Temple Festival Archives - ET Speaks From Home

Fruits for Offerings: What to Use and Avoid in Buddhist and Ancestral Prayers

Do you know which fruits are appropriate to offer to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and your ancestors – and which ones should be avoided?

When I was young, praying to the gods and ancestors on important days was a significant event in my household. I vividly remember two whole sugar canes with roots, each tied with red threads and adorned with a yellow paper lantern. Alongside them stood a table filled with plates of fresh fruits and flowers for the Buddhas, and another with meats, biscuits, and cakes for our ancestors. A tall stack of joss paper was always prepared for burning, symbolically sent to our ancestors for use in the afterlife.

Chinese Culture: Do you believe in spirit babies?

In Chinese culture, they are called 婴灵 (Yīng Líng). They are believed to be the souls of babies who were aborted, miscarried, stillborn, or who died shortly after birth. Often, they are not properly buried—especially in cases of abortion in hospitals, where remains may be disposed of as medical waste. In many cases, they are also not given a name or a memorial tablet.

According to Chinese beliefs, these souls are helpless and may linger in the human world, unable to be reborn. This is thought to be especially true for those who were aborted, as their circumstances may give rise to resentment or unrest. Some believe that such spirits may haunt their loved ones—particularly their biological mother—bringing misfortune or harm to the family.

The Vanishing Trade – Yeo Swee Huat Paper Agency Exhibition

During my visit to Haw Par Villa in August this year, one of the free exhibitions was the Yeo Swee Huat Paper Agency, which runs until the end of December 2022. It is located at the Cloud Pavilion that is next to the Culture Courtyard. It is an exhibition on the vanishing paper offerings trade which is typically used for temple festivities and funeral offerings.