What do people do during the Zhongyuan Festival?
Ancestral worship, according to folk beliefs, ancestors return home to visit their descendants during this time, so it is necessary to offer sacrifices to them. However, the sacrificial activities are generally carried out before the end of the seventh lunar month, not limited to a specific day. In some areas, certain rituals are performed at night to welcome the souls of ancestors, and three meals of tea and food are offered daily in the morning, afternoon, and evening until the thirty-first day of the seventh lunar month, when they are sent back. When sending them back, paper money and clothes are burned, called "burning the package clothing," or Buddhist or Taoist exorcism ceremonies. In some areas of Jiangxi and Hunan, the Zhongyuan Festival is more important for ancestral worship than the Qingming Festival or Chongyang Festival.What should not be done during the Zhongyuan Festival?
1. Avoid hanging clothes at nightIn the ghost month when ghosts are everywhere, hanging clothes at night is like setting a trap to catch ghosts, which will not cause trouble for you.
2. Avoid sleeping with your hair loose
During the ghost month, there are many wandering spirits. If you sleep with your hair loose, you might be mistaken for a fellow spirit, and they may want to talk to you.
3. Avoid going out at night
People with weak luck should definitely avoid going out at night, especially to remote or less populated areas, otherwise you will only bring trouble upon yourself.
4. Avoid celebrating birthdays at night
It's better to celebrate during the day.
5. Avoid saying the word "ghost"
During the Zhongyuan Festival, it's best to be careful with your words and actions. Besides avoiding the word "ghost," don't speak carelessly, as ghosts may be nearby!
6. Avoid stepping on the paper money
Paper money is a gift for the ghosts. When burning it, the ghosts gather around to collect it. If you step on it while burning, you may hinder their actions, and the ghosts may get angry and harm you.
7. Avoid tapping others' shoulders
According to folklore, everyone has three fires on their body, located on their shoulders and head, which keep ghosts away. So, randomly tapping someone's shoulder during the Zhongyuan Festival could extinguish their fire, inviting ghosts to trouble them.
8. Avoid inserting chopsticks into a bowl
This is a way of offering sacrifices, just like incense sticks placed in an incense burner. This action only attracts good ghosts to share your food.
9. Avoid hanging wind chimes above the bed
Because wind chimes attract yin energy.
10. Avoid eating the offerings
Eating the offerings meant for ghosts can bring misfortune.
11. Avoid turning around easily
When walking in remote areas or places with few people, if you feel like someone is calling you, don't turn around easily, or it may cause trouble.
12. Avoid swimming in water
Avoid swimming in dangerous waters, as it is said that "water ghosts" will find someone to take their place to be reborn.
13. Avoid whistling
Whistling at night can attract the attention of ghosts.
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