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The Hungry Ghost Festival is one of the most intriguing and spiritually rich traditions observed in many Asian cultures. Held during the 7th lunar month, this festival marks the time when the gates of the spirit world are believed to open, allowing restless spirits to wander among the living. To stay on the safe side, many people follow specific customs and rituals to show respect and avoid bad luck.
If you’re wondering what not to do during the 7th month, or just want to brush up on the essential dos and don’ts during the Hungry Ghost Festival, you’re in the right place. Our guidelines can help you stay respectful, safe, and spiritually aware throughout this ghostly month.
In 2025, the Hungry Ghost Festival – also known as Zhongyuan Jie (中元节) – will be observed on Saturday, 6 September, which corresponds to the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. The entire Ghost Month begins on 23 August and ends on 21 September. During this period, families offer food, incense, and joss paper to honour spirits and seek protection.
It’s believed that ghosts roam the streets after sunset. That is why it’s advised that people avoid nighttime activities as part of the things not to do during the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore this 2025. But if you HAVE to stay out late, invite a friend for company. That’s because ghosts are said to prey on unsuspecting victims who travel alone at night.
It is said that when a group of three people walk in a straight line, or take photos together, the person in the centre is exposed to the supernatural; be it receiving the ‘sight’ or just a cold chill running down his or her spine. So try to hang out in even numbers during this time of the year as you keep in mind these Hungry Ghost Festival do’s and don’ts.
Even when you’re attempting to dry your brolly, it’s best to have it dry outdoors and close it before entering the house. Why? Because it’s believed that wandering ghosts may ‘seek shelter’ in the umbrellas when they’re used in the open, and you don’t want to be bringing them home to your house! Therefore, as part of the Hungry Ghost Festival do’s and don’ts, it’s important to remember not to open umbrellas in your house.
A belief in Chinese culture is that everyone has a ‘spiritual protective flame’ on each shoulder. However, the flames are extinguished whenever you turn your head around. And this could cause your yin and yang energy to go haywire. You’ll then be more vulnerable to the supernatural, which isn’t what we want during this month. Some believe that to counter this, you could turn your entire body instead. So try that out instead as you keep the Hungry Ghost Festival do’s and don’ts this 2025 in mind.
Friendly tip: Let’s try to not tap our friends’ shoulders as well!
You should definitely wear a red and white outfit for National Day but stow it at the back of the cupboard when the 7th month comes around. The hungry ghosts are said to be attracted to the colour red! Unless you want to be a prime target for mischievous ghosts, wearing red clothes should definitely be part of your list of things not to do during the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore this 2025.
Although this is not necessarily something that may incur the wrath of otherworldly friends, many Chinese believe that the seventh-month ghost festival is a no-no for weddings, as it is generally an unlucky period for happy celebrations of any kind. And that includes other big decisions as well, including buying a new house, signing a business contract and so on. It’s, therefore, best to pay heed to these Hungry Ghost Festival do’s and don’ts.
Getai shows are organised around various neighbourhoods in Singapore during the Hungry Ghost Festival. It’s a concert that is meant to entertain wandering ghosts so they don’t get up to any mischief. Hence, the front row is usually reserved for ghosts, that’s why they’re always kept empty. Try not to forget this Hungry Ghost Festival do’s and don’ts, or you might end up taking someone’s seat!
One of the Hungry Ghost Festival do’s and don’ts is to avoid swimming or engaging in any water sports in Singapore. If you must, try to go in the daytime. There is a belief that ghosts linger in the water and they may try to drown you for a chance at reincarnation. That’s why it’s best to stay away and remember that water activities are one of the things not to do during the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore this 2025.
Hungry Ghost Festival do’s and don’ts also include leaving your forehead exposed. Chinese beliefs say that strong life energy radiates from your forehead. That’s why leaving it exposed could push unwanted spirits away! So if you’ve gotten bangs recently, it’s time to let them grow out so you can convert them to the side-swept version.
Ghosts don’t have to attend Getai performances if you start singing on the way home. That’s right, wandering ghosts may be attracted to your singing or whistling while you’re on your own! Pro tip: If the music bug hits you, just plug in a set of earphones and take a silent stroll. This particular rule in the list of Hungry Ghost Festival do’s and don’ts also includes whistling and talking to yourself. Who knows? Some special individuals might start taking a keen interest in your voice.
Despite being the best time to tell horror stories to scare your friends, telling ghosts or other supernatural-related stories may just attract the attention of our otherworldly friends. Who knows, they might just be sitting next to you listening on! You wouldn’t want a mysterious tap on your shoulder coming from out of nowhere. So don’t forget that this is part of the Hungry Ghost Festival do’s and don’ts!
If you live in a very pantang (superstitious) household, you’ll know better than to stick your chopsticks in your food. That’s because these chopsticks resemble joss sticks used to worship the dead. Although it may seem really convenient to just stick your chopsticks in your bowl while chewing your food, it serves as a sign that the food is prepared for wandering spirits! If you’re not laying out food offerings, it’s best to not overlook this Hungry Ghost Festival do’s and don’ts. Or else you might wind up eating someone’s food by accident!
