(FWA 2025/09/04)

Zhongyuan Festival—also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival—is one of the most important traditions in Chinese culture. In Taiwan, the seventh lunar month is regarded as “Ghost Month.” During this period, businesses, organizations, and families prepare food and fresh fruit as offerings to wandering spirits, helping them return peacefully to the afterlife. Fortune tellers remind people to observe certain precautions when making offerings, so as not to break taboos or offend the spirits.

One common mistake is buying fruit or snacks for the ritual and then returning them afterward. This is considered insincere and disrespectful to both the deities and the spirits. Each offering should be prepared with new food and fresh fruit.

After the ceremony, the food can be shared with family, friends, colleagues, or employees who have no taboos about eating it. If there is too much to finish quickly, donating it to charity is also a good option.

Another reminder is not to make wishes during the offering. Spirits may interpret this as you asking them for favors, and if your wish is granted but you fail to prepare more generous offerings next time, it could bring misfortune.

Burning paper money is also a common practice. If you notice someone burning excessively, it is better not to intervene, because doing so may upset the neighborhood’s harmony and anger the spirits.

Finally, avoid placing your phone on the offering table. The electromagnetic waves from phones are believed to attract spirits, causing them to follow you back to your home or workplace.

※If you have any further questions about working, residency, transportation, or daily life in Taiwan, the ITaiwan AI Genie is always at your service.

鬼月到 中元普渡禁忌多

中元節是華人文化的重要節日之一，農曆七月是台灣習俗中的「鬼月」，無論公司、企業甚至家庭，會在這段期間準備食物、新鮮水果祭拜亡靈，讓他們順利返回陰間。命理師提醒，祭拜時有一些注意事項要留意，才不會觸犯禁忌，惹怒鬼神。

首先，有些人會將購買來祭拜的水果、零食，拜完後拿去退貨，這樣會被視為沒有誠意，也是對神明、亡靈非常不尊敬的行為。每次祭拜都要準備新的食物、新鮮水果。

祭拜後的食物，可以分送給沒有忌諱的家人、朋友、同事、員工。如果準備的食物數量很多，無法短時間內吃完，也可以考慮捐贈給慈善團體。

祭拜時也不要許願，因為鬼魂會認為你有求於他，若願望達成而下次沒有準備更豐盛的祭品，會讓你的運勢不好。

祭拜時，很多人也會焚燒紙錢。若看到燒得太誇張，不要過去制止，以免影響鄰居的和睦，也會惹怒鬼神。

祭拜的過程中也不要將手機放在普渡桌上，因為手機有電磁波，會讓亡靈跟到家裡或辦公室。