What is the difference between the Ghost Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival? What can you eat during the Ghost Festival?

What is the difference between the Ghost Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival? What can you eat during the Ghost Festival?
Although people call the Zhongyuan Festival the Ghost Festival, it is not a scary festival. Want to know more about the Ghost Festival? The ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar is the Double Ninth Festival. There is a traditional custom of climbing heights on this day, so it is also called the "Climbing Festival." If you want to know more about the ninth month of the lunar calendar, please follow Mr. Shui Mo’s website!

What is the difference between the Ghost Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival?

The traditional festival after the Ghost Festival is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Although the two have similar names, they are two completely different festivals.
The Ghost Festival is on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month (July 14th in some areas), while the Mid-Autumn Festival is on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. The Ghost Festival is a festival in early autumn, while the Mid-Autumn Festival represents the middle of autumn.
In terms of the festival connotation, the Zhongyuan Festival is a traditional Chinese festival for worshipping ancestors. Its main customs are sweeping tombs and worshiping the land, and its cultural core is respecting ancestors and being filial. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese reunion festival. Although it also has the custom of worshiping the moon god, its cultural core is family reunion.

What can you eat during the Ghost Festival?

1. Dumplings
In Tiantai, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, they eat "jiaobing", a food similar to spring rolls, during the Ghost Festival.
According to legend, the dumpling roll was left by Jigong: When Jigong was a monk in Guoqing Temple, he saw a lot of leftovers from every meal, which he thought was a waste, so he wrapped the vegetables in hulatai skin and kept them for the next meal. This practice was loved by the monks and spread among the people.
2. Duck
On the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, the Ghost Festival, many places have the custom of eating duck. "鸭" (duck) and "压" (pressure) are homophones, meaning to suppress ghosts. Moreover, chicken claws are shaped like rakes, which can easily scratch off ghosts' clothes.
The reason for eating duck on the Ghost Festival is that according to legend, deceased ancestors will return home to visit their relatives on this day and have to cross the Naihe Bridge, but they cannot do so without a boat. Therefore, the living people would send some ducks down so that the ducks could swim and carry them back. Over time, this became a tradition of eating ducks during the Ghost Festival.
3. Flower Bun
Before the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, dough sculpture activities are popular among women, especially in northern Shanxi. A family steamed flower buns, and the neighbors came to help. First, according to the actual number of people in the family, make a big flower bun for each person.
The flower buns given to younger generations should be pinched into a flat shape, called a "mianyang", which means a lamb kneeling on its knees to drink milk, hoping that the younger generations will not forget the grace of their parents' upbringing; the flower buns given to older generations should be pinched into a human shape, called a "mianren", which means a house full of children and grandchildren, and a long life; the flower buns given to peers should be pinched into a fish shape, called a "mianyu", which means abundance year after year.
4. Rice noodles
On the day of the Ghost Festival, there is a custom of eating rice noodles in Dongguan, and it is common in almost the entire Dongguan. Of course, the way of eating rice noodles is different in different areas. Rice noodle is a traditional food at Dongguan’s birthday banquet, symbolizing longevity, good fortune and longevity.
Dongguan is most famous for its roast goose. The most important thing about roast goose soup is a pot of delicious broth, which must be made with a whole chicken, large pieces of meat, large pieces of bones, and many special medicinal herbs and spices. When eating, blanch the rice noodles in hot water and put them in a bowl, then add a large spoonful of broth, and then cover the noodles with a layer of crispy skin and tender meat of roast goose.
5. Steamed Lamb
In the old capital and rural areas of North China, it is a popular custom for grandfathers and uncles to give live sheep to their nephews on July 15th.
Legend has it that this custom is related to the legend of Chenxiang splitting the mountain to save his mother. After Chenxiang split the mountain to save his mother, he wanted to hunt down his uncle Erlang Shen who abused his mother. In order to restore the friendship between brother and sister and uncle and nephew, Erlang Shen would send Chenxiang a pair of live sheep on July 15th every year. It is said that this is a homonym of Erlang Shen and Chenxiang's mother's surname "Yang" in order to restore the friendship between the two families. From then on, the custom of uncle sending a live sheep was left behind among the people, and later it gradually evolved into sending a pair of sheep.

Do you want to know your own Bazi? Want to figure out where your golden marriage is? Click on the [Premium Calculation] below to calculate your horoscope and fortune!

<<:  List of the God of Happiness's directions on the third day of September during the Cold Dew solar term in 2021

>>:  Which direction is the God of Wealth on the fourth day of the ninth lunar month in 2021?

Recommend

How about the Lantern Festival in 2021? Is it okay to move on the same day?

The pros and cons of moving at different times are...

Is it a good time to move on September 11th of the lunar calendar in 2018?

The geese flying south spread their wings and soa...