The Taipei Fire Department on Tuesday, the eve of the Ghost Festival offered four tips on how to safely burn paper ghost money.
As it is custom in Taiwan to make offerings and burn ghost money to commemorate ancestors during the festival, which falls on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month every year, the department reminded people how to observe the tradition in a safe way.
First, people should be extra carious when burning ghost money and prevent any paper that is on fire from drifting up in the air and causing damage, the department said.
Photo courtesy of the Hualien County Fire Department via CNA
Second, if firecrackers are used as part of the ceremony, environmentally friendly firecrackers are better, it said.
Some people light firecrackers to warn the “good brothers” (好兄弟) — a euphemism preferred by Taiwanese when referring to ghosts during the month — before they put the offerings away, marking the end of the ritual.
The gates of hell are believed to be open during Ghost Month, giving ghosts access to the human world, where they can look for food, entertainment and, possibly, souls. It runs from Aug. 19 to Sept. 16 this year.
Third, a thorough check of the site should be conducted before leaving to ensure that no ghost money has been left burning, the fire department said.
Fourth, when using isopropyl alcohol to disinfect hands, it is important not to do so near sources of fire, such as an incense or ghost money burner, the department said, adding that the container should also be kept away from fire sources.
In related news, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reminded people of the importance of maintaining good food hygiene during and after making offerings.
When making offerings, food should be kept in containers with lids, or covered with plastic wrap, to prevent the food from being contaminated, the FDA said, adding that if the food is packaged, it is recommended not to poke incense sticks through the packaging.
The amount bacteria in the food offerings is likely to grow several fold during the ritual, as it often lasts several hours at room temperature or in the sun, the FDA said, adding that afterward, people must reheat the food to at least 75?C before consuming it.
Food that is not eaten promptly after the ritual should be kept in a refrigerator or at least under shade, it added.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
Greenpeace yesterday said that it is to appeal a decision last month by the Taipei High Administrative Court to dismiss its 2021 lawsuit against the Ministry of Economic Affairs over “loose” regulations governing major corporate electricity consumers. The climate-related lawsuit — the first of its kind in Taiwan — sought to require the government to enforce higher green energy thresholds on major corporations to reduce emissions in light of climate change and an uptick in extreme weather. The suit, filed by Greenpeace East Asia, the Environmental Jurists Association and four individual plaintiffs, was dismissed on May 8 following four years of litigation. The
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
The New Taipei City Government would assist relatives of those killed or injured in last month’s car-ramming incident in Sansia District (三峽) to secure compensation, Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said yesterday, two days after the driver died in a hospital. “The city government will do its best to help the relatives of the car crash incident seek compensation,” Hou said. The mayor also said that the city’s Legal Affairs, Education and Social Welfare departments have established a joint mechanism to “provide coordinated assistance” to victims and their families. Three people were killed and 12 injured when a car plowed into schoolchildren and their
RSS