Why is the seventh day of the seventh lunar month called Ghost Festival?

According to legend, from July 1st every year, the Prince of Yan ordered to open the gates of hell, so that those miserable ghosts who suffered all the year round and were imprisoned in hell could walk out of hell, wander briefly and enjoy human blood and food. Therefore, people call it July Ghost Moon. This month is considered unlucky, neither getting married nor moving. The 15th day of the seventh lunar month is the annual Ghost Festival in China. Buddhism is called "Magnolia Festival".

According to legend, on this day, Yan Luowang will open the "ghost gate" of hell, let the imprisoned ghosts move freely, and return to hell after the end of July. Therefore, people generally worship their dead relatives, burn money and treasures, light paper candles and river lanterns, pray for the well-being of their ancestors, eliminate disasters and increase happiness, or transcend the spirit of death and resolve grievances.

Extended data:

Taoist Mid-Autumn Festival is actually mainly a festival to spread morality and ethics, that is to say, it advocates people to pay attention to moral cultivation. On the Mid-Autumn Festival, people with thoughts and time should get together to study Laozi's Tao Te Ching, exchange ideas and reflect on themselves. For the general public, Taoism has created some stories to "entertain and educate".

For example, Taoism invented a man named Chen Ziqi, who married the daughter of the Dragon King and gave birth to three children on the 15th day of the first month, namely 15 June and 18 June: Tianguan, Diguan and Shuiguan. These three officials are in charge of three tasks: blessing, forgiving and eliminating disasters. They have infinite magic here.

Travel around the world in three days to see if people's moral quality is good or bad. People with good moral quality will be blessed, otherwise they will be condemned.

But in China, Taoism is a tolerant religion, which provides people with opportunities to change at any time. Therefore, the Central Plains Festival is not only a festival to reward good and punish evil, but also a festival to forgive. Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also a confession festival and atonement festival in China. On New Year's Day in China, people who have committed crimes in a year can reflect on themselves through various ceremonies and pray for forgiveness from the world and people.

References:

Halloween-Baidu Encyclopedia