Ghost Month Fever!

This is from the CBC's website a few days ago. It's ghost month, it's really hot and everyone is burning ghost money in front of their homes and businesses.


Pop singers in Taiwan try to appease spirits so concerts won't be spooked 08:50:25 EDT Jul 25, 2006
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - Tuesday marked the beginning of the annual ghost festival in Taiwan, and performing pop stars will try to appease the spirits so their concerts won't be spooked, the local news media reported.
Tradition says the month-long festival kicks off when the gates of the netherworld are opened for ghosts to make their annual visit to Earth. It is also observed in other Chinese communities in Asia.
Taiwanese from all walks of life believe that feeding and entertaining ghosts during the festival leads to a year of peace and prosperity.
The Liberty Times newspaper said the American rap band Black Eyed Peas would burn incense sticks and make offerings of fruit, pork and chicken before their Tuesday night concert, the first in a string of musical events during the ghost festival.
Ghost month coincides with the seventh lunar month. This year it lasts until Sept. 21 because of leap year considerations in the lunar calendar.
Another performer observing ghost month this year will be Singapore heartthrob Stephanie Sun Yan Zi, Liberty Times said, adding that she will preside over a ghost-worshipping ceremony at concerts this Saturday and Sunday.
The newspaper quoted her producer, Chen Chen-chuan, as cautioning stage workers against saying anything that might annoy ghosts in the concert area.
Taiwanese TV reports said a third performer, Taiwanese band Nanchuan Mama, would carry lucky charms to scare away the ghosts at its Sept. 9 concert in Taipei, and Irish boy band Westlife would burn incense, link arms and pray for peace at their Taiwan performance the following day.