What is Ghost Month？ Let’s learn about Taiwanese culture together

(FWA 2025/09/05)

In Taiwanese folk culture “the seventh month of the lunar calendar” is popularly known as Ghost Month. This is a time when the “Good Brothers (deceased souls)” return to the world of humans, while Taiwanese prepare offerings for them and pray for peace.

Several common taboos and customs are observed during “the seventh month of the lunar calendar”:

•No patting people on the shoulder

•No random taking of photographs

•No whistling at night

•No hanging up clothes to dry at night

•No birthday celebrations

•No visiting hospitals

•No sticking chopsticks upright in bowls

•No returning home too late at night

•Offer the deceased souls ready-to-eat food, avoiding items that are strung together or in clusters

The above behavior is faith-based and not necessarily supported by science. Remember to be open minded about cultural differences as that is the best way to understand and respect other people.

※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」是什麼？一起來學習臺灣文化吧！

在臺灣民間信仰中，「農曆七月」俗稱為鬼月，是象徵「好兄弟（亡靈）」回到人間的日子，臺灣的民眾會準備供品祭拜，祈求平安

農曆七月也有一些常見禁忌習俗，例如：

•不拍人肩膀

•不隨意拍照

•不在晚上吹口哨

•不在夜晚曬衣

•不祝壽

•少出入醫院

•不要把筷子插立於碗

•不要太晚回家

•供品選擇可即食食品，貢品不成串

上述行為都是基於信仰，不一定有科學根據，但提醒大家要包容文化的差異，這就是對彼此最好的理解與尊重！