What are the origins of the four ghost festivals in China?

In Jianghuai and Jiangnan areas, the third day of the third lunar month is called Ghost Festival every year. It is said that ghosts haunt this day. At night, every household sets off firecrackers in every household to scare away ghosts and drive them away.

Qingming Festival

See the entry "Tomb-Sweeping Day" for traditional festivals in China.

July 14/15

According to legend, from July 1st every year, the King of Yan ordered the gates of hell to be opened wide, so that the ghosts who suffered and were imprisoned in hell all the year round could get out of hell, get a short stroll and enjoy human blood. Therefore, people call July a ghost month, and this month is considered as an unlucky month, neither getting married nor moving.

Every year, the 14th/15th day of the seventh lunar month is Magnolia Festival, also known as Mid-Autumn Festival, July 30th or Ghost Festival. In the past, people prepared some vegetables, wine, rice, gold, silver, clothes and paper at the intersection on this night to offer sacrifices to ghosts and gods.

On July 14/ 15, the tolerance festivals and customs are complicated, including folk ghost festivals, Taoist Mid-Yuan festivals, Buddhist Bonihara festivals, and festivals combining Buddhism, Taoism and Buddhism. Taoism has so-called heavenly officials, local officials and water officials, which are collectively called the three officials. These three officials are the representatives sent to the world by the Jade Emperor. Every year, they inspect the good and evil on earth and report to heaven. The birthdays of the three officials are the fifteenth day of the first month, the fifteenth day of July and the fifteenth day of October, also known as Sanyuan. July 15th, known as the Central Plains, was the time when local officials were pardoned. On this day, he will take out a thick roster and draw a picture according to the performance of immortals, mortals and animals, so as to atone and avoid punishment. On the Mid-Autumn Festival, people engage in some sacrificial activities to save those ghosts and ghosts, which should be related to the forgiveness of sins by local officials. July 15 is the Buddhist Bonsai Festival. It is said that Sakyamuni had a disciple named Mulian. Although her mother is young and beautiful, she has no good words and deeds, loves money and is stingy, and especially hates monks. After her death, she was thrown into the ranks of evil spirits. In accordance with the instructions of the Buddhist group, Mulian prepared all kinds of fruits and utensils on July 15th and put them into pots to support ten monks. Her mother just left the evil world and ascended to heaven. In view of this, the Buddha, by extension, asked Buddhist disciples to be filial and become a Buddhist monk on July 15 every year to repay their parents' kindness. The significance of Buddhist bonsai coincides with Confucian filial piety, and this day has become a ghost festival for folk sacrifices to deceased parents and ancestors.

Lunar July 14/ 15 is the biggest festival in the underworld-Ghost Festival, also known as Zhongyuan Festival or Arahara Festival, and it is one of the three important festivals in the underworld in China. There is a folk legend that the Lantern Festival is celebrated in the underworld and the Ghost Festival is celebrated in the underworld. It is said that on that day, Yan Xihui will spend the festive season with ghosts dressed in costumes. Let us living people bless them together and wish people in another world all their wishes come true and enjoy the happiness that this world has not had time to enjoy. Therefore, many local festivals in our country will hold activities such as offering sacrifices, chanting Buddha, sweeping graves, reviewing, enjoying flowers and fishing to celebrate.

On July 14/ 15, the gate of hell opened wide. Whether it's burning paper money to send blessings, holding daisies to mourn, offering sacrifices to ancestors on the Internet, or putting out river lanterns, today's living people miss the past and send blessings to their ancestors together. This is the spontaneity of human spirit, the extension of feelings and the most basic belief. And at the same time, "the living should cherish every day, not be ashamed of society and friends, and not be ashamed of their loved ones who have left forever." Because, one day we will meet them. At that time, you can proudly say that you are a hero on earth and a ghost hero in the underworld! "

The first day of October

The first day of October is called "October Dynasty", also known as "ancestor worship festival". Since ancient times, China has had the custom of offering sacrifices to ancestors in the new harvest season to show filial piety and not forget one's roots. So people also use millet on the first day of October? Sacrifice ancestors. On the first day of October, ancestor worship, including family sacrifice and tomb sacrifice, is held in both north and south. Today, in many areas south of the Yangtze River, there is also the custom of offering sacrifices to new graves on the first day of October. The first day of October is also the first day of winter, and then the climate is getting colder. People are afraid that their ancestors' souls in the underworld are short of clothes and clothes. Therefore, in addition to food, incense sticks, paper money and other general offerings, there is also an indispensable offering-ghost clothing. When offering sacrifices, people incinerate ghost clothes to their ancestors, which is called sending cold clothes. Therefore, the first day of October is also called Burning Clothes Festival.