Strange, what happened to the Hungry Ghost festival on Lamma this year? Usually the temple is bashing its gongs days in advance and on the main night burns huge spooky spirit effigies. Only Andy's Seafood has a ghost lantern outside, and even that doesn't have a light in it. Many stores used to have them. I think there are many great photos of previous HGFs on this site somewhere.

Anyway, I'll be following my fung shui master's advice in this 7th month, esp. No. 6

1. Do not stay out late in the night because spirit might follow you back.
2. Do not stab your chopsticks on your bowl of rice because it is rude in term of table manners and it also resembles the joss sticks offerings to the dead. It is indirectly cursing your own death and also telling the spirits that it is their bowl of rice.
3. Do not take photo at night because you might capture some other stuff that you don’t wish to see.
4. If your birth fall in the ghost month, avoid celebrating your birthday at night and blowing your cake. It will be better to celebrate during the daytime.
5. Do not open umbrella, especially a red one in the house because wandering ghosts might seek “shelter” under the umbrella.
6. Avoid working late during this month because human are weak in the night, while the spirit are strong and might cause possession.
7. Do not cover your forehead, try to pin up your head as high as possible.
8. Do not play games that can attract spirits like ouija board or 碟仙
9. Do not wait at a bus stop after midnight, especially after bus service hour.
10. Do not use black or dark colour manicure because black nails may lead the spirits to think that you are one of them and may lead you back to hell as well.
11. Do not enter cemetery or any abandoned house because you might attract wandering spirit back with you.
12. Avoid spitting and blowing your nose in the public or at any tree/plant.
13. Don’t lean against the wall because spirit apparently like to stick on walls because they’re cooler, avoid leaning against them during the month.
14. Don’t turn your head around if someone pats you on the shoulder – It is believed that the living human have two protective flames, one on each shoulder. If a ghost pats you on the back and you only turn your head, you’ll snuff out that protective flame, thus making you vulnerable. To avoid this, turn the whole body at once instead of just the head.