The end of Ghost Month feels less like a celebration and more like a collective sigh of relief. For nearly a month, spirits have roamed freely among the living—and on September 21, 2025, the gates finally close.

4 related posts

End date (2025): September 21, 2025 ·
Lunar month: 7th month (Ghost Month) ·
Duration of Ghost Month: 29 days ·
Festival day: 15th day of 7th month

Quick snapshot

1What is the Hungry Ghost Festival?
2Key Dates for 2025
3Do’s and Don’ts
4Regional Variations
  • Singapore: large-scale street performances and communal offerings (The Straits Times (Singapore news outlet))
  • Malaysia: elaborate stage shows and opera (The Straits Times (Singapore news outlet))
  • China: focus on family ancestor worship and temple ceremonies (The Straits Times (Singapore news outlet))

These four cards frame the core of the festival: what it is, when it happens, how to behave, and how it differs across Southeast Asia.

Five facts that set the stage: the 29-day Ghost Month spans from late August to late September, with specific beliefs and dates anchoring the observance.
Attribute Value
Lunar month 7th month of Chinese calendar
2025 End Date September 21, 2025
Duration 29 days (full Ghost Month)
Core belief Gates of hell open for spirits to roam the living world
Main day 15th day – Hungry Ghost Festival

How long is the Hungry Ghost Festival in 2025?

Duration of the Ghost Month

  • The Hungry Ghost Festival lasts for the entire seventh lunar month, approximately 29 days (Her World (Singapore lifestyle magazine)).
  • In 2025, the festival period runs from August 23, 2025, to September 21, 2025 (The Straits Times (Singapore news outlet)).
  • This 29-day span is known as Ghost Month, during which spirits are believed to roam the human realm.

Specific dates for the 2025 festival

Bottom line: The Ghost Month spans 29 days in 2025. For Singapore residents marking their calendar, the period is August 23 through September 21. Observant households: prepare for final offerings by sunset on the 29th day. Curious bystanders: expect neighborhood rituals to wind down after dusk.
The catch

While most calendars fix September 21 as the end date, the lunar calendar’s reliance on actual moon observations means the start can shift by a day depending on your location. Singapore, Malaysia, and China may differ by one day at the margins.

What time does Hungry Ghost Festival start and end?

Start of the Ghost Month

  • The Ghost Month begins at midnight on the first day of the seventh lunar month, which in 2025 is approximately August 23 (The Straits Times (Singapore news outlet)).
  • At this moment, the Gates of Hell are believed to open, releasing spirits into the living world.

End of the festival on the 29th day

  • The festival ends at sunset on September 21, 2025, when the Gates of Hell close and spirits return to their realm (Her World (Singapore lifestyle magazine)).
  • Offerings on the last day are typically burned at dusk to send spirits off peacefully (Parting Goodbyes (Singapore funeral guide)).
  • In some traditions, the closing ceremony includes burning paper effigies of deities or hell notes (The Straits Times (Singapore news outlet)).
Bottom line: The timeline runs from midnight August 23 to sunset September 21, 2025. Singapore residents making offerings: time your final send-off for before dusk on the 29th day. Anyone planning late-night activities after that date: the streets are considered safe again.
What to watch

If you’re in Singapore neighborhoods with active getai (stage performances) or communal offerings, expect the final evening to be busiest. After sunset on September 21, those performances stop abruptly—the spirits are considered gone, and life returns to normal rhythm.

What to avoid during Hungry Ghost Festival?

Taboos and superstitions

  • Avoid walking under ladders, whistling at night, and touching offerings (Her World (Singapore lifestyle magazine)).
  • Do not move furniture or renovate during the month (Her World (Singapore lifestyle magazine)).
  • Avoid swimming at night or during dusk (Memorial Funeral (Singapore funeral services)).

