Chinese Ghost Festival Prepare to pay respects to ancestors by checking "Lucky shirt colors" to wear for attracting good fortune, and which shirt colors to avoid according to traditional beliefs for ongoing auspiciousness throughout the year.
The Chinese Ghost Festival is an important day for Thai people of Chinese descent to show gratitude to deceased ancestors. Beyond preparing offerings and traditional paper money correctly, another important aspect many pay attention to is "clothing choice."
According to ancient beliefs, the colors of clothing worn on the Chinese Ghost Festival carry meanings that affect luck and auspiciousness. Let's see which colors are considered lucky and which should be avoided.
When choosing clothing colors for the Chinese Ghost Festival, the focus is usually on bright, positive energy, and auspicious colors, including
Red is the top auspicious color for the Chinese, symbolizing prosperity, happiness, and fortune. It also has power to ward off evil spirits or negative energy. Wearing red on the Chinese Ghost Festival is believed to attract good things into one’s life and family.
Gold and yellow represent gold, wealth, and progress. Historically reserved for emperors, wearing these colors is believed to enhance financial luck and prestige.
For those who prefer not to wear bright red, options like pink, orange, or other bright tones are suitable. These colors symbolize cheerfulness, love, and family harmony.
Conversely, since the Chinese Ghost Festival coincides with the time when the underworld's gate opens for spirits to receive merit, there are prohibitions on clothing colors that might attract negative energy:
In Chinese customs, black and white are colors used for funerals or mourning, symbolizing sorrow and death. Wearing pure black or white on an auspicious day or during ancestral worship is considered very inauspicious.
Dark, gloomy colors such as dark gray, navy blue, or dark brown are believed to absorb negative energy or bad influences easily. During the time when wandering spirits emerge, these colors should be avoided for peace of mind.
(Read more:10 prohibitions for the Chinese Ghost Festival)
Choosing lucky shirt colors for the Chinese Ghost Festival and avoiding unlucky colors is part of a tradition passed down for peace of mind and auspiciousness of descendants. However, the most important aspect of this festival is "gratitude," reflected through sincere preparation of offerings and remembrance of ancestors with a pure heart.