How to Honor Ancestors on the 15th Day of the Seventh Month
Honoring ancestors on the 15th day of the seventh month usually involves visiting the graves and paying respects. In addition, one can also burn paper money, burn offerings, release river lanterns, worship ancestral tablets, and light filial piety lanterns.[Ancestral Worship]
The ritual of honoring ancestors is generally held in the late afternoon. One should bring out each ancestor's tablet one by one and respectfully place them on a special offering table. Then, incense sticks are lit in front of each ancestor's tablet, and tea and meals are offered three times a day—morning, noon, and evening.
[Burning Paper Money]
On the 15th day of the seventh month, when honoring ancestors, one should burn paper money as an offering to the ancestors, i.e., sending them money. Usually, after burning paper money at the grave, a few pieces should be left and burned at a crossroads, with the purpose of giving alms to homeless ghosts so that they won't steal the money meant for the ancestors.
[Burning Offerings]
On the evening of the 15th day of the seventh month, one should burn incense and set off firecrackers outside the house, while also "burning offerings." "Burning offerings" means folding paper money into small bundles, writing the name and title of the recipient, the number of bundles, and the name and time of the person burning the offerings, then burning them for deceased relatives and ancestors.
Taboos of Honoring Ancestors on the 15th Day of the Seventh Month
When going to honor ancestors and pay respects to the graves on the 15th day of the seventh month, there are strict rules and taboos that must be followed, and one must not overstep, to avoid making the ancestors unhappy.First, the Time of Worship
On the 15th day of the seventh month, one should not go to honor ancestors earlier or later than the day itself, otherwise it would be disrespectful to the ancestors. It is best to visit the graves and offer respects after 9 PM, but not later than midnight; if it is daytime, it should be done before noon (12 PM).
Second, Appropriate Attire
When going to honor ancestors on the 15th day of the seventh month, one should dress solemnly and modestly, wearing simple and plain-colored clothes. One should avoid bright red or green colors, exaggerated or flashy styles, and also avoid clothing with bad patterns or designs. Since honoring ancestors and visiting graves is a very serious matter, even the outward appearance should be properly maintained.
Third, Participants
On the 15th day of the seventh month, people who are weak in health, such as pregnant women, patients, and children under seven years old, should preferably not attend. This is because the 15th day of the seventh month is already heavy with yin energy, and the cemetery is even more so. Therefore, it could be harmful to these groups of people, and they should avoid participating.
