Ghost Festival

The Ghost Festival (Chinese中元节, Pinyin: Zhōngyuánjié ) is a traditional festival, which is celebrated by Chinese in many countries. It falls on the 15th day of the 7th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, so in most cases the full moon day in August.

According to Chinese tradition, the seventh month also spirits Month (鬼 月guǐyuè ) is called because spirits and souls of the dead from the underworld come to earth after the popular belief. The Ghost Festival is the culmination of a series of ceremonies during the ghost month. These include the setting up of food in front of houses and burning of dead money as an offering to the spirits and souls. In many cases, can also swim paper boats and lanterns on water, which are the spirits and souls give direction.

The root of the ghost festival lie in Buddhist and Taoist traditions Ullambana. For Buddhists it is one of the most important festivals of the year.

In Japan, the equivalent of the ghost festival Obon Festival (also O -Bon ) called, but celebrated today by the Western calendar on July 15.