Cultural beliefs in ghosts and spirits

GHOSTS! Do you believe in them? Since ancient times, tales, myths and legends about ghosts have been told at firesides or on dark rainy nights.

The first ever ghost story was probably written by a Roman lawyer and author called Pliny the Younger. He wrote about the ghost of an old man in chains that was haunting a particular house.

In many cultures around the world, the return of the dead is celebrated in their unique ways. In Malaysia, the Chinese community celebrates the Hungry Ghost festival on the 15th day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar. According to cultural beliefs, it is at this time that the gates to the realm of the dead are opened to allow them to visit the living. People usually place food in specific areas for the visiting spirits. Chinese opera and singing performances are also conducted for the spirit’s entertainment. However, one must be aware that the front row of these performances are reserved for the dead.

Similarly, Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead. On this day, colourful sugar skeletons are made to honour the spirits.

Some central Europeans celebrate and honour their dead on Nov 2 by decorating graves with flowers and candles. In Japan, the festival of honouring the dead is held for three days. The Japanese visit the graves of their ancestors and light fires to invite the ghosts to the celebrations. At the end of it, floating lanterns are placed in the river or sea as a guide for the ghost to return to the realm of the dead.

Hindus in India celebrate Pitru Paksha during which specific food are prepared and offered to the souls of the ancestors.

And then there’s Halloween, a celebration that dates back 2,000 years to the Celts of Britain. In some perspective, it may be related to the Pitru Paksha although Halloween is celebrated on Oct 31. The Celts believed the date marked the dawn of darkness. They lit bonfires to scare away the spirits and feasted and danced around the fires. Carved pumpkins were used to protect oneself from ghosts.

Today, the pumpkins are called “jack o’ lanterns”. The story goes that the pumpkin is named after an Irish farmer called Stingy Jack. He was cursed by the devil to walk on this earth for eternity using only a candle inside a scooped-out pumpkin to find his way.

In addition, the custom of “trickor-treat” has its origins in the Middle Ages with beggars who knocked on the doors of the rich to ask for food. After receiving their food, the beggars prayed that the ghosts would not come to haunt the owners of the house that gave them food. As time passed by, it evolved into our modern version of children knocking on house doors saying “trick-or-treat”.

ARIFF SHAH R. K George Town