Rhederi M. Jebsen
M/S "Emma Jebsen"
Life onboard , - part 2 -page 10 -
Feeding the "Hungry Ghost"
The Chinese have many rites and customs which are both interesting and colourful to watch.
One such custom is celebrating "Yue Laan" , - the "Hungry Ghost" -, festival.
On that day, the Chinese will offer food and money to the spirits of deceased people , - and of course it has to be done at sea as well. It is believed, that on the 7th. Moon, the gates of Hell opens and lets the hungry spirits roam freely around to look for food. Spirits of the deceased family members also come and visit their families during the 7th. Moon, and if you prepare a first class dinner and lots of gifts for their spirits, they will be very pleased, and it will bring good luck for the living - - -
Apparently the spirits are not really hungry, because the food does not disappear until the living eats it all, - which they do with great pleasure - - -
On one such occasion, - when all the food was on display for the spirits -, I asked when the spirits would start to eat the fantastic dinner that had been prepared for them?
The answer was: "They are eating now!" - - -
See here what it looks like when Chinese sailors celebrate "The Hungry Ghost festival" onboard a ship.
This particular event took place on Sept. 1st. 1974 in the South China Sea . . .
End of page -
Please continue to page 11 - "A visit to Chan Lap Chung's cabin"