Understanding Vietnam's Hungry Ghost Month: Traditions and Beliefs

Vietnam's lunar calendar includes a significant period known as the Hungry Ghost Month, a time when spiritual observances take precedence. This annual event, rooted in ancient beliefs, focuses on showing respect to ancestors and providing for spirits who lack descendants. It involves a series of traditional practices and cultural guidelines that visitors may encounter.

Understanding Vietnam's Lunar July Observances

Known locally as 'Tet Trung Nguyen' or colloquially as 'Thang Co Hon' (the month of lonely spirits), the Ghost Month is a period when, according to spiritual beliefs, souls are released from the underworld. This time is dedicated to ensuring that these unattached spirits are appeased through various donations and offerings. The practice of releasing fish and birds is also common, believed to bring positive karma to those who perform it.

The observance is influenced by Buddhist traditions and aligns with the Vu Lan festival, Vietnam's version of Ullambana. This spiritual period typically falls during the seventh lunar month, which usually corresponds to late August in the Gregorian calendar. A distinct commemoration also takes place in Hue, remembering those who perished during the 1885 Hue Citadel collapse, though this is a local observance rather than a national holiday.

Vietnamese culture holds that individuals possess both a physical body and an enduring soul. After death, the soul continues its existence, with its fate determined by actions during life. Virtuous deeds are believed to lead to rebirth as a saint or another person, while transgressions may result in suffering in a purgatorial realm. During the Ghost Month, it is believed that Pluto, the King of the Underworld, opens the gates between realms, allowing spirits to traverse the earthly plane. This transition is thought to begin on the second day of the lunar month, with spirits returning to the underworld on the night of the fourteenth lunar day.

Traditional Offerings and Rituals for Spirits

During the latter half of the Ghost Month, particularly from the fifteenth lunar day until its conclusion, families commonly prepare elaborate meals as offerings. Many Vietnamese, especially business owners in areas like Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown, believe that these food donations help prevent restless spirits from causing disruptions to their operations.

On the full moon day of the seventh lunar month, households often arrange two distinct feasts. The first, served around midday, is intended for the spirits of ancestors, who are believed to return to their place of origin through the gifts and prayers of their descendants. A second feast, presented after sunset, is specifically for hungry, wandering spirits who have no living family members or who passed away without a proper funeral. These lonely souls, without offerings, are thought to fiercely curse bad luck upon strangers.

These offerings typically feature a variety of foods, including rice porridge (considered vital as spirits are thought to have narrow throats and cannot digest tough foods), sugarcane, sweet confections, an assortment of five-colored fruits, and sweet potatoes. Accompanying the meal are items such as candles, salt, votive paper, three glasses of water, and three sticks of incense. Once the gifts are complete, salt and rice are scattered onto streets and roads, a symbolic gesture to guide the spirits on their way. The burning of joss paper is also a common practice, intended to provide for the deceased's needs in the afterlife.

The Practice of 'Giut Co Hon'

A unique tradition known as 'Giut Co Hon,' or 'Offerings Snatching,' sometimes occurs, particularly in areas with affluent families or large businesses, notably in Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown. These entities may present substantial offerings, including significant sums of money in small denominations, which can accumulate to considerable amounts.

Following these donations, individuals, often children, gather to collect the money and food. Participants engage for various reasons; some seek financial gain, others for the communal enjoyment, and some out of genuine respect for the tradition. Business proprietors frequently view it as a sign of good fortune when their offerings are taken, believing it brings prosperity to their ventures.

Cultural Prohibitions During Lunar July

Throughout the Ghost Month, many Vietnamese observe a series of traditional prohibitions, often stemming from long-held beliefs about avoiding misfortune or spiritual interference. While not universally followed, these guidelines are widely recognized:

• Avoiding Nighttime Excursions: It is generally advised to remain indoors after dark, as night is considered the time when spirits are most active, potentially leading to unwelcome encounters.
• Not Drying Clothes Outdoors at Night: Hanging laundry outside after sunset is discouraged, as it is believed spirits might 'borrow' the clothes, bringing bad luck to the owner.
• Refraining from Calling Names at Night: Calling out someone's name in the dark is thought to attract the attention of spirits, potentially causing them to follow or disturb the named individual.
• Cautious Votive Burning: Burning votive paper indiscriminately is advised against, as it might draw more wandering spirits to one's vicinity, leading to disturbances.
• Keeping Distance from Banyan Trees: Banyan trees are traditionally associated with spirits in Vietnamese folklore, especially during this month. Standing near them is often avoided to prevent spiritual interference.
• No Wind Chimes Near Beds: Placing wind chimes close to sleeping areas is discouraged, as their sound is believed to attract hungry ghosts into the home, potentially disrupting sleep and daily life.
• Avoiding Swimming in Natural Waters: Swimming in rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes during the seventh lunar month is often seen as risky, with a belief that spirits might pull people underwater.
• Respecting Offerings: Consuming food offerings intended for hungry ghosts without explicit permission is considered disrespectful and is believed to bring bad luck.
• Haircutting Taboo: Some believe that cutting hair during the Ghost Month can invite misfortune, based on the saying, 'one hair manages three demons.'
• Postponing Major Undertakings: Important life events or business dealings, such as signing contracts, getting married, or beginning house construction, are often deferred during this month. In cases of unavoidable circumstances, careful selection of an auspicious day is recommended.

The Vu Lan Festival: A Time for Filial Piety

Within the broader context of the Ghost Month, the Vu Lan festival stands out as a day of profound significance, often observed on the full moon of the seventh lunar month. This festival, rooted in the Buddhist tradition of Ullambana, has evolved to also become a day akin to Mother's Day in Vietnam.

During Vu Lan, individuals whose mothers are still living typically wear red roses and express gratitude for their mothers' presence and sacrifices. Conversely, those whose mothers have passed away often wear white roses and participate in ceremonies to pray for the deceased, seeking peace for their souls. This dual observance highlights both reverence for ancestors and the celebration of maternal love.

Exploring Vietnam's cultural practices offers a deeper appreciation for its traditions. Visitors interested in taking home a piece of this rich heritage might also consider learning about unique purchases and souvenirs available across the country. Understanding these observances provides insight into the spiritual fabric of Vietnamese society.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary purpose of Vietnam's Hungry Ghost Month?

The main purpose is to honor ancestors and provide for the souls of those who died without proper burials or descendants, believed to be wandering spirits during this time. It is a period of spiritual appeasement and remembrance.

When does the Hungry Ghost Month occur in Vietnam?

It takes place during the seventh month of the lunar calendar. This typically falls around late August in the Gregorian calendar, though the exact dates vary each year according to the lunar cycle.

What are common offerings made during this period?

Typical offerings include prepared food such as rice porridge, sugarcane, various fruits, and sweet potatoes, along with candles, incense, salt, and votive paper. These are often presented in two separate feasts on the full moon day.

Are there specific activities to avoid during the Ghost Month?

Yes, many cultural prohibitions exist, such as avoiding going out at night, not drying clothes outdoors after dark, refraining from calling names at night, and postponing major life events like weddings or new construction. These are believed to prevent misfortune or spiritual interference.

What is the significance of the Vu Lan festival within the Ghost Month?

The Vu Lan festival, celebrated on the full moon of the seventh lunar month, is a Buddhist observance for filial piety. It is also recognized as a day to honor mothers, with red roses worn for living mothers and white roses for those who have passed away.