Why July 14 is Ghost Festival?

July 14 is a ghost festival because the ancients thought July 14 was the birthday of ghosts and gods.

July 14 is Ghost Festival, an ancient traditional festival, which originated in the Han Dynasty and was called Ghost Festival at that time. Ghost Festival generally refers to July 14th every year in Han Dynasty. On this day, people will burn paper money, set off firecrackers and worship, and the custom of offering sacrifices to ghosts is widely popular. The significance of Ghost Festival originates from the religious belief in ancient China. The ancients believed that July 14 was the birthday of ghosts and gods, and on this day, ghosts and gods would appear, so people would hold sacrificial ceremonies to show their courtesy to ghosts and gods and pray for the safety of their families.

Ghost Festival not only has a far-reaching impact on ancient religious beliefs, but also affects today's social and cultural development. With the development of the times, the custom of Ghost Festival is constantly changing. From the ancient religious culture to the present social culture, the custom of Ghost Festival is constantly changing.

Ghost Festival activities

1, put on the sky lantern

There are also two ways to put lanterns on Halloween. One is to take your bad luck away as far away as possible. At this time, it is very taboo for other people's sky lanterns to fall in their own places. If they fall, they must be released again. Secondly, every family wants their dead ancestors to enter the Elysium, and putting lanterns on Halloween is to illuminate the way for ancestors to ascend to the Elysium.

Step 2 burn street clothes

As soon as we step into the seventh month of the lunar calendar, people will bring incense sticks, gold and silver paper and some sacrifices, such as tofu and rice, to worship at the roadside after dark. The purpose of people "burning street clothes" is to let those helpless souls have clothes to keep out the cold and food to wrap their stomachs.

3. River lamp

River lanterns, also known as "lotus lanterns", usually put lights or candles on the base, and put them into rivers, lakes and seas during the Mid-Autumn Festival to let them float. The function of river lanterns is to drown ghosts and other ghosts in Purdue water. Setting off river lanterns, especially in the Yellow River, is very spectacular.