Daffodil Day and The Festival of the Hungry Ghosts!

Today is Daffodil Day and it is a day to support those touched by cancer and to focus on hope for a cancer-free future. At the beginning of last century, people with cancer faced almost certain death. Now, thanks to continuing improvement in research and patient care, more than half of them will be successfully treated. This progress is celebrated on Daffodil Day.

Created by the Canadian Cancer Society in the early 1980s, Daffodil Day is now run by cancer charities in seven western countries. The event has given the daffodil international significance as an accepted and positive symbol for the heroic efforts made by cancer patients. So buy a daffodil today to support cancer research. Coincidentally, today is also the day Chinese around the world celebrate The Festival Of Hungry Ghosts when the gate of Hell is open for one day of the year and all the hungry ghosts of Hell take a holiday here in our world!

The festival is currently celebrated with ceremonies at homes, temples, associations, and guilds. Prayers are offered to the dead and offerings of food such as chicken, vegetables, fruits, bean curd and white rice are placed at street corners and roadsides to appease the spirits. This is believed to prevent the wandering spirits from entering their homes and causing disturbances in their households.

Offerings are also made by burning replica money notes, which are also known as ‘hell money’. Some families also burn paper houses, cars and even paper television or radio sets to give to their dead relatives. The Chinese feel that these offerings reach the ghosts and help them live comfortably in their world.