What are the customs of the Ghost Festival? What are the taboos during the Ghost Festival?
China is a country with a profound cultural history, so there are many traditional festivals left over, and the Ghost Festival is one of them. So what are the customs of the Ghost Festival? What are the taboos during the Ghost Festival? Let’s follow the editor to find out more. The most important tradition in July is the Zhongyuan Festival. There have been many legends about the Zhongyuan Festival, and the key point is ancestor worship. On this day, relatives will go to the graves to worship their ancestors and pray for peace. Mr. Shuimo has compiled many elements about the Zhongyuan Festival, please feel free to check it out.What are the customs of the 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. Hequ County in northwest Shanxi is close to the Yellow River. The river channel is wide and the water flow is gentle. Every night on July 15th, men, women, young and old from all over the city gather in the square in front of the stage on the bank of the Yellow River to watch the river lanterns. Colorful lights drifted along the water, and the children watched closely to see how far their own lights could drift. The old woman kept muttering and praying. Today, releasing river lanterns has become a joyful activity. According to the Buddhist Ullambana Festival rituals, releasing river lanterns is just a small program and does not seem to be very important. Among the folk customs of the Ghost Festival, lighting lanterns is relatively important.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. By then, midsummer had passed and the cool autumn had just begun. 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. On ordinary days, people worship their ancestors, but usually their tablets are not moved. When it comes to the "mid-July" ancestor worship, the tablets of the ancestors are taken out one by one and placed respectfully on a special offering table used for worship. Incense is then lit in front of each ancestor's tablet, and tea and food are offered three times a day, morning, noon and evening, until the tablets are returned on July 30. If you have portraits of your ancestors, please take them out and hang them up. When worshiping, people kowtow to each ancestor according to their seniority and age order, pray silently, report to the ancestors and ask them to examine their words and deeds in the past year and bless them with peace and happiness. Worshiping the land and crops <br /> On July 15, people still worship the land and crops. Scatter the offerings into the fields. After burning the paper, the colorful paper is cut into strips and wrapped around the ears of crops. Legend has it that it can avoid hailstorms and ensure a good harvest in autumn. In some places, people also go to the Hou Tu Temple to hold sacrifices. In Dingxiang County, the folk custom is to hang hemp and grain on the door. Dough Sculpture <br /> 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 (including married daughters and sons-in-law, grandchildren, married sons and daughters-in-law, grandchildren, etc.), a big flower bun is pinched 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 feed, and the hope is 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 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. Nowadays, it is not so strict anymore. It depends entirely on the owner. There are steamed buns in various shapes such as sheep, tiger, cow, fish, rabbit, and human. After each person has made a flower bun in the shape of one animal, they will then make many more flower buns in the shapes of melons, fruits, peaches, plums, lotuses, chrysanthemums, and plums, embellished with flowers, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and squirrels. It is smaller in size than before and is used as a gift when visiting relatives or friends. After being steamed, these dough figurines are painted in five colors, making them look lifelike. Each one can be called an excellent handicraft. Watching dough figurines on July 15th has become a program for rural women to show off their dexterity and craftsmanship. What are the taboos during the Ghost Festival?1: Don’t wear red underwear, because there are many rituals in this month. Underwear is the second layer of skin of the human body. Red is connected with the spirit world, so it can prevent ghosts and evil spirits from haunting you. Don’t wear red clothes at night.2: In addition, avoid visiting the sick or the dead if possible, and avoid going to hospitals, cemeteries and other places with heavy negative energy; 3: It is best to avoid swimming in rivers and seas; avoid walking alone in secluded places, go with other people; and try not to go out at night; 4: Green plants are yin, so lovers should not stay under them for too long at night. Please do not wear hats or sunglasses to cover your eyes at night; 5: You must not play with things like Diexian and Bixian, as it will be very dangerous this month; 6: Those who are destined to receive the Buddha's gift can also wear the instruments of consecration, chant the Buddha's name, and read the scriptures. A string of Buddha beads in hand can ward off many unnecessary troubles. If you have a jade Buddha or jade Guanyin at home, please wear it with you. 7: Don’t call people by their names, pat their shoulders, or whistle at night; 8: Do not hang wind chimes indoors. When passing by a funeral site, do not have any disrespectful thoughts or words in your mind. Avoid stepping on or burning paper money. Be respectful to the deceased. 9: Place slippers neatly beside the bed. When traveling, placing slippers neatly beside the bed will attract the curiosity of friends in the spirit world and cause sleep paralysis, especially on the Ghost Festival. 10: Being alone is likely to attract the covetousness of ghost brothers, because they will think that you are alone like them, and it would be better if you could have company. |
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