lunar calendar 7th month

the chinese call this month 'the hungry ghost festival'. why? coz they believe that this month is when all the ghosts/spirits are let out of the netherworld to feast. as such, lots of paper will be burnt (netherworld money, most importantly and other material pursuits of human kind in paper form) and lots of food will be prepared for these ghosts/spirits to feast on. this is not my family's practice because 1) my parents are basically non-believers of any religion 2) they simply cannot be bothered with all the hassle. therefore, i do not appreciate all the 'action' that is going on. the air becomes unbreathable at times, pavements are lined with melted candle stains and ashes are flying all over the place!

its also this month that you'll spot lots of stages and dinner banquets set up everywhere. skimpily dressed women and passé singers/actors perform songs on the stages supposedly for the ghosts/spirits... but strangely, its men who have nothing better to do than to stand around and oogle at the performing women that forms the audience. eye candy for who? u tell me...