The Introduction to the Middle August Festival
The Middle August Festival, also known as the Ghost Festival or the Zhong Yuan Jie, is a traditional Chinese festival that falls on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. It is a time when the spirits of ancestors and ghosts are believed to revisit the world of the living.
**Origin of the Middle August Festival:**
The festival has its roots in ancient Chinese folklore and Buddhism. According to legend, the Middle August Festival was created to honor the souls of the departed and to comfort those who have passed away. The 15th day of the seventh lunar month is considered a day when the gates of hell open, allowing the spirits of the dead to return to the human world for one day.
**Folk Customs of the Middle August Festival:**
1. **Offerings to the Dead:** Families typically set up altars and offer food, tea, fruit, and paper money to their ancestors. They believe that this will provide the spirits with sustenance during their visit to the mortal world.
2. **Funing (Water-Sending):** In some regions, people perform the "Funing" ceremony by releasing paper boats, lanterns, and paper offerings into rivers or lakes to guide the spirits back to the afterlife safely.
3. **Duanwu Zongzi (Zongzi Festival):** Although the Zongzi Festival is traditionally celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, some people also eat Zongzi during the Middle August Festival as a symbol of respecting the dead.
4. **Singing and Duanmu:** In certain areas, people sing and play music, known as "Duanmu," to entertain the spirits and ensure they have a good time during their visit.
5. **Avoiding Unlucky Activities:** It is believed that ghosts and spirits are more active during the Middle August Festival, so some people avoid certain activities, such as moving to a new house or starting new projects, to prevent bad luck.
The Middle August Festival is a time of remembrance and respect for the deceased, as well as a celebration of the bond between the living and the departed.
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