All these rituals are meant to keep us on the good side of our ancestors. There are also certain things we should abide by to avoid provoking malevolent beings.

For example, it is believed that spirits live inside umbrellas – so you shouldn’t open them indoors, as this is a direct invitation for ghosts to enter your home. If you bring home a stranger’s umbrella, that’s even worse – you are unwittingly providing shelter for wandering ghosts.

Hungry Ghost Festival dos and don’ts in Hong Kong, and what it gets wrong

You should also avoid standing under a tree or bus shelters at night, especially when you are alone.

There are other everyday habits you need to adjust during this period. Never hang your clothes outside overnight – spirits will try on your clothes; this means when you bring your dry clothes in, you’ll be bringing them into your home.

According to Chinese folklore, spirits prefer to fly along walls and in dark corners, so you should avoid standing next to or walking too closely along any wall.

This one may seem like it was invented by concerned parents: avoid staying out after dark, since late-night transport is believed to be full of invisible passengers – and you certainly wouldn’t want to annoy a spirit by accidentally sitting on them.

The next rule often sends shivers down my spine; don’t leave your slippers pointing towards the bed because it is equal to giving a spirit directions to join you in bed.

I can still remember the many times I’ve woken up in the middle of the night just to make sure my slippers were pointing outwards. In the end, I gave up wearing slippers.

Photo-taking late at night is to be avoided at all costs if you don’t want to capture a ghost in action or trap one inside your camera.

Since the dark of night is peak time for ghostly activity, it is not advisable to draw attention to yourself, so avoid singing or whistling during nighttime.

It is also said that invisible flames rise from our shoulders to help ward off evil spirits, so you must not tap anyone on their shoulder during this month because it will put out the flames keeping the spirits at bay. And it goes without saying that you should stop others tapping your own shoulders.

If someone does tap you on the shoulder and calls out your name from behind, don’t ever turn around or answer, otherwise the spirit may reveal itself to you.

Even if nobody taps on your shoulder, a vengeful or hostile spirit will find another way to make you turn around. So if you hear someone call out your name in the dead of night, don’t even think about turning around or answering back.

If you come across roadside altars and prayer items on the street, leave them be. The same goes for coins left on the street, as they are for the ghost to take, not you.

Hungry Ghost Festival quiz: How much do you know?

It is also unwise to crack jokes about, complain about, or make fun of the supernatural in any way.

Also, as you may have gathered, it is inauspicious for couples to get married during the Hungry Ghost month. It is believed that hosting such an event will attract “unwanted guests”, which nobody wants at their wedding – let alone otherworldly ones.

Finally, remember not to place chopsticks upright in your bowl of rice, as this placement resembles joss sticks, which are burned in front of shrines as offerings to the dead. It is in any case a practice that is frowned upon at any time of the year.

These superstitions may seem silly to those who have not grown up abiding by them; but regardless of whether you are a believer or not, many people choose to observe them as a form of respect for the dead. And, as I always say, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Luisa Tam is a Post correspondent who also hosts video tutorials on Cantonese language that are now part of Cathay Pacific’s in-flight entertainment programme

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