2013 Keelung Mid-summer Ghost Festival

Event: 2013 Keelung Mid-summer Ghost Festival
Date: August 10th – 25th, 2013
Place: Keelung Cultural Center, Keelung City, Taiwan

Mid-summer Ghost Festival, a well-known traditional Taiwanese ritual, has been held in Keelung for over 150 years, and thousands of tourists overwhelm this small city, Keelung, recent years. The seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar is recognized as Chinese Ghost Month. It is believed that spirits of the dead are released from their realm or hell during this time in order to return to the world of the living. In this month, the festival is created to pray for peace and pay homage to ancestors with a variety of activities, such as the offering of sacrifices, the water lantern releasing, and a competition of lamp design. The practice of the offering sacrifices during the festival is to please the souls of the dead with fruits, flowers, and a hundred delicacies. You may find different shape and design of lighted lamps is hung on every corner of Keelung; according to religious beliefs, the lighted lamps and water lamp will direct the way returns to the underworld for the lost souls roaming in the mortal world.

The Keelung Ghost Festival dates back to 1851 after clashes between rivaling clans that claimed many lives. The sacrificial ceremony was first held to offer sacrifices to relieve the souls of the dead, as well as a means of building social harmony. The 2013 Keelung Mid-summer Ghost Festival is the biggest sacrificial ceremony in Taiwan, held on 2013/08/10 till 2013/08/25, lasting for a half month this year. The main theme of the festival this year is “Integration of Arts,” which is corresponding with the origin of the festival. Abundant performances and dances by performance troupes from various countries can be seen during the event, such as Stranger Band from America, Las Bellas from Brazil, Hiragana from Bolivia, etc. Tourists are welcomed to join this perfect blend of religious, cultural and traditional events. While wandering around Keelung to see the event, visitors may also stop by Miaokou Night Market, which is fame for the delicious sea food and local snacks.

On August 3rd, Keelung will turn up its cheer for Mid-summer Ghost Festival with its annual Keelung Ocean Eagle Carnival Parade planned at 4 p.m. There will be a variety of floats featuring different motifs, such as Lobster, Dolphin, Eagle, Crocodile, and Scorpion. Several local performance troupes will also join the parade to celebrate the oldest cultural event. This warm-up parade will travel its 1.2-km route along the main roads from Keelung City Cultural Center to Keelung Maritime Plaza where visitors may enjoy a sensational Samba dance performance after the parade.

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Please visit the official web site of 2013 Keelung Mid-summer Ghost Festival for more information (http://tour.klcg.gov.tw/english/d/d01_01.asp) and schedule (http://www.klccab.gov.tw/_main.php?mid=6&id=2675&t_type=s ) (the schedule currently only provided in Mandarin)