The custom of burning "burden packages" (包袱) is a unique tradition during the Ghost Festival. There are also specific time rules for burning these packages. What are the time rules for burning "burden packages" during the Ghost Festival? What are the taboos of burning "burden packages" on the Ghost Festival? Let's take a look with Huayi Network! According to "Erya · Shitian": "July is called 'Xiang', August is called 'Zhuang'." Therefore, the seventh lunar month is also known as "Xiang Month". On Huayi Network, you can also learn more about the knowledge of the seventh lunar month in 2020 here!

Time Rules for Burning Burden Packages During the Ghost Festival?

If someone goes to the tomb on the Ghost Festival, they should finish burning the paper money before noon; if they cannot go to the tomb due to some matters, they should burn the paper money after 9 PM at a large crossroad. Some places start from 5 PM in the evening until late at night. The timing at the crossroads is particularly important, generally choosing the evening or night, and it should be done before the Zi hour (23:00-1:00).
The traditional "Ghost Festival" is on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. According to legend, on that night, ancestors of every family will "return home" to visit their living relatives. Therefore, every household will burn "burden packages", spirit houses, and gold ingots for the deceased, so the folk also call the Ghost Festival the "Ghost Festival". Unlike the Qingming Festival and the Spring Festival, the Ghost Festival does not burn paper money at the graves, but instead folds the paper money into "burden packages" resembling envelopes. They write the names and relationships of the "recipient" and "sender" on the package cover, have a Taoist priest stamp it with a talisman, and then burn it together at the front door of the house.
In the past, regardless of wealth or poverty, people had the habit of burning burden packages. On that day, an offering table was set up in the ancestral hall or main house, with the burden packages placed in the center, and offerings such as dumplings, pastries, and fruits were placed in front. After the whole family performed rituals according to seniority and age, they could then burn the packages outside the house. When burning, draw a large circle, leaving a gap in the direction of the grave. Burn three to five pieces of paper outside the circle, which is called "driving away external evils".
Burning burden packages is a custom of honoring ancestors. It is a way for the living to send spiritual money to their deceased ancestors during the time when the gates of hell are open, so they can live well in the underworld. The method of sending is similar to sending letters to friends and relatives in the world of the living. First, fold the spiritual money (i.e., paper money), then wrap it in white paper (which acts like an envelope). Then comes writing the "envelope" (the writing method varies by region).
Different generations have different titles. Generally, it goes back four generations: "Father", "Grandfather", "Great Grandfather", and "Great Great Grandfather", to show the idea of "respecting ancestors and remembering the past". Titles are always male on the right and female on the left. The self-reference also changes accordingly, which are respectively: son, grandson, great-grandson, and great-great-grandson. The intersection on the back of the envelope should be written with a big "封" character, meaning to seal it, so other ghosts cannot open it arbitrarily.
In addition, one should also roll up a bundle of paper money, wrap it in white paper, and write "For the Carrier Only". "Carrier" refers to the "postman" in the underworld. Without the carrier, the spiritual money cannot be delivered.

Taboos of Burning Burden Packages During the Ghost Festival?

1. Choose a crossroad for worship
Because crossroads are accessible in all directions, it allows the carrier (the postman) to easily find your location and deliver the money to your ancestor sooner, and the ancestor can receive the money earlier.
2. The paper money must be completely burned
This is called doing the transition from the living to the dead. After burning completely, on the way back home, do not turn back, even if someone calls you. Those who smoke can light a cigarette on the way. If there are children at home, when returning to the doorstep, stop for a while, pat your body, and then enter the house after a while.
3. Burn extra paper money for the postman in the underworld
Before starting to burn, you should prepare 3 to 5 gold ingots, and take some loose spiritual money as payment for the postman. This payment should be burned separately on one side, and it is strictly forbidden to mix it with the money sent to your relatives.
4. Burn the burden packages in steps
After burning the payment for the postman, put the gold ingots, spiritual money, and envelopes into the circle and burn them on the crossroads. When burning, you must clearly state who you are burning for, say it out loud, and hope that they can use the money well and keep the family safe. If there is anything else you want to add, you can ask the postman to deliver a message. The entire process must be burned step by step, and don't think it's too tedious.
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