Can I still go out to play during the Ghost Festival when traveling? Can I not go out during the Ghost Festival when traveling?

In our country, there are three festivals that can be said to be ghost festivals a year, one is Qingming Festival, one is Ghost Festival, and the other is October 1 Ghost Festival, plus Halloween abroad. , then there are four ghost festivals. If you encounter the ghost festival during travel, can you still go out and play? Come and take a look. Can you still go out to play during the Ghost Festival when traveling? Can you not go out during the Ghost Festival when traveling?

Don’t worry too much, just be careful when you go out!

The Ghost Festival part should be It’s just asking us to pay attention. It doesn’t say that we really can’t travel or anything like that!

But it’s not necessarily the only time to be careful when going out during the Ghost Festival. Generally, you still need to pay more attention when you stay in a hotel or stay out at night. Be careful with your etiquette and actions. There is no need to discuss the existence of another world, or superstition and belief in supernatural issues!

Don’t be too unreasonable in everything, I think everything will be fine!

Immediately It's the Ghost Festival. Many friends get chills down their spines when this day is mentioned and they dare not walk at night. However, the "Ghost Festival" is not directly taboo or unlucky in traditional culture. The sacrificial activities in many places are not only cultural heritage but also interesting, and they are worth seeing. Looking around the world, many countries hold Ghost Festival as a celebration.

You can snap photos of lucky items, participate in the "Ghost Festival Night Run", carnival dances, and even the mysterious interactive space of teamlab.

1. Hong Kong Bon Festival

Time: the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month

I always can’t tell the difference between the Ghost Festival and the Bon Festival. I thought they were two festivals. In fact, the Ghost Festival and the Bon Festival are what we usually call ghost festivals, but one is originated from Taoism and the other is Buddhism.

The Yulan Festival originates from the story of Mulian Lian saving his mother in the Buddhist Tripitaka, emphasizing filial piety. It happens that the Ghost Festival of China's native Taoist religion also falls on this day, so the 15th day of the seventh lunar month is what we call the Ghost Festival.

The Bon Festival is the longest and most widespread festival in Hong Kong. Every year in the seventh month of the lunar calendar, many groups hold one- to five-day Bon Festivals, totaling more than a hundred. Among them, Chaozhou people have the largest number of Bon Festivals.

Traditional customs:

Hong Kong’s Bon Festival is very particular. There are three categories: Chaozhou style, Helao style and Cantonese style. In ancient times, there were many customs. People would make banners to summon souls, and also use various fruits such as pigs, sheep, chickens, and ducks to make sacrifices. They would put paper flags on the sacrifices and write words such as Bon Festival and the opening of the nectar gate. , the ceremony was very solemn.

A plate of peaches and rice will also be scattered in all directions. This ceremony is called flame opening; at night, each family will burn incense at the door and put the incense on the ground, which means a good harvest; in some places They also put out water lanterns, lotus lanterns, etc. Water lanterns are used to guide ghosts. These customs sometimes appear in our movies and TV dramas.

What can you play now?

1. Please visit the venue

During the Bon Festival, many Bon Festivals will be held in parks, squares or stadiums in various districts of Hong Kong. Lan Shenghui. Among them, the trendy Bon Festival held in Victoria Park in Causeway Bay is the most grand. People will greet various gods at the venue, then go to the outside of the cemetery to offer incense from "good brothers", and finally return to the venue.

2. Burning street clothes on the street

This sacrificial activity is very similar to that in the mainland. Even on the night of July of the lunar calendar, people will go to the streets to burn some gold ingots and paper money, and also Some sacrifices, such as white rice, will be placed on the roadside to offer sacrifices.

On the one hand, it is to allow family members to receive paper money and live happily in the underworld, and on the other hand, it is to comfort some lonely ghosts so that they can have enough to eat. In addition, you can bribe the bull-headed horse noodles to take away bad luck. In short, it is a good thing to pray for~

3. Go watch the magic show

The magic show is very similar to the temple fairs we used to go to when we were children. The opera performance I watched during that time was very lively and the children loved it. It was a great time for both people and gods.

4. Watch the government distribute peace rice

After the sacrifice, the sacrifices on the sacrificial platform will be distributed to the poor people. It is also to relieve the civilians, so these rice will be distributed The activity is called Ping An Rice.

5. Participate in the bidding for blessings

This activity is very similar to the bidding we played when we were children. On the last day of the sacrifice, the organizer will invite everyone to sit together and drink. Go bid for something and buy something. The highest bidder will get it, and part of the income will be used to support the expenses of the entire event.

6. New way to play - sign up for the "Bon Lan Run"

We all know that whether in the Mainland or Hong Kong, we should go home early on this day, but!!! Doesn’t it sound cool to run at night during the Ghost Festival?! Anyway, I’m not afraid of a bunch of people running together.

