What should not be done on the Ghost Festival? The Ghost Festival is held in mid-July every year, specifically on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, so it is also called "the Half of July." What is the purpose of this festival known as "the Half of July"? In fact, the "Half of July" festival originated from the ancestral worship festival in ancient times, and it is a long-standing festival.

What should not be done on the Ghost Festival

1. Do not look back easily
Do not look back easily on the Ghost Festival! When you are walking in remote areas or places with few people, if you feel like someone is calling you, do not look back easily, because it might be a ghost calling you, so do not respond easily.
2. Do not sleep with your hair loose
Do not sleep with your hair loose on the Ghost Festival! During the ghost month, there are many wandering spirits around. If your hair is loose, you may be mistaken for a fellow spirit, and they might try to talk to you.
3. Do not take photos at night
Do not take photos at night on the Ghost Festival! The Ghost Festival is not only about remembering ancestors, but also clearly includes worshipping the deceased and praying for their blessings. On the day of the Ghost Festival, it is best not to take photos at night, which is not only disrespectful to ancestors but also easy to capture something unlucky.

What is the purpose of the "Half of July" festival

The "Half of July" festival mainly focuses on ancestor worship. The origin of the "Half of July" festival can be traced back to the ancient ancestor worship and harvest festivals. In ancient times, people often relied on the protection of deities for agricultural harvests. Therefore, during the autumn harvest season, people held ceremonies to offer sacrifices to the spirits of their ancestors, first offering seasonal delicacies to the gods, then enjoying these fruits of labor themselves, and praying for a good harvest next year.
Generally, on the day of the Ghost Festival, there are customs such as ancestor worship, mourning the deceased, visiting graves, and lighting lotus lanterns. Lighting lotus lanterns is to illuminate the path for the deceased to return home; performing the ritual of "opening the mouth" (a Buddhist rite), setting up a temple, and offering steamed buns to the wandering souls. Although the customs vary from place to place, they are mostly similar.