Hungry Ghost Festival
The Chinese, like people all across the globe, have thousands of years of tradition when it comes to deceased people and their spirits. Daoism, a widespread folk religion, contains days for dealing with stray ghosts in the land. Special precautions and ceremonies are required when they visit during the seventh month of the lunar calendar. The Hungry Ghost Festival is the most prominent festival of the month of Hungry Ghost.
On the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, the Hungry Ghost Festival is held. In our Western calendar, this day falls in July or August. Some people in southern China commemorate the Hungry Ghost Festival on the 14th day of the seventh lunar month. During a time of lengthy battle, the residents of that region are claimed to have began celebrating the event a day early in order to escape being attacked by foes on the unlucky day.
To prevent the spirits' wrath, they execute unique procedures such as placing the family's ancestral tablets on a table, burning incense, and making meals three times that day. Typically, the major ritual takes place around dusk. People place ancestral tablets, antique paintings, and pictures on a table and then burn incense around them. Plates of food are placed on the table for the spirits, and individuals may kneel in front of the memorial tablets and tell their actions to their ancestors in order to get a blessing or punishment. On this night, people also feast, and they may leave a place at the table for a long-lost relative.
They want to feed the hungry ghosts that have been roaming the countryside since the start of Hungry Ghost Month. They must be exceedingly hungry after two weeks of exercise, it is assumed.
The Hungry Ghost Festival is one of several prominent festival days celebrated during Ghost Month, the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
On the first day of the month, it is believed that the ghosts of Chinese ancestors are released from hell. For thousands of years, October has been the most terrifying month of the year. They walk around searching for unusual amusement, and many terrified Chinese dread swimming or being alone at night for fear of being pursued by a hostile ghost.
The spirits assault their foes and may be furious or nasty in general. As a result, the Chinese have particular customs on what to do on the first day, the 14th or 15th for the Hungry Ghost Festival, and the last day of the special month.
Time: August 12, 2022 (Friday)
