I never knew that the Hokkiens "celebrate" Ghost Festival one day later than the rest of the world. By the rest of the world, I mean the Chinese speaking community. Seven month 14th day of the Chinese lunar calendar is the day I know as the Ghost Festival. So does every one I speak to.
But last night, a Hokkien friend told me that while many Chinese were burning candles and offering food and other paper paraphernalia by the road side outside their homes, the Hokkiens will only do so tonight, on the 15th day of 7th month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
I wonder why the Hokkiens are always late. They celebrate Chinese New Year NINE days later than the rest of the Chinese! Thank God I'm not Hokkien. LOL
So I asked a friend, a non Hokkien, if he could come out with a logical answer why the Hokkiens "celebrate" Ghost Festival a day later. According to this friend, Hokkiens are stingy people. I know not all are but it's just the perception. So even when praying to ghostly spirits, they have to wait for the rest of the Chinese people to appease the spirits with food and stuff like clothes, etc, so that on the following day when it is their turn to do so, they only have to do it in a smaller scale since the spirits are already full and have grabbed what they need already!
I love his logic but I am not going to share it personally with other Hokkien friends lest they take offence. LOL
But last night, a Hokkien friend told me that while many Chinese were burning candles and offering food and other paper paraphernalia by the road side outside their homes, the Hokkiens will only do so tonight, on the 15th day of 7th month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
I wonder why the Hokkiens are always late. They celebrate Chinese New Year NINE days later than the rest of the Chinese! Thank God I'm not Hokkien. LOL
So I asked a friend, a non Hokkien, if he could come out with a logical answer why the Hokkiens "celebrate" Ghost Festival a day later. According to this friend, Hokkiens are stingy people. I know not all are but it's just the perception. So even when praying to ghostly spirits, they have to wait for the rest of the Chinese people to appease the spirits with food and stuff like clothes, etc, so that on the following day when it is their turn to do so, they only have to do it in a smaller scale since the spirits are already full and have grabbed what they need already!
I love his logic but I am not going to share it personally with other Hokkien friends lest they take offence. LOL
1 comments:
you made me laugh with this post.
btw, i have a tag for you here friend, i hope you will post this http://www.mymoods.net/2009/09/strengthen-friendship-award.html, thanks so much.
Post a Comment