Be aware, it is the annual month of wandering souls in Vietnam and it is best not to stay out too late!
Taken place on the seventh month of Lunar Calendar, "tháng cô hồn" is regarded as the month of ghost, soul, and spirit.
In Vietnamese culture, it is believed that a human is made up of two parts: the soul and the body. Once a person parts with his/her life, the physical body may be gone but the soul lingers, invisible to human eyes. If the person lived kindly, he/she shall be reincarnated into another human being. However, if the person committed sins and lived cruelly, his/her spirit would be banished to hell, where that person shall be punished, starved, and tortured in order to pay for the crime committed.
On the second day of the Vietnamese ghost month, Pluto, the King of the Underworld's realm, opens the Gate of Hell so the spirits are set free to return to the living world.
Spirits of those who have families can easily trace their way back to their loved ones according to the offerings and pray from their families.
Lonely souls who have no living relatives and nowhere to return to wander the streets and cast bad luck on people. Since they have no offering and food to eat, they are often vengeful and vicious.
Offerings Custom in Vietnam
On this month, it is assumed that preparing a feast made up of delicious dishes is a way of keeping the lonely spirits happy and prevent them from messing with families and businesses.
The food table offering to the ancestors and any lost souls
The feast for the lonely souls is usually consisted of porridge, sugarcane, confectioneries, fruits, and sweet potatoes. In addition, salt, 3 glasses of water, 3 incense sticks, 2 candles, and votive papers are also offered. After the offering, a custom of scattering salt and rice on the street is done to send off the spirits.
Another separate feast is also made to welcome the ancestors' spirits as well.
As for ancestors' spirits, delicious dishes are carefully made as a way to show respect. The meal often includes sticky rice, boiled chicken, soup, fish stew, stir-fry, and salad. It is important that the offering to ancestors are nutritious, hearty, diverse, and thoroughly prepared.
The Do(s) and Don't(s) in Ghost Month
Do
Prepare feast and offerings properly for the spirits
Visit the grave of relatives and family members
Refrain from killing insects and slaughtering animals
Eat vegetables, limit meat intake to avoid bad luck
Do kind things and help others
Stay away from conflicts
Go to temple and ask for blessing, health, and luck.
Don't
Stay out too late
Hang clothes to dry at night time because the spirits might borrow
When being out at night, avoid calling one another name because spirits might remember the person's name
Avoid swimming
Avoid playing prank on others
Avoid staying up late because it is unhealthy and can weaken oneself, which makes it easier for the spirits to invade and haunt the person
Pick up things on the streets
Take pictures at night
Carry out big and important plans, such as wedding, moving, and signing contracts.
A Fun Rap Song about Tháng Cô Hồn
The performance belongs to a now-trending reality show called "Rap Việt" in Vietnam, where contestants compete with one another and show off their rap skills.
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