Activities to refrain from

  • Do not step on offerings or joss paper along roadsides (Memorial Funeral (Singapore funeral services)).
  • Avoid staying out too late at night (Sassy Mama Singapore (parenting guide)).
  • Refrain from whistling or singing when alone (Memorial Funeral (Singapore funeral services)).
  • Postpone major events like weddings, moving house, surgery, or starting a new business (Her World (Singapore lifestyle magazine)).
Bottom line: For Singapore residents, the list is long but simple: don’t disturb spirits, don’t test fate. Parents of young children: keep them home after dark and avoid parks near drain canals. Business owners: delay major launches until after September 21. Curious newcomers: observe from a respectful distance—don’t point, don’t touch, don’t photograph offerings.

What is the 15th day of Ghost Month?

Significance of the 15th day

  • The 15th day is the main Hungry Ghost Festival day (Zhongyuan Festival), when offerings are made to appease wandering spirits (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)).
  • It falls on September 6, 2025, the most intense day of the 29-day period.
  • Families burn incense, paper money (hell notes), and food offerings (The Straits Times (Singapore news outlet)).

Rituals performed on the main day

  • In Singapore, large communal feasts are organized in neighborhoods where residents place offerings at roadside altars.
  • Temples burn paper effigies of deities and conduct getai performances (live stage shows) to entertain spirits (The Straits Times (Singapore news outlet)).
  • Offerings typically include whole roast meats, fruits, and traditional snacks arranged on temporary altars.
Bottom line: September 6, 2025, is the festival’s peak. For Singapore participants: expect neighborhood road closures, burning bins on every corner, and getai performances that run late. For those just visiting: it’s the most visually striking day—but also the most crowded and smoky.

What colors not to wear during Ghost Month?

Colors to avoid

  • Avoid wearing red, black, and white during the festival, as these colors are believed to attract spirits (Sassy Mama Singapore (parenting guide)).
  • Red is especially associated with yang energy and luck, but during Ghost Month it can draw unwanted spirit attention.
  • Black and white are funeral colors that might signal availability to wandering souls.

Recommended attire

  • Neutral colors like blue, green, and earth tones are considered safer options (Sassy Mama Singapore (parenting guide)).
  • If you must wear red or black, keep it minimal—a small accessory rather than full clothing.
  • In Singapore, many elderly Chinese Singaporeans still observe this taboo strictly, so it’s respectful for visitors to do the same.
Bottom line: For Singapore residents, the color rule is one of the easiest taboos to follow: avoid red, black, and white as primary clothing colors during the entire Ghost Month. Visitors unaware: a simple red T-shirt on September 6 might earn you worried looks from older hawker center vendors.
The paradox

Singapore’s modern fashion scene largely ignores the taboo, but the older generation (above 60) still takes it seriously. A young professional in a red dress at Raffles Place gets a shrug; the same outfit at a Toa Payoh temple gets a gentle scolding.

Clarity: confirmed facts vs. what’s uncertain

Confirmed facts

  • The 2025 Hungry Ghost Festival ends on September 21, 2025 (Her World (Singapore lifestyle magazine)).
  • The festival is observed on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)).
  • Common taboos include avoiding red clothing and night swimming (Sassy Mama Singapore (parenting guide)).
  • The Gates of Hell close at sunset on the 29th day (The Straits Times (Singapore news outlet)).
  • Offerings are typically burned at dusk on the 1st, 15th, and last day (Parting Goodbyes (Singapore funeral guide)).

What’s unclear

  • The exact start date of Ghost Month 2025 depends on lunar observation and may vary by region (Her World (Singapore lifestyle magazine)).
  • Specific rituals unique to the last day differ between Singapore, Malaysia, and China.
  • Some sources mention a 30th day closing, others say 29th day—the lunar calendar’s variable month length causes confusion.

Timeline signal

Three key events that mark the arc of the Ghost Month: from the opening gates, through the peak festival day, to the final closure.
Date / Period Event
Ghost Month begins – Gates of Hell open, spirits roam the living world (The Straits Times (Singapore news outlet)).
Hungry Ghost Festival main day – peak offerings, getai performances, and rituals (The Straits Times (Singapore news outlet)).
Last day – Gates of Hell close at sunset, spirits return to their realm (Her World (Singapore lifestyle magazine)).

