Everything You Need to Know About Hungry Ghost Festival
Hungry Ghost Festival , also called Zhong Yuan Festival or Obon Festival , is one of four traditional Chinese holidays (the other three refer to Lunar New Year’s Eve, Qingming Festival , and Double Ninth Festival) for ancestor worship. It bears both the Buddhism belief and the Taoism culture. The origin of the Hungry Ghost Festival can be traced back to the worship of ancestors and other seasonal sacrifices offered in ancient times. July was an auspicious month when crops began to ripen. Mid-July was a day when people celebrate a good harvest and show gratitude to the earth and ancestors. Sacrifices like fresh rice would be offered to their ancestors as thanks to their blessings. Therefore, the Hungry Ghost Festival is about respecting the ancestors and fulfilling filial duties. Hungry Ghost Festival Basic Facts about the Hungry Ghost Festival Name: Hungry Ghost Festival, Zhongyuan Festival (中元节), Obon Festival(盂兰盆节) Date: July 15 in northern China, July 14 in southern China Origi...