Chinese Ghost Festival! A Celebration to Appease the Hungry Dead

The end of August marks the final days of the Chinese Ghost Month. According to Buddhist and Taoist religious beliefs, the spirits jailed in Hell are hungry ghosts who for one month are paroled, wander through towns seeking to satisfy their bottomless hollow of desire, and leave a big mess for others to clean after they leave.

The Chinese Ghost Festival, which is celebrated in the 7th month on the Lunar calendar, attempts to appease the ghosts with hanging lanterns, candles floating on the water, plus streets and graveyards filled with paper models of worldly goods, food,  and money. Banquets, operas, and performances are held with empty chairs reserved for the dead. Find out more about this spooky festival here and here.

American TESOL offers a way to receive a certification to teach English abroad, and explore destinations worldwide. The following link is useful to learn more about teaching English in China: