern day variation to these street operas is the emergence of modern day Musical Stages or Getai (歌台).  Singers would wear outlandish clothing and belt out modern day songs or performers would do talk shows or comedy gags to entertain the modern day "good brothers & sisters".

Modern Day Getai (歌台) Performers.
~ Courtesy from Google

Now, a point that one must note when attending these performances be it the traditional Chinese Street Operas or modern day Getai is that you will notice always, the first two rows of seats by the front are always left vacant.  These are the VIP Seats (贵宾席) for the "good brothers & sisters (好兄弟姐妹)" and as such are not meant for the living, so remember always, NEVER EVER sit in those seats should you attend these performances!

Lastly, as the Hungry Ghosts Festival draws to a close, believers would prepare one last food, incenses and ingots offerings for the spirits to bring away as the Hell Guards (狱卒) under the command of the two famous Hell Generals, General Fan (范将军) & General Xie (谢将军); commonly known as Black and White Impermanence (黑白无常) will come into the mortal realm to gather the good brothers & sisters back to Hell as well as 'arrest' the deserters (those who refuses to return).

The Black & White Impermanence (黑白无常)
- representing also Peace & Stability (国泰民安) with Wealth & Prosperity （风调雨顺).
~ Courtesy from Google

PS: Images on this blog post are 'Googled' and publicly shared and I do not claim any ownership.