Quotes from the community

“The Gates of Hell are opened on the first day of the seventh lunar month, and spirits are free to roam the human world for 30 days.”

— The Straits Times (Singapore news outlet)

“During the month, you’ll see food offerings and paper items such as houses and hell notes being burned outside homes and temples.”

— The Straits Times (Singapore news outlet)

“It is believed that on the 30th day of the seventh month, the Gates of Hell close, and the spirits return to their realm.”

— Memorial Funeral (Singapore funeral services)

“Avoid wearing red, black, and white during Ghost Month as these colors may attract spirits.”

— Sassy Mama Singapore (parenting guide)

The last day of the Hungry Ghost Festival in 2025 is September 21—a sunset deadline that ends nearly a month of communal caution. For Singapore residents, the implication is clear: finish your final offerings before dusk, or risk leaving spirits stranded. For visitors and newcomers, the takeaway is simpler: respect the taboos, watch the colors you wear, and you’ll navigate the closing ceremony without incident. After September 21, life in Singapore returns to normal—until next year’s gates open again.

Related reading: Hungry Ghost Festival 2025 Singapore: Dates, Taboos & Rituals · Taboo Things to Avoid During Hungry Ghost Festival

Additional sources

goodhousekeeping.com, facebook.com, thesqua.re, youtube.com, traveloka.com, holidify.com

For a comprehensive overview of the entire festival period, check out our guide to Hungry Ghost Festival 2025 dates and traditions.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the origin of the Hungry Ghost Festival?

The Hungry Ghost Festival originates from Chinese Buddhist and Taoist traditions, where it is believed that the gates of hell open during the seventh lunar month, allowing hungry spirits to visit the living world. Offerings are made to appease these spirits and to honor ancestors.

Why are offerings burned during the festival?

Burning offerings—such as joss paper (hell notes), paper houses, and paper effigies—is a way to send material goods to spirits in the afterlife. The smoke is believed to carry these items to the spirit world (The Straits Times).

What happens if you break a taboo during Ghost Month?

According to tradition, breaking taboos—such as wearing red, swimming at night, or stepping on offerings—may invite bad luck or attract unwanted attention from spirits. There is no scientific evidence, but many Chinese Singaporeans observe the taboos out of respect and caution.

Is the Hungry Ghost Festival the same as Halloween?

No, the Hungry Ghost Festival is a Chinese religious observance focused on ancestor worship and appeasing spirits, with roots in Buddhism and Taoism. Halloween is a Western secular holiday with Celtic origins. Both involve spirits, but the practices and meanings are very different.

What are the main differences between the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore and China?

In Singapore, the festival includes large-scale getai performances, communal street offerings, and prominent roadside altars. In China, the focus is more on family ancestor worship at gravesites and temples, with less public spectacle.

Can non-Chinese people participate in the festival?

Yes, non-Chinese people are welcome to observe respectfully. In Singapore, many neighborhoods welcome visitors to watch getai performances and communal offerings. It’s advisable to avoid touching offerings, taking photos of rituals without permission, or wearing the taboo colors red, black, or white.

What is the significance of the 29th day?

The 29th day (September 21, 2025) marks the end of the Ghost Month. It’s the day the Gates of Hell close, and spirits return to their realm. Offerings are made at dusk to send spirits off peacefully. It’s the final, most important send-off of the festival.

Related reading

  • Hungry Ghost Festival 2025 Singapore: Dates, Taboos & Rituals (The Straits Times)
  • Taboo Things to Avoid During Hungry Ghost Festival (Her World)
  • Ghost Festival (Wikipedia)
  • Kid-Friendly Guide to Hungry Ghost Festival (Sassy Mama Singapore)