Ghost Month or The Hungry Ghost Festival takes place every year during the 7th month of the lunar calendar in Taiwan and other parts of Asia. This is the 15th day of the month which is also called Ghost Day. During Ghost month it’s believed the gates of the underworld are opened for the spirits to wander the earth, many without descendants. Offerings of food and drink are set out and ghost money is burned for the ghosts, or good brothers, a more respectful term the Taiwanese use. So why do they treat the ghosts this way?

Because of the potential for disruption by the wandering ghosts during the month many people in Taiwan avoid travel, swimming, holding weddings, and putting off major purchases like a car or house.