Sadly

August is "Ghost Month" and so local folks have been gearing themselves up to either pay homage to dead relatives or buy off ghosts, depending on who you to listen to.  We have been confused about the entire thing and most folks don't have much desire to explain it.  For one reason, even saying the word 'ghost' is like an invitation for them to follow you home.  So that is an obvious downer.

The newspaper has stories most days about people having special performances for the "ghosts" where they bring in scantily-clad singers and they throw big feasts.  Always they leave empty seats for the hungry and entertainment-starved ghosts.  

Another important thing is burning stuff.  Here are some folks preparing to burn "money" for the ghosts.  Most businesses that participate in this month, burn some stuff.  Most days lately when we have been in stores, people are sitting around rolling up the money for the big fire.

People also leave food offerings and burn paper items which could be important in the afterlife (i.e. laptop computers. shave kits, and credit cards all made of paper).

Its really hard to get a Western mind around this kind of thing but its something almost everyone in these communities participates in.  The singers and caterers all book up months in advance and even people you would think wouldn't give this sort of thing a second thought go in for it just to cover their bases.  "Can't hurt to do it on the chance they are watching, right?"