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S’pore Freegans Went Around Collecting Fruits From Hungry Ghost Month Offerings

2020-09-04 , 3:42 pm

A couple days ago, I found out that our very own “cherry blossom” is now in full bloom. So I took a stroll around the neighbourhood, taking in the view, imagining myself walking the streets in a rom-com.

Then, to my surprise, it started “snowing”. Flakes of white descended upon me from the sky. Has climate change truly taken over? Is it finally winter in Singapore?

Oh wait, it’s just ashes. The hungry ghost month is here.

Hungry Ghost Festival rituals

According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, the gates between the living and the dead are currently thrown wide open. Our “good brothers” from the other side roam the Earth freely, looking for food and fortunes.

To pray for non-disturbance from the departed, devotees would lay out offerings and burn incense by the roadside on the 15th day of the month.

In the eye of a certain group of Singaporeans who identify themselves as Freegans, though, they saw through the ritual and spotted something that’s not visible to most (heh) – an opportunity to reduce food waste.

Freeganism

Freegans are practitioners of Freeganism, an ideology that advocates limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources.

They reuse, recycle and recover wasted goods, such as “untouched” fruits that are due for disposal after the Hungry Ghost Festival rituals.

So, on Tuesday night (Sept 2), 41-year-old Daniel Tay and his friends decided to go out on an impromptu Orange Hunt. With a rented truck, the Freegans managed to salvage 122 oranges, two pineapples, two apples and a bunch of bananas.

Taboo to pick up offerings

Tay started recruiting participants two weeks ago through his Facebook group Freegans in Singapore. Unfortunately, the response to the event was lukewarm.

That’s because it is generally a taboo to pick up offerings in Chinese culture. However, Tay had consulted with a Taoist priest prior to the activity.

Apparently, it’s safe to take away the offerings once the incense burns out. It signals that our otherworldly friends have finished eating.

Second year of fruit hunt

This is actually Tay’s second consecutive year of Hungry Ghost Festival fruit hunt. He told 8World that he was able to collect more than 100 oranges within one and a half hours last year.

“Perhaps fewer people are performing the ritual this year due to the pandemic. But on the bright side, it meant less food waste.”

At the end of the fruitful trip, the participants divided the yield amongst themselves to be brought home and shared with friends and family.

Be open-minded about Freeganism

While some people may harbour doubts about the Freegans’ motives, the participants urge Singaporeans to keep an open mind towards the movement.

Ultimately, it is a noble effort to promote sustainability and reduce waste.