Ghost Festival in China
8-15-08 - This is my kind of Festival
In Chinese tradition, the 15th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general is regarded as the Ghost Month, in which ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm.
During the Ghost Festival, people can be seen lighting candles and joss sticks, burning incense papers and every household has to prepare meat, fruits, fresh flowers, and other sacrificial items. Some of the offerings are for wandering souls that have no descendents.
It is believed that the ghosts loom everywhere to enjoy the offerings. Although invisible to the human eye, it is believed that those with poor luck are more likely to stumble upon them compared with others.
I wish we had something neat like this in the states!
(Sources : ChinaPost, AsiaOne News)
In Chinese tradition, the 15th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general is regarded as the Ghost Month, in which ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm.
During the Ghost Festival, people can be seen lighting candles and joss sticks, burning incense papers and every household has to prepare meat, fruits, fresh flowers, and other sacrificial items. Some of the offerings are for wandering souls that have no descendents.
It is believed that the ghosts loom everywhere to enjoy the offerings. Although invisible to the human eye, it is believed that those with poor luck are more likely to stumble upon them compared with others.
I wish we had something neat like this in the states!
(Sources : ChinaPost, AsiaOne News)
Comments