You should take down any wind chimes around the home while the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore is in full swing. The high-pitched sounds of the wind chimes are said to attract the attention of wandering ghosts. Unless you want some ‘special attention’, it’s best to put up other types of home decor to keep in line with the Hungry Ghost Festival do’s and don’ts.
There is a Chinese belief that certain insects represent the presence of our departed loved ones. Killing them might chase them away or even hurt them. If you find any unusual insects or moths, leave them alone. You can also try to catch them for a safe release. It’s a good way to appease the spirit that may be present, or you may just break one of the Hungry Ghost Festival taboos.
Thinking of picking up whatever may be on the street? Try not to do that during the 7th lunar month. It may be tempting to pick up these things you may find lying around. But there’s a high chance that these items already belong to a spirit and you could irk them if you picked them up. Worse still, the malevolent spirits often bait humans with coins in an effort to possess them. Eeks! You don’t want to fall for their tricks!
Standing under trees and especially at night, is the most commonly reminded of things not to do during the Hungry Ghost Festival. Tales about ghosts residing in treetops hold some weight, unfortunately. Plus, trees have also been known to attract yin energy, which will make you more vulnerable. So if you’ve found yourself waiting for a Grab or Gojek under the trees, just shuffle along a bit and pray for the best. And perhaps the hike or camping trip to forested areas should be rescheduled to after the 7th Month – the time of day won’t help either.
Joss sticks and food offerings are common sightings during the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore. You may come across them tucked into the corner of walk paths in your home estate. Most of them would be lined along sidewalks as well, so watch where you’re going and avoid touching or stepping onto any of them lest you offend the spirits. If you do, just remember that as part of the Hungry Ghost Festival do’s and don’ts, say a quick apology and be on your way.
As part of the Hungry Ghost Festival do’s and don’ts, it’s recommended to not stay out too late. But if you happen to still be out and randomly decide to take a selfie, please don’t. You may accidentally include someone else who didn’t want to have their picture taken. Or worse, capturing someone you didn’t even see physically. Yikes.
In this day and age, it’s fairly certain you’ll need a haircut someday. Especially if you’re someone who likes to get their regular trim. But we’d suggest taking a break for once during the 7th lunar month. That’s because your hair is actually your yang energy. It’s a form of positive energy that gives you strength, so removing it would deplete your stores of positive energy. And this includes shaving as well. It’s also better to cut your hair during the day as that’s when the yang force is stronger. Cutting, shaving or plucking your hair at night when yin energy is stronger could weaken your yang, and we do not want that to happen during this time of the year!
Walls somehow attract spirits, and they’re especially fond of corners. Apparently, walls and corners have a certain yin (negative) energy that spirits will veer towards. So do stay away from these surfaces!
Lost track of time while hanging out with your best buds? It’s best you share a cab with your pals. The last buses and trains tend to be emptier, so you may be sharing these modes of public transportation with some “customers”. Let’s avoid bumping into any of them; stock up on TADA vouchers, Grab vouchers, Gojek vouchers or RYDE vouchers to save some cab money during this month.
Generally, one should try to avoid making big decisions during this time of year. Other than weddings, this rule goes for any sort of renovations too – especially if they’re quite a large process. You know how it is when you can’t sleep in on a weekend thanks to “renos”. Similarly, renovation noise could disturb spirits. So if you end up going ahead with renovation works, you may run into certain bumps in the road, or worse.
But of course, some fixes are rather urgent. If that’s the case, make sure you schedule those works early in the day so they can be done before the sun sets.
An empty house can mean unwanted residents, especially at this time of year. The best thing to do is to wait it out and move in after the 7th lunar month is over. But if you simply can’t wait, there’s a workaround. Arrange with your contractors to prioritise renovations for certain rooms, especially your bedroom. Then, move in before the 7th Month so the Man, Heaven and Earth Qi can connect. This will ultimately bring good luck to all residents too! And if you need more move-in tips, read up on some moving house feng shui rituals.
While tensions may run high from time to time, it’s wise to keep things calm during the Hungry Ghost Festival. Heated arguments, shouting, or public confrontations are believed to attract negative energy, and perhaps even the attention of wandering spirits who thrive on emotional unrest. Whether at home, at work, or on the road, try to stay composed and avoid unnecessary conflict. Keeping the peace isn’t just good manners – it’s good spiritual hygiene this month.
One simple yet effective way to maintain a positive space during the 7th lunar month is to keep your home well-lit. Spirits are thought to be drawn to dark corners, so brightening your environment can help deter them. Use ambient lighting, open your curtains during the day, and make your space feel warm and welcoming (to the living, that is). A well-lit home promotes a sense of safety and balance for your loved ones.
Take note of the things not to do during the Hungry Ghost Festival and you’ll be spared the spirits’ disturbances. If you’re partaking in this festival, be sure to get all your offerings like incense sticks and joss paper in advance. Thinking about what to wear over this month? Here are some old money outfit ideas and style tips for oversized shirts that you can consider!
This article was updated on 8 July 2025. Additional research done by Shermyn Tan.
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