Sending the Spirits Back to Heaven

Chinese Monks Chanting

Saturday we ate breakfast in our apartment to the sounds of monks chanting across the street.  In front of our apartment building, a Chinese ceremony was taking place.  Tents were set up.  Tables were neatly arranged underneath with gifts of cakes and fruit for the spirits of the dead.  Burning incense on each of the 100 tables filled the air with a sweet smell making it hard to breathe.   At the front were Chinese gods on an altar and Chinese monks chanting.  People stood around the monks reverently praying.  According to Chinese custom, spirits of the dead are released from heaven during this time of year. They usually call them down to earth by setting off hundreds of fire crackers. The Chinese believe that the noise alerts the spirits that a ceremony is about to begin. After a month of burning money and offering food, people were finally sending these spirits back to heaven.