Ghost Month

In Chinese Culture there is a lunar month called ghost month (it was in Sep this year) when the gates of the after world are open and the dead visit the living. During this month Chinese people will burn LOTS of 'God Money', (which is money you buy from shops near the temples and which is thought to be currency in the afterlife) they also leave out food for the ghosts so that they feel welcome. You will see people burning all sorts of things in these little drums outside their houses (so be warned if you ever visit Taiwan those little ornate drums are not rubbish bins)

Obviously there are a whole pile of superstitions that go with that, like no whistling because whistling attracts the ghosts and children are not left alone because ghosts will sometimes 'take' children with them when they leave.

So on the last day of Ghost month when the 'Gates close' the temples put out HUGE amounts of food, and there is incense burning EVERYWHERE and there are all sorts of things going on. All of this is set up in the street... so the road is just closed off... interesting.

Its all really interesting and a little weird. Please don't quote me on this description because its only what I've been told and seen, I keep on meaning to research the actual festival but haven't had a chance yet. (Terrible historian, I know)There are tons more photos on facebook.