Does the Ghost Festival require visiting graves?
Whether or not to visit graves during the Ghost Festival depends on local customs.
The Ghost Festival usually falls on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, while some places celebrate it on the 14th day. On this day, the underworld will release all the souls, allowing them to return to the world of the living to reunite with their families. Therefore, people generally carry out rituals to worship the spirits on this day, including visiting graves, burning incense, and burning paper money. If you burn paper money, offer incense, or visit graves in advance, the souls of your ancestors may not have returned to the world of the living yet, and thus may not receive your offerings. Therefore, according to general rules, the Ghost Festival should not be visited before the designated time.
The Ghost Festival usually falls on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, while some places celebrate it on the 14th day. On this day, the underworld will release all the souls, allowing them to return to the world of the living to reunite with their families. Therefore, people generally carry out rituals to worship the spirits on this day, including visiting graves, burning incense, and burning paper money. If you burn paper money, offer incense, or visit graves in advance, the souls of your ancestors may not have returned to the world of the living yet, and thus may not receive your offerings. Therefore, according to general rules, the Ghost Festival should not be visited before the designated time.
Rituals for the Ghost Festival
1. First, place food, bowls, chopsticks, wine cups, and tea on the grave mound of your ancestors, then offer three sticks of incense in front of the grave mound.
2. After offering food to the land god who guards the graves, burn a set of yellow paper. This custom is called "worshipping the land god" or "offering to the guardian of the graves." It is to thank him for guarding the graves throughout the year and protecting the ancestors' safety.
3. When the incense has burned halfway, burn the prepared paper money and clothes on the grave mound of your ancestors. Leave a small amount of money and distribute the rest to other grave mounds, to prevent other ghosts from stealing the money and clothes after the person visiting the grave leaves.
4. When the three sticks of incense are completely burned, remove the offerings and scatter them around the grave site. This custom is called "worshipping the four directions." It means offering food to the nearby neighbors who also come to visit the graves, so they won't steal food from the ancestors' graves after the visitor leaves.
2. After offering food to the land god who guards the graves, burn a set of yellow paper. This custom is called "worshipping the land god" or "offering to the guardian of the graves." It is to thank him for guarding the graves throughout the year and protecting the ancestors' safety.
3. When the incense has burned halfway, burn the prepared paper money and clothes on the grave mound of your ancestors. Leave a small amount of money and distribute the rest to other grave mounds, to prevent other ghosts from stealing the money and clothes after the person visiting the grave leaves.
4. When the three sticks of incense are completely burned, remove the offerings and scatter them around the grave site. This custom is called "worshipping the four directions." It means offering food to the nearby neighbors who also come to visit the graves, so they won't steal food from the ancestors' graves after the visitor leaves.
Are there any specific time requirements for visiting graves on the Ghost Festival?
The best time for the Ghost Festival rituals is after 9 PM, but not later than midnight. If you choose to hold the ceremony at noon, try to do it before 12 PM.
The location for the ritual can be a cemetery, temple, Taoist monastery, ancestral hall (family temple), or remote worship.
The location for the ritual can be a cemetery, temple, Taoist monastery, ancestral hall (family temple), or remote worship.
Things to Note When Visiting Graves
1. When visiting graves, try to wear dark-colored clothes and avoid bright colors. Wearing plain-colored clothes is more appropriate.
2. Pregnant women, patients, and children should avoid visiting graves if possible.
3. After visiting graves, most people feel tired. You can wash up and change clothes. Some local customs include stepping over a fire pot when entering the house to drive away evil spirits.
2. Pregnant women, patients, and children should avoid visiting graves if possible.
3. After visiting graves, most people feel tired. You can wash up and change clothes. Some local customs include stepping over a fire pot when entering the house to drive away evil spirits.
