GhostFestivalVSJustasthewesthasHalloweenforghosts,theChinesealsohavetheGhostsFestivaltofetethedepartedspiritsoftheunderworld.中元節DATEThe14thand15thoftheseventhlunarmonthTheGhostFestival,sometimeswesaytheHungryGhostFestival,alsocalledHalfJuly,isapopularoccasioncelebratedthoughtoutChinaonthe15thdayofthe7thlunarmonth.BecauseitiscloselyrelatedtotheBuddhism,ithasanothername,theUllambana(盂蘭盆節).

OneoftheBuddha'schiefdisciples.HisnameisMaudgalyayana(梵文，“目犍連”，或“目連”Mulian)Hehasclairvoyantpowers,anuncommontraitamongmonks.Oneday,Mulianmissedhismother,andusedhisuniquetraittoseewherehismotherwrereborn.

HismotherwasintheHadesandbecameahungryghost(pretas)whosethroatisthinandfragileinwhichnofoodcouldpassthrough.MulianturnedtotheBuddhaforhelp.TheBuddhaadvisedhimthatontheBuddha‘sJoyfulDay,hewastoofferfoodandrobesto500bhikkhus(比丘)whowouldhelpMuliantosavehismother.Throughthemeritscreated,Mulian’smotherfinallygainedahumanbirth.Peoplepreparealargefeasttotheghosts.BurningincensetorespecttheirancestorsBurningpapermoneyandotherofferingstolettheghostsliveabetterlifeunderworldInsomeotherAsiancountries,suchasMalaysia,SingaporeandJapan,liveshowsareheld.TheliveshowsincludeChineseopera,dramasandevenburlesqueshows.Theliveshowsarepopularlyknowsasthe“koh-tai”.AndthefestivalactivitiesinJapanevenincludesendingpresents.

ChineseoperaBurlesqueshowSomesuperstitions:NoswimmingNomarriagesChildrenareadvisedtoreturnhomeearlyandnottowanderaroundaloneatnightThat’stheendoftheintroductio