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"Emma Jebsen"

Life onboard , - part 2

Feeding the "Hungry Ghost"

The Chinese have many rites and customs which are both interesting and colourful to watch.
One such custom is celebrating "Yue Laan" , - the "Hungry Ghost" -, festival.
On that day, the Chinese will offer food and money to the spirits of deceased people , - and of course it has to be done at sea as well.
It is believed, that on the 7th. Moon, the gates of Hell opens and lets the hungry spirits roam freely around to look for food.
Spirits of the deceased family members also come and visit their families during the 7th. Moon, and if you prepare a first class dinner and lots of gifts for their spirits, they will be very pleased, and it will bring good luck for the living - - -
Apparently the spirits are not really hungry, because the food does not disappear until the living eats it all, - which they do with great pleasure - - -
On one such occasion, - when all the food was on display for the spirits -, I asked when the spirits would start to eat the fantastic dinner that had been prepared for them?
The answer was: "They are eating now!" - - -

See here what it looks like when Chinese sailors celebrate "The Hungry Ghost festival" onboard a ship.
This particular event took place on Sept. 1st. 1974 in the South China Sea . . .

M7S "Emma Jebsen"
Joss sticks in the morning
- means that something is cooking -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

M/S "Emma Jebsen"
All kinds of delicious food , drink and even "money" and "gold" are displayed for the "ghosts".
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

M/S "Emma Jebsen"

Lots of food ,- and in the lower right corner a box full of "money". In order to be absolute sure that the ancestors in the underworld really will get the money , some of the bills are issued by "The Bank of Hell"! Just in case - - - (Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

M/S "Emma Jebsen"
Here the mess man ,- "Nussefar" -, is decorating the table in the crews mess.
Take note of the "House Altar" on the bulkhead behind.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

M/S "Emma Jebsen"
- Chan Lap Chung inspects the outside arrangement, - and makes sure that everything is fine -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

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- Joss Sticks, - and Whiskey bottles for the dead -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

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- watching the spirits eating -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

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- here is everything for use in the spirit world -
- rice, fruit, bird, fish, meat, "gold", "money", cigarettes and even matches to light them , - and a "wishing well cake" -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

M/S "Emma Jebsen"
Feeding the "Hungry ghosts"
- more food -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

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- burning offerings -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

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More offerings - -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

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- preparations for throwing offerings of "money" and "gold" into the sea -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

M/S "Emma Jebsen"
- the poop deck bustling with activity -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

M/S "Emma Jebsen"
- joss sticks being burned, and "Gold", "Silver" and "Hell Money" being offered -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

Click here for "Life onboard ,- part 3"

Click here for "My Ships"

Click here for "The Ships"

Page initiated: October 7th. 2003
Page updated: Nov. 13th. 2004, - April 13. 2007, - April 14. 2007