What are the customs and practices of Ghost Festival? What can’t you do during the Ghost Festival?

What are the customs and practices of Ghost Festival? What can’t you do during the Ghost Festival?
The Zhongyuan Festival is a traditional Chinese cultural festival, also known as the "Ghost Festival" in China. Various activities are held all over the country to worship ancestors. So what are the customs and habits of the Ghost Festival? What can’t you do during the Ghost Festival? Let’s take a look with the editor. The Ghost Festival is on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month every year. On this day, everyone is very particular about how to celebrate, what should and should not be done. Mr. Shui Mo lists the relevant factors for you.

What are the customs and practices of Ghost Festival?

Release river lanterns <br /> River lanterns are also called "lotus lanterns". River lanterns usually have a lamp or candle on the base and are placed in rivers, lakes and seas on the night of the Ghost Festival, allowing them to float. The purpose of releasing river lanterns is to save drowned ghosts and other wandering spirits in the water. There are many river lanterns, and the most spectacular one is the one in the Yellow River.
Burning street clothes is a folk custom that has been preserved in Hong Kong since its founding. As soon as the seventh month of the lunar calendar begins, people will bring incense, candles, gold and silver paper, and some offerings such as tofu and rice to worship on the roadside after dark. The purpose of people "burning street clothes" is to provide those homeless souls with clothes to keep warm and food to fill their stomachs.
Making Eggplant Cakes <br /> It is believed that eggplant cakes can be used as dry food for deceased ancestors to take to the Ullambana Festival. Every Ghost Festival, every household in Nanjing makes eggplant cakes, which is made by cutting fresh eggplant into shreds, mixing it with flour, and frying it in oil. In fact, eggplant pancake is now a common home-cooked dish. If you want to eat it, you can make a plate of it anytime to satisfy your craving.
Burning paper <br /> In Sichuan Province, it is customary to burn paper during the Zhongyuan Festival to worship ancestors. That is, a stack of paper money is put into a small envelope with the recipient's title and name, the number of envelopes received, the name of the person who burned the silk and the time written on it. It is said that the gates of hell close on July 15th, and every family must give gifts to orphans and children.
Eating Rice Noodles <br /> During the Ghost Festival, Dongguan has the custom of eating rice noodles, and it is common in almost all of Dongguan. Of course, the way of eating rice noodles is different in different areas.
Eating duck <br /> On the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, the Ghost Festival, people in many parts of the country choose to eat duck. Why? It turns out that "duck" is a homonym for "pressure", and eating duck is to suppress ghosts. People in Dongguan usually eat lotus root stewed with duck. In Duling County of Shandong Province, the Zhongyuan Festival is called "Pinching Mouth Festival" by the locals, and every family has the custom of eating simple meals. In Dongxian Township, Jiangsu Province, many villagers eat flatbread (a dustpan-shaped food made of flour and sugar) on the day of the Ghost Festival. In Tiantai, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, they eat "jiaobing", a food similar to spring rolls, during the Ghost Festival.
Ancestor worship <br /> The Ancestor Worship Festival is on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, so it is simply called "Mid-July" ancestor worship. People believe that their ancestors will return home to visit their descendants at this time, so they need to worship their ancestors. The worship ceremony is usually held in the evening before the end of July and is not limited to a specific day.

What can’t you do during the Ghost Festival?

1. The forehead should be exposed
The forehead represents the light of righteousness. Do not let your hair cover your forehead, otherwise it will affect your luck. Especially on the Ghost Festival, it is better to expose your forehead.
2. Avoid saying the word "ghost"
On the day of Zhongyuan Festival, ghosts almost come out in droves and are everywhere, especially the scene of the ceremony, which is definitely filled with ghosts. Therefore, during the Zhongyuan Festival, it is best to be careful with what you say and do. In addition to avoiding saying the word "ghost", you should also not speak carelessly, as ghosts may be around you!
3. Don’t step on it
No matter it is a sacrifice or anything else, you must not step on or jump around while burning it, otherwise you will inevitably hinder their movements, and they will become angry and will naturally be bad for you.
4. Avoid washing and hanging clothes in the middle of the night
Washed clothes are easily clinging to free radio waves due to dampness, making them difficult to get rid of. In the ghost month when ghosts roam everywhere, hanging clothes out to dry in the middle of the night is like setting a trap to catch ghosts. If it doesn't trouble you, who else will it trouble?
5. Don’t pat others on the shoulder on the Ghost Festival
This taboo is related to folk customs. People believe that everyone has three fires on their body, gathered on the top of the head and shoulders, which will prevent ghosts and other spirits from approaching. Therefore, if one pats someone on the shoulder randomly during the Zhongyuan Festival when there are the most ghosts, wouldn't that be like trying to put out the other person's anger and let the ghost cause trouble for him?

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