The Zhongyuan Festival, also known as Ullambana Festival among Buddhists, falls on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, on Aug 12 this year.
Since ancient times, the Chinese have believed that the gates of hell open on that day and so people hold all kinds of activities to honor the ghosts. Therefore, the festival is also called the Ghost Festival.
There are two other festivals in China to honor departed spirits of ancestors: Qingming Festival (in spring) and the Chung Yeung Festival (in autumn). In both, living descendants pay homage to their deceased ancestors. Zhongyuan Festival is distinct from these, as the deceased are believed to visit the living.
Buddhist doctrine says that by offering articles on the festival day, deceased parents and relatives can be saved from bad situations in the after life. The Ullambana Festival of Buddhism has two meanings. One is to persuade people to provide for Buddhist monks. The other is to convince people to do more charitable deeds to release departed souls from sin and advocate family devotion.
An Ullambana ceremony is held to rescue the deceased from bad situations at a temple in Hainan on the Ullambana Festival, August 10, 2014. [Photo/VCG]
Taboos
1. Don't hang wet clothes at night
2. Don't sleep with your hair untied
3. Don't celebrate birthday at night.
4. Don't take photos at night
5. Don't say the word "ghost"
6. Don't step on paper ghost money
7. Don't pat other people's shoulders
8. Be careful in turning your head
Article Source: ChinaDaily
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