Today, being the first day of the Hungry Ghost Festival, my MIL, the one who walked more than a hundred steps down the stairs to ‘save my life’, called and gave us the usual ‘warnings’ for this 30 day long event.

  • Don’t bring the kids out after sunset.
  • Don’t bring the kids to the swimming pool or seaside. (Its believed that the ‘water ghost’ is one of the most vicious)
  • Don’t let the kids cut hair during this month. (Too bad, her phone call came late. We just did it after school today. Its considered an omen “Cutting the ghost head.”)
  • Don’t let the kids step on those spots on the ground which prayers and burning of incenses were done. (Its hard to miss those ‘charcoal-dark’ spots, which I view it as vandalism.  Its believed that you have stepped into a ‘private property’ as an unwelcome guest, and you can never imagine what the angry ‘owner’ might do to the trespasser.)

No offense to anyone here. ‘Cos this is a belief. Some believe and some do not. I do not think there is right or wrong no matter which side you are on. So whenever she tells me this forbidden lists every year, I will just go “Mm! Ok! Yes! Understand!”

But obeying or not….hmmmm… that is a totally different issue here. My answers to her are based on pure respect. Just like when she did the Exorcism for me, I merely cooperate by standing still, but she knows me well enough that I will NOT touch any of the ‘tools’ used.

Since she respects me, I love and respect her in return. That’s what a child and a parent should be like, isn’t? Mutual Respect. Yes, she is not my biological mother, but she treats me a hundred times better.

Since cooperating by just simply standing still to let her complete the ritual will let her ease her mind, I don’t think I should reject.

For my asian readers: Is there any other ‘taboos‘ that you have heard of which should NOT be done during this 30 days? Let’s all share over here… for the benefit of those who are not Asians. *wink*