What is the "May 7th" memorial service?

Burning "May 7th" is an important part of folk funeral custom. May 7th is the 35th day after death. It is said that the deceased didn't know he was dead until that day. On this night, the deceased will return to their dead homes to "visit relatives".

According to tradition, the memorial ceremony after death is very particular. When I just died, I did seven things-that is, from the day I just died, I held a memorial service every seven days, the seventh day, the second day, the third day, the fourth day, the fifth day, the sixth day and the seventh day. After that, there will be a hundred days, anniversaries, three years, ten years ... gradually stretching the distance, and even the greatest sadness will gradually fade away.

Among them, May 7th is a very important day. It is said that the dead will go home on this day, see their families at last, and then be reborn or live in the underworld. Why choose the 35th day after death? There is a saying in the countryside: at first, the soul was in a daze and didn't leave the body, and didn't realize that it was dead. It was a month before he remembered that all his bones were loose, and when he couldn't get up again, he finally realized that he was really dead. So the soul sighed, climbed out of the grave and said goodbye to his family. I wonder what people do these days after death.

The May 7th memorial service was particularly grand. Relatives and friends came to mourn the dead. Finally, the paper figures, paper horses, sedan chairs, the bridge pool of the city wall, and the "packages" prepared by relatives and friends for the dead were all burned. It is said that this will allow the dead to have a room to live in the underworld, which is called a "warehouse". Now, household appliances made of paper are burned to death, allowing the dead to live a "modern" life in the underworld.

The May 7th ceremony is very particular. Set a table of dishes in the mourning hall, pour wine and tea, set face washing water and foot washing water in the room where he lived before his death, and put the clothes he wore before his death on the bed where he slept-in short, prepare for his last night's rest. In the afternoon 10, the summoning ceremony began. The eldest son climbed onto the roof of the mourning hall with a lantern, uncovered three tiles and shouted at the night sky, "Dad, come back …", while the others knelt in a row on the stairs, crying and screaming.

On the 49 th, it will "break seven." After seven days' rest, there is a period of mourning, and bereavement is very important. Relatives and friends participate in the "breaking seven" etiquette activities. On the day of "Breaking Seven", Taoist priests and monks were invited to do Dojo, which was euphemistically called "keeping peace". Because this time it is to pray for the living. After singing, the children took off their mourning clothes and put on their uniforms.