10 Things You Should Never Do During Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore

Save

Share 0

SingaporegetaiChinese customs

The Hungry Ghost Festival is unlike any other celebration in Singapore. For an entire month each year, the Chinese community honours the memory of the departed. Deeply rooted in Buddhist and Taoist tradition, the festival falls during the seventh month of the Lunar calendar and lasts fourteen days.

【Attraction Tickets】Universal Studios Singapore Ticket

Book today before 17:00

HKD 68 Start

Book now

【Attraction Tickets】2026.10.9-11 Singapore Airlines F1 Grand Prix Tickets

Available 2026-10-09

HKD 1340 Start

Book now

When is the Hungry Ghost Festival in 2026?

This year's Hungry Ghost Festival runs from 13 August to 10 September 2026.

What happens during the Hungry Ghost Festival?

It is believed that during this month, the dead return to "visit" the living – and they can turn mischievous if they are not kept happy. To appease them, people leave offerings such as hell money, flashy cars, fine jewellery, grand mansions and even the latest iPhone – all made of paper, of course.

Getai shows are staged across the island to keep these otherworldly guests entertained. Most performances feature song and dance, Chinese opera, and comedy.

Like every festival in Singapore, the Hungry Ghost Festival comes with its own list of dos and don'ts – here's the full breakdown.

Things you should never do during Hungry Ghost Festival

Step on offerings

Even though there are designated spots for burning hell notes and laying out offerings, watch where you walk. Joss sticks and food offerings are often placed in corners, along footpaths and beneath trees. Stepping on them could anger the departed – and the last thing you want is a hungry, furious ghost trailing you for two weeks.

Sit in the front row at getai shows

If you go to a getai show and notice the first few rows of seats empty, resist the urge to grab one. Those seats are left vacant for a reason – they are the VIP seats reserved for dearly departed guests who are in the neighbourhood visiting the living.

Swim at night

Bodies of water, especially the sea, are said to attract spirits. The souls of those who drowned are believed to lurk in the depths, waiting to pull unsuspecting swimmers under. If you have no interest in making a "dead bestie", stay away from the water during this period.

Turn around when someone calls your name at night

Hear someone calling your name late at night? Don't turn back. It may just be a wandering spirit having a laugh. Instead, head to a well-lit area and hope it doesn't follow you around – or all the way home.

Sing or whistle

Do you tend to talk, sing or whistle to yourself? It's best to kick the habit. Just as ghosts are drawn to getai concerts, they are likely drawn to the sound of your voice too. Trust us – that's an audience you don't need.

Stay out late

With ghosts roaming the streets, getting home before dark is ideal. But if you end up working overtime or staying out with friends until the early hours, stop by a crowded place first before heading home. Spirits dislike loud, crowded spaces, and it may just throw them off your trail.

Get married or move house

Planning a wedding or a house move during the Hungry Ghost Festival? Time to reschedule. Holding an auspicious event at an inauspicious time is an open invitation for unwanted guests and bad luck.

Kill insects

The older generation believes that flying insects – usually moths and butterflies – are reincarnations of our ancestors. So if you spot a moth indoors on a Hungry Ghost Festival night, it's best not to squash it. It may well be a relative dropping by.

Hang laundry overnight

Not keen on sharing your clothes? Then avoid hanging laundry out too late at night. The human-like shape of clothing is said to attract spirits – they may even "try on" your clothes and leave negative energy behind.

Cover your forehead

The Chinese believe "yang" energy radiates from the forehead. This bright energy is said to ward off spirits, so keeping your forehead uncovered offers protection. Time to lose the trendy bangs – or at least sweep them up with gel or a hairband when you're out at night.

But do carry jade

Here's one thing you should actually do: carry jade. Beyond looking good, jade doubles as a protective charm against things you cannot "see". No jade jewellery? Carry a protective healing crystal instead, such as smoky quartz, tourmaline, obsidian or tiger's eye.