
09/06/2025
👻 Hungry Ghost Festival: A Celebration of Spirits & Life
Today, people around the world are celebrating the Hungry Ghost Festival, also called Ullambana, Yulanpen Jie, or Zhongyuan Jie. Have you ever heard of it? Over 2,000 years ago, during the Han Dynasty, people believed the gates of the afterlife opened during the seventh lunar month, and spirits roamed the earth seeking comfort. Today, in many Asian cultures, this lively holiday continues to honor departed ancestors and wandering spirits.
Families prepare delicious feasts meant only for the spirits; burn paper money, clothes, and even tiny paper houses to keep them comfortable in the afterlife; and light lanterns and candles to guide lost, wandering souls. It’s also a time to share prayers for and stories of loved ones who have passed, ensuring harmony between the living and the dead.
The Hungry Ghost Festival isn’t about spooky frights and spine-tingling fears — it’s a colorful, meaningful celebration of respect, remembrance, and the joy of life itself.