I found an interesting article which wrote on a ‘fascinating’ belief, well at least for men, which takes place during the Hungry Ghost month. As most of us know, for many Chinese, this particular month is considered unlucky as they believe that the Hell Gate opens throughout the month, allowing ghosts to return to our world.

A minority tribe in China, known as The Yi, has their own way to celebrate this month. The Yi people who are still single, will head to the streets to celebrate the Breast Touching Festival. Yes, you read it right. The festival, known as Monai Jie, takes place on the 14th, 15th and 16th of the month. During this festival, the men are allowed to touch the women’s breasts.

Legend has it that the festival began around the Sui Dynasty when most of the teenagers of the Yi tribe were forced into the army and many of them died in war. The people then performed prayers to honor the dead and was held in the seventh month, the Hungry Ghost month.

According to the shamans, the dead were in an unrest state because they had not touched a woman before. Therefore, they wanted 10 “pure and untouched” ladies as their companions in the afterworld. In an effort to prevent them from being chosen, the single women then asked the men to touch their breasts, and the custom was passed down for generations.

Weird, but true.