Ghost Festival Taiwan
If west has a Halloween festival to appease the departed souls, then Taiwan has its own set of festival or a fete which is dedicated to the departed souls from the underworld. Traditionally the festival has been celebrated throughout China on the fifteenth day of very lunar month.
There are some festivals which are associated with ghosts and spirits, one being the Buddhist Ullalbana festival and the Ghost festival of the Taoist. Since all the traditions are some what related to the honoring of the ghost this month is aptly named as the ghost month.
In the island nation of Taiwan the ghost festival is celebrated by slaughtering of a pig and a ship which when bundled with wine and meat is a great mix and people enjoy it with all fun and frolic.
The Chinese are of the belief that the dead become ghosts and they are roaming between the Heaven and the Earth. The spirits who don’t have descendants are prayed for during the festival to make them feel the warmth and togetherness of life.
Today the festival has been toned down and the kind of lavishness which was associated with the festival has gone and the government has been discouraging the unnecessary pomp which was there before.
There are some festivals which are associated with ghosts and spirits, one being the Buddhist Ullalbana festival and the Ghost festival of the Taoist. Since all the traditions are some what related to the honoring of the ghost this month is aptly named as the ghost month.
In the island nation of Taiwan the ghost festival is celebrated by slaughtering of a pig and a ship which when bundled with wine and meat is a great mix and people enjoy it with all fun and frolic.
The Chinese are of the belief that the dead become ghosts and they are roaming between the Heaven and the Earth. The spirits who don’t have descendants are prayed for during the festival to make them feel the warmth and togetherness of life.
Today the festival has been toned down and the kind of lavishness which was associated with the festival has gone and the government has been discouraging the unnecessary pomp which was there before.
