Mr. Chan is busy tidying up the washing basin he installed last week. This project was inspired by his visit to Russia last month, "they have big basins!" He exclaimed. A classic handy man, Mr. Chan remembers more the Russian basins than the iconic onion head churches.
Mrs. Chan is busy preparing the paper offerings for tomorrow night. Every seventh month in Chinese calender, the gate from the hell will open and all ghosts will have one month free pass to the earth. It is a month to deliver things to passed away relatives and to show your care to any homeless ghosts. We can offer them some daily necessities by a burning ceremony at night. And that includes...
Package for homeless ghosts on the street
1 Fabrics /clothings to goddess Kun Yin觀音衣
2 Candles and incencse to gods and ghosts
3 gold and silver and coins 金銀
4 Packing base 元寶
5 license for the homeless ghosts with spells printed (my mum cannot tell what is that for, but she knows that is not for relatives but "outsiders")執照
6 fabrics / clothings of different colours and texture for hot and cold season
7 White paper to notify and attract ghosts about your offerings (溪錢)
8 passes to go to next life, with spells printed (往生錢）
Sounds complicated, but very considerate too. A package for homesless ghosts cost $30 HKD, and there are other package for relatives and gods, with passport, flight and ship tickets, bank book etc, more luxurious of course. They are your family aren't they?
Milly got up from her morning break
Another Ms. Chan then goes back to her dull job.
I think I need a larger washing basin as well...the faucet has character!
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