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On the first day of the month, when the ghosts leave their world in search of food and entertainment, incense is lit,
在鬼月的第一天，鬼魂会离开地府，寻找食物和娱乐，人们在这一天会燃香，
and joss paper money, which is thin paper stamped with seals and symbols,
而纸钱，也就是一种印有印章和符号的薄纸，
is burnt outside of homes and businesses, by the roads, in fields and in temples as tribute to the spirits.
会在家门外、店铺外、路边、野外和寺庙点燃，以拜祭鬼魂。
On this day, there are ceremonies in the streets, in the markets and in the temples.
大街上、市集上和寺庙里，在这一天都会举行仪式。
During this month, people are warned against walking outside alone at night and swimming alone, in case a vengeful spirit comes after you.
在鬼月期间，人们会被告诫不要在夜间独自出门以及独自下水，以防被心存怨念的鬼魂缠上。
If you do walk alone at night, you should bring your dog along, because dogs can sense ghosts and ghosts fear dogs.
如果你需要夜间独行，那你最好带上你的狗，因为狗可以感知到鬼魂，鬼魂也害怕狗。
There's also taboo to do things like go on a holiday, get married and start a business in case the ghosts create bad luck for you.
鬼月期间还禁忌度假、结婚、创业，以防鬼魂给你带来霉运。
Be careful not to step on any offerings burning on the street, or pick up anything of value, like coins, off the street, in case they were left out for a wandering spirit.
当心不要踩到街上燃烧的任何祭品，也不要从街上捡起任何有价值的东西，比如铜钱，因为这些东西很有可能是留给孤魂野鬼的。
By the time of the Hungry Ghost Festival, the spirits have been wandering the earth for two weeks, so by now they are even hungrier than when they first left their world.
到了中元节，鬼魂已经在人间游荡了两周，所以相较一开始离开地府时，他们现在会更加饥饿。
Joss paper food, more money and luxury goods are burnt in offering to the spirits
为了献祭鬼魂，人们要焚烧纸质的食物、更多的纸钱和奢侈品，
with the belief that the restless and evil spirits won't come after the families that feed and appease them.
他们相信，游魂和恶鬼是不会纠缠上那些给它们食物、安抚它们的家庭的。
Performances are staged from opera to pop music, and the front seats in theaters are left empty, because it is thought the ghosts deserve the best seats.
相关的演出内容会包含戏剧、流行音乐，而剧院的前排座位都是空的，因为人们认为鬼魂应该拥有最好的座位。
It's bad luck to sit in the front rows during the festival,
在中元节期间，坐在前排是很不吉利的，
because you might be sitting on some invisible person's lap and then you may just have some bad luck coming your way.
因为你可能坐在某个看不见的“人”的大腿上，然后就可能会遇到一些倒霉的事情了。
On the last day of the Hungry Ghost month, the gates of hell begin to close,
在鬼月的最后一天，鬼门关开始关闭，
and more paper money and clothes are burnt for the spirits to send them back to their own land.
人们会烧掉更多的纸币和衣服，送鬼魂们回家。
To drive the ghosts away, Taoist monks chant, since it's believed the ghosts don't like the sound.
为了驱赶鬼魂，道士们会诵经念咒，因为人们相信，鬼魂是不喜欢这种声音的。
Paper lanterns are made often with the name of ancestors written on them, which are placed in rivers,
人们会把写着祖先名字的纸灯笼放在河里，
it is believed that the ghosts follow the paper lanterns away toward their own realm,
据说这样鬼魂就会跟随着纸灯笼，回到属于它们的地方了，
and the gates of hell close behind them, keeping the dead apart from the living until the next year.
而鬼门关随即关闭，将阴阳相隔，直到来年。
