In Chinese belief, the seventh month of the lunar calendar is considered a time when the boundary between the human world and the spirit realm becomes thinner. This year, the period falls from August 13 to September 10, 2026. Throughout the month, the gates of the spirit world are believed to open, allowing ancestral spirits and wandering spirits without descendants to return to the human world.
This belief has given rise to various taboos passed down through generations in Chinese communities, including in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. Although these taboos have not been scientifically tested, each is rooted in traditional beliefs and practices that have been passed down for generations.
Here are some of the most commonly mentioned ones across various sources.
1. Swimming or playing in water after dark
Water, particularly rivers, lakes, and the sea, is believed to be inhabited by restless spirits of people who died by drowning. According to this belief, these spirits need a “replacement” in order to be reincarnated. Swimming at night during Ghost Month is therefore considered risky, as it could attract their attention.
2. Whistling or humming outside at night
Whistling or humming is believed to attract the attention of wandering spirits and may even cause them to follow someone home. For this reason, many people avoid whistling in open spaces after dark throughout the month.
3. Leaving clothes outside overnight
Spirits without descendants to care for them are believed to seek physical comfort, including clothes hanging outside to dry. Clothes left outside overnight are therefore thought to provide a place for spirits to linger. They are traditionally brought indoors before dark.
4. Traveling or going out late at night
Nighttime is considered the period when wandering spirits are most active. During Ghost Month, people therefore tend to avoid going out after dark unless necessary, particularly for non-essential activities.
5. Moving house, getting married, or starting a new business
The month is considered to be filled with yin energy, which in Chinese philosophy is associated with the spirit world and is thought to be unfavorable for new beginnings. As a result, major life decisions such as moving house, getting married, or starting a new business are often postponed until the month has ended.
6. Elective Surgery and Hospital Visits
Hospitals and operating rooms are considered places with a high concentration of yin energy. Many families, particularly in Taiwan and Hong Kong, choose to postpone elective surgeries or procedures that can be rescheduled until Ghost Month is over.
7. Taking Photos at Night
Cameras are believed to be capable of “capturing” spirits that happen to pass by when the shutter is pressed. As a result, taking photos in dark or deserted places at night is generally avoided during Ghost Month.
8. Harming Moths, Butterflies, or Unexpected Insects
In some traditions, insects that suddenly appear inside a home, particularly moths and butterflies, are believed to be manifestations of visiting ancestral spirits. For this reason, chasing them away aggressively, let alone killing them, is considered disrespectful.
9. Sitting in the Front Row at a Getai Performance
In Singapore and Malaysia, getai performances, featuring music and street-style opera, are held throughout Ghost Month as both entertainment and offerings. The seats in the front row are deliberately left empty, as they are believed to be reserved for honored guests from the spirit world who have come to watch the performance.
10. Wearing Head-to-Toe Black, White, or Red
Black and white are traditionally associated with mourning in Chinese culture. Wearing these colors from head to toe is therefore believed to risk attracting spirits who might mistake the person for someone attending a funeral.
Red is associated with a different belief. The color is thought to remind spirits who died tragically of their own deaths, potentially triggering emotions that could make them more aggressive.
11. Turning Around Carelessly When You Feel Called or Followed
This belief is rooted in the concept of the “three flames,” which are said to burn on a person’s head and shoulders and serve as natural protection against spirits. Suddenly turning around is believed to extinguish one of these flames.
For this reason, if someone feels called from behind, tradition advises turning the entire body rather than simply looking over one’s shoulder.
12. Urinating Outdoors Without Asking Permission
Urinating in open spaces, particularly near large trees or secluded areas, is believed to risk disturbing spirits that may be present there. Some people therefore say a brief verbal apology or ask for permission beforehand as a gesture of respect.
