Yilan celebrates first day of Ghost Month with water lanterns

2022-07-29

Friday marks the first day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, also known as the Ghost Month. On this day, the doors to the underworld, swing open, allowing spirits to roam the streets of Taiwan. In Yilan, the day is celebrated with parades featuring local folk gods as well as a water lantern ceremony. Though activities were scaled back this year due to COVID, participants say the event was as spectacular as ever.

Colorful paper lotus flowers with lit candles float on the river.

A paper house lantern is set ablaze and set in the water too. Its flames illuminate the entire Yilan River. It’s the first day of the Ghost Month, meaning the doors to the underworld are now open. In Yilan, locals release water lanterns as a blessing. They burn paper money, and put out offerings for the spirits that come to the mortal realm.

Lin Cheng-fang
Hostel owner
It’s just like sending out invitation cards. We float the water lanterns into the distance so that the spirits will accept our offerings and prayers.

Chen Wen-pin
Yilan Water Festival president
Nowadays the water lanterns are made from bamboo, which is more environmentally friendly.

The traditional water lantern festival kicked off on Thursday night at around 11 p.m. Owing to the pandemic, street parades were canceled and replaced by motorcades around the city. The main event went ahead, with guests presenting lotus flowers and 13 large environmentally-friendly lanterns, one by one, in the water. In addition to praying for peace, this time of the year is also a time to remember relatives who have passed away. The annual festival drew visitors from abroad.

Paraguayan Student
We are very interested in Taiwanese culture, so we thought this was fascinating.

Standing on a bridge, participants marveled at the beauty of the flames reflected on the river. The lotus flowers scattered on the river and the flickering flames, are a way for Yilan locals to remember their dear ones, while paying respect to the visitors from the underworld.

農曆七月鬼門開放水燈照亮宜蘭河

2022-07-29

農曆七月初一鬼門開，每年這個時候，宜蘭城都會迎請都城隍在市區遶境，並前往宜蘭河濱公園施放水燈，今年因為疫情，取消踩街的活動，改成車隊遶境，不過，放水燈的習俗照舊。13座水燈座和蓮花燈，在近午夜時鬼門一開，就放上河面，把宜蘭河照得通亮，景色相當特別。

色彩繽紛的紙紮蓮花，上頭點燃蠟燭，一朵朵漂浮在河道上。

精緻的水燈座，點火燃燒，放入河中，熊熊燃起的火光，照亮整個宜蘭河。農曆七月開鬼門，宜蘭地區會放水燈祈福，藉由點燃的紙錢和水燈座，指引好兄弟來享用人們準備的供品。

[[民俗專家林正芳]]
“就是發邀請卡，就是把這個水燈一直飄向遠方，引這些好兄弟來接受人間對他的供奉跟祭拜這樣子。”

[[宜蘭水燈會理事長陳文彬]]
“現在水燈都是用竹子，比較環保。”

宜蘭傳統的放水燈活動，週四晚上11點在宜蘭河登場。受到疫情影響，取消踩街遊行，改成車隊遶境，但重頭戲不能省，來賓們一一獻上蓮花和13座大型的環保水燈。除了向鬼神祈求平安，也表達對過世親人的思念，還有外國朋友也來體驗。

[[巴拉圭學生諾凱]]
“我們對台灣的文化很有興趣，所以我們覺得很有意思。”

火光映照在宜蘭河面，格外耀眼，不少民眾特別聚集在橋上觀賞。散落在河面的蓮花和升起的火焰，都訴說著對親人的思念以及對鬼神的敬畏。