Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Almanac inquiry - When is Ghost Festival?

When is Ghost Festival?

Every year, July 15th of the lunar calendar is the Ghost Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival), and August 15th of 20 19 is the Ghost Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival).

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Buddhist allusions in Mid-Autumn Festival

According to legend, Sakyamuni received ten disciples when he was alive. One of them is a yogi named Mu Lian, whose parents died before he reached the Tao. Because Mulian is very concerned about his dead mother, he uses his eyes to see how her mother lives in the underworld. It turned out that they were hungry ghosts, without food or drink, and in a poor situation.

Mu Lian felt very sad after reading it, so he used his magic to bring some food to his mother. Unfortunately, as soon as the food was delivered to his mouth, it immediately turned into a flame. Mu Lian was very sad after seeing this situation and told Sakyamuni about it.

The Buddha taught him that when his mother was alive, she planted many sins, so after her death, she fell into the hungry ghost road and was beyond redemption. This evil obstacle cannot be solved by him alone, and everyone's strength must be gathered, so Mulian joined the same monks and held a large-scale worship ceremony to show the transcendent undead.

Later, this legend has been spread to later generations, and gradually formed a folk custom. Every year in the middle of the seventh lunar month, people will kill chickens and ducks, burn incense and clothes, and worship the hungry ghosts who come out of the underworld to resolve grievances and avoid harming the world. Over time, the custom of Ghost Festival was formed.