Jesseca Liu Gets Hooked on Singapore’s Traditional Ghost Month
Picture this: a bright, enthusiastic 43‑year‑old actress from Malaysia’s Langkawi, stepping into the bustling streets of Singapore for the very first time in 2004, only to find a whole city wrapped in a solemn, almost wistful ritual she’d never seen before.
What’s the Deal with the “Ghost Month?”
In Singapore, the lunar seventh month—often called the ghost month—is when folks pay respects to deceased relatives. People gather in temples, set up altars, and swerve around streets full of prayers and the scented smoke of burning joss paper. Not a thing I’d ever witnessed in my hometown, where the only “burning” you’d do is for a barbecue.
Jesseca’s First Wake‑Up Call
- “I was over the moon to see a street packed full of people praying as if the whole block was part of a community prayer camp.”
- “To my surprise, whole streets, not just families, were involved. I had never even imagined a whole block doing that.”
- She was unfazed by the sight. “It wasn’t scary—more like a cultural eye‑opener.”
Because she’s a devout Christian, her first exposure to this kind of week‑end ritual filled her with astonishment. Yet, she quickly recovered with her Singaporean peers’ help.
From Shock to Mastery
“My friends taught me the etiquette: stay clear of the offerings, don’t step on the plates everyone uses for prayers, and show respect when you’re passing by.”
“You can see how traditional the locals are. Even better than rural children back in Malaysia, I’d say.”
On the Screen: Lassie Predicters & Quirks
In Soul Detective, she portrays Lau Shu Qin, a psychic who chats with ghosts, bridging the living and the afterlife. She believes every spirit—no matter how spooky—was once a person loved by someone still living.
- Her nephew, Peh Ye (played by James Seah), gets possessed by a nether‑world cop named Ang Zhe Ren (Bryan Wong), who is after runaway evil spirits.
- The series also stars Carrie Wong, Cavin Soh, Nick Teo, and Guo Liang.
Release & Where to Catch It
It debuts this evening at 9 PM on Channel 8 and is free on demand via meWATCH.
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