According to traditional Vietnamese beliefs, the Lunar New Year (Full Moon of the 7th lunar month) is the occasion of the "S penalty of the dead" in the Lunar New Year. This year, this day falls on Friday, September 6, also the Vu Lan Hieu Thuong Festival.
According to the book Vietnam Traditional Literature - Culture and Information Publishing House, the ancients believe that on the 15th of the 7th lunar month every year, all toiables in the Am world, including the spirit of their family and clan who are being held in prison in hell, are commended and released from Am and buried in the New Year.
Therefore, families in Duong Quan make tables, gold coffins to worship their ancestors, and pray for super-reliance for them. In addition to ancestral worship on the day of "Remembering the responsibility of the dead" every family has a flock of animals worshiped outside the yard, in front of the house to worship the soul, the hungry ghosts are the "nowhere to rest" dead linhids.
Also because during this time, the planets appear a lot in the garden, people need to avoid certain things to avoid bad luck and bring ghosts home.
According to Yahoo!Life, here are 12 things to avoid on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month according to popular beliefs:
Do not step on offerings along the road
On the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, it is easy to see offerings and offerings placed along the road for worship, soothing the hard-working soul. The ancients told them that they should absolutely not walk through these offerings, even the ashes and burns that remain after turning yellow. If you accidentally violate, you need to sincerely apologize to avoid being caught up in the act.
Avoid staying up late
popular beliefs say that night is the time when the sound energy is strongest, creating conditions for the evil spirit to travel. Therefore, people often remind each other to limit late travel, especially women and children, during the peak of the soul month.
Not going into the water
The legend of "river ghosts" has long been popular in Vietnamese and Asian folk cultures. The 7th lunar month is considered the time of strong monsoon, which is prone to risks when going into rivers, lakes and seas. Therefore, swimming or traveling in river areas should be avoided or only done in truly safe, crowded places.
Do not kill strange insects that fly into the house
According to popular beliefs, insects such as night butterfly, day butterfly or locust can be the soul of ancestors returning home to visit. Therefore, chasing or killing them is considered disrespectful, as if it only harmed the deceased relatives. Instead, people often gently leave them still or release them outside.
Avoid placing straight chopsticks in a rice bowl
Place chopsticks in a vertical rice bowl with a representation reminiscent of the incense Supper on the altar, symbolizing an offering for the soul. This action is considered unpleasant, so you should absolutely not place chopsticks in this way during meals.
Not moving house during the soul month
Moving into a house in the 7th lunar month is considered an "invitation" for souls to move to a new place, or stick to the items they have just bought. This is also the reason why many people avoid buying, selling and trading real estate during this time, causing the market to often stagnate.
Avoid taking photos at night
Many people think that taking photos late at night can easily "catch" ghosts, or accidentally let them stick to the camera. This is considered a bad habit, bringing insecurity to the owner.
Not sitting in the front seats at Getai performances
Getai is a cultural and artistic activity typical of the soul teacher month, organized to "entertain" the soul in difficulty. According to custom, the first row of seats in each performance is reserved for them. If the poor sit there, it will be considered disrespectful, easily making the dead angry.
Avoid organizing weddings, work as agents
Europeans believe that the 7th lunar month does not bring luck, especially for marriage. Many families avoid organizing weddings, even avoiding cesarean section, visiting hospitals or attending funerals to limit bad luck.
No fuss at night
The whistling or singing in the middle of the night is said to be an easy "invitation" for wandering souls to come. Therefore, people often remind each other to stay silent when the night falls.
Avoid placing your hands on the shoulders or head of others
According to Chinese popular belief, each person carries three invisible "fire sources" on the shoulders and heads, which have the effect of warding off demons. If you place your hands in these positions, the fire will go out, making the opponent vulnerable to supernatural forces.
