Why is the seventh lunar month called the ghost month?

Ghost month is known as the time when the gates of hell are opened. This is a month with many rituals and customs to remember deceased relatives, pray for their souls, show compassion for homeless souls, and pray for peace for the family.

Why is the seventh lunar month called the ghost month?

There are many explanations for this. Researchers believe that these explanations all contain a noble humanistic meaning that promotes filial piety and charity.

Dr. Duong Hoang Loc, Head of the Department of Anthropology - Religion, Director of the Center for Religious Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City National University, said that the ghost month lasts from July 1 to July 30 of the lunar calendar every year. The concept that the seventh lunar month is the ghost month has existed for a long time and is popular.

Dr. Loc explained: “Vi Le Minh - a researcher of Chinese culture, noted that many localities in China call the seventh lunar month the Ghost Festival and Thi Co. These names represent the time for people to pray and worship. The above belief originated from Taoism, then strongly influenced Chinese folklore. Over time, Chinese folklore spread the concept that the underworld is managed by the Great Emperor Dia Quan."

Therefore, the seventh lunar month, especially the full moon day of this month, coincides with the birthday of the Earth God, so the gates of hell will open. This means that ghosts and souls will return to the mortal world, bringing disasters and misfortunes to the human world.

Therefore, on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, Chinese people set up an altar to worship ghosts and release lanterns to float down the river, to guide the souls and ghosts who died unjustly from many previous lives to cross the Naihe Bridge to be reincarnated.

In Vietnam, folk beliefs hold that the seventh lunar month is the month when the Earth God pardons sins, meaning that the souls of the underworld are allowed to return to the mortal world. Therefore, people prepare offerings to feed the wandering souls. Pagodas set up vegetarian feasts to “offer two offerings” to the wandering souls.

The seventh lunar month is also the occasion for descendants to go to the pagoda to pray for their deceased ancestors. This custom guides people to open their hearts, care, and share with those in unfortunate and difficult situations in life.

In 2024, the ghost month will span two solar months, lasting from August 4 (July 1 of the lunar calendar) to September 2 (July 30 of the lunar calendar).

Is the ghost month really unlucky?

The name “ghost month” makes many people feel a bit creepy and unlucky. So is ghost month really unlucky?

Nowadays, many people believe that the seventh lunar month is an unlucky month, so they have to abstain from many things, from work to life. Before clarifying whether the ghost month is really unlucky, whether the abstinence during this time is in accordance with Buddhist philosophy or not, we need to clarify the issue: In life, are there bad days and bad months?

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh once said that, for Buddhists, every number is sacred. He said: “Number 1 is the one, number 2 is the yin and yang, number 3 is the Three Jewels, number 4 is the four noble truths, number 5 is the five roots and five spherical elements, number 6 is the six paramitas, number 7 is the seven Bodhisattvas, number 8 is the Noble Eightfold Path… I think every number is sacred, and every day is a good day. A day is called bad because one’s heart is not pure.”

According to Buddhism, the law of cause and effect is eternal and is often mentioned and seen in life. Therefore, when we are always happy, friendly with everyone, always think positively and do many good deeds, stay away from bad and evil things, we will always see a lucky and favorable life. Therefore, good or bad days, good or bad months actually depend on the thoughts and actions of each of us.

Especially for Buddhists, the seventh lunar month is considered the “spring of Buddhism”. This is the time after 3 months of summer retreat (monks and nuns devote all their time to studying and practicing), monks and nuns purify their body and mind, return to serve sentient beings to beautify the world. The fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month is also the Mid-Autumn Festival - the mid-year festival - and according to folk beliefs, the deceased are pardoned, forgiven their mistakes, released from prison to return to see their loved ones. This meaning is completely good and does not carry any unlucky meaning.

The 15th day of the 7th lunar month is also the Vu Lan festival - an opportunity for children to express their respect and filial piety to their parents, grandparents and ancestors. This is one of the most meaningful and sacred things, reminding children to always put filial piety first.

Therefore, whether the ghost month is truly unlucky or not depends on our own subconscious interpretation that being related to the underworld is unlucky, forgetting that compassion and love are the power to connect, spread, and resolve everything in life.

Each of us should choose to think of July as the month to let go of all hatred, the month when all resentment is extinguished to leave only luck and good things in life, to see every day, every month as happy and peaceful.