It is also a very interesting idea to use running to witness "birth, old age, illness and death".

2. Taiwan Hungry Ghost Festival

Time: July of the lunar calendar

Traditional customs:

Every July, streets and alleys All merchants must set up offering tables with pastries, fruits and paper money. According to folklore, every year on the first day of the seventh lunar month, the gate of hell opens, and deceased relatives come back to visit their families. So the whole month is a time for family reunions.

On the day of the Ghost Festival, not only do people place offerings and burn incense on the streets, but the Taiwanese government also holds a celebration ceremony on the day.

What can we do now?

1. Watch orphan robbing

Orphan robbing is a unique folk activity in southern Fujian. You should also watch this in film and television programs I have seen in books that orphan snatchers have to climb up the shed poles covered with butter and snatch the food and wind flags placed dozens of feet high.

2. Watch fireworks and release water lanterns

The Keelung Festival has float parades, water lanterns, fireworks and other activities. You can go and see it~

3. Japan Obon Festival

Time: In some areas, it is July 13-16 in the Gregorian calendar, and in some areas, it is August 13-16.

Obon is a traditional festival in Japan, that is, local The Ghost Festival and Bon Festival, or Bon Festival for short. In fact, Obon Festival is a Chinese national festival. It was introduced to Japan in the Asuka Period and is also known as the "Lantern Festival" in Japan.

Traditional customs:

On the Bon Festival, everyone has the habit of giving Zhongyuan gifts. According to folk custom, people will gather to dance a dance called "Bon Yu" The dance is similar to today's ParaPara.

There are two dates for this festival. Before the Meiji Restoration, the festival was celebrated from the 13th to the 16th day of the seventh lunar month. After the Meiji Restoration, some areas changed it to the Gregorian calendar from July 13th to the 16th. In some areas, it is changed to August 13-16, which is close to the days of the old calendar. (A few places such as Okinawa Prefecture and the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture still celebrate the 13th to 16th day of the seventh lunar month)

The Japanese attach great importance to the Bon Festival and usually take about a week off. It's called "pen rest". Everyone will choose to use this holiday to return to their hometowns to reunite and worship their ancestors, which is somewhat similar to China's Qingming Festival. Being able to have a holiday and celebrate it at the same time, of course we attach great importance to this holiday.

What can you do now?

1. Watch the Five Fire Festival in Kyoto

The May Three Fire Festival is a very famous event, held on August 16 every year In Japan, bonfires arranged in the shape of the word "big" are lit on the five mountains surrounding Kyoto.

It is said that on this day, as long as the burning "big" bonfire is projected on the wine or water in the disc, and then drinks it, it can bless you with peace and health for a year.

There is no way to verify the origin of this event. It is widely said that it is held to send away the souls of ancestors.

2. Go to see Naga_Funetama Matsuri

It is said that this festival was originally an activity used by boatmen sailing on the Arakawa River to pray for safe sailing and worship the water god. Lanterns left on the river and boats with lanterns hanging on them travel through the Arakawa River.

At night, the fireworks set off from the other side were brilliant and shocking, drawing endless applause from the audience. This event is held on August 15th every year. The intertwining of fireworks, lights and water lanterns is also one of the must-see sights.

3. Visit Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto

One of the special celebrations this year is that teamLab took over the renovation of Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto and transformed it into a super dreamy sacred space. The Forest of Light Festival will be held from August 17th to September 2nd. Friends who have the opportunity to travel to Kyoto during this period must go there~

Opening hours:

August 17, 2018 - September 2, 18:30～22:00

4. Singapore Ghost Festival

Time: From the beginning of the seventh lunar month From the beginning, until July 30th

Traditional customs:

People will offer various sacrifices during the Hungry Ghost Festival. Various lively performances are held. Various banquets and auctions are held, which is very lively.

1. Watch the "getai" performance

Every seventh month of the lunar calendar, Singapore will be particularly lively because getais appear all over the island. The main activity of the Ghost Festival is the "getai" performance, which was once a popular form of entertainment to comfort wandering souls. But today's "Getai"

has very much kept pace with the times.

Young, hot performers will not only perform traditional songs in dialects, but also popular Chinese and English pop songs. Getai stars wear gorgeous costumes and give wonderful performances. Once night falls, they perform local operas, live singing and dancing and other getai performances to reward gods and sacrifice ghosts.

Everyone is welcome at the July Getai, but just don’t occupy the “first row” seats, because those are seats reserved for “special VIPs.”

2. Participate in the Chinese Yuan Festival dinner and bid for blessings

Large blessings were popular in the past, but now they have been replaced by things with auspicious meaning and practical value. Everyone can participate in the Zhongyuanhui dinner and bidding. If you happen to catch it, you might as well go and seek good luck.

3. Go to Chinatown to learn about life and death rituals

Chinatown in Singapore is very traditional and bustling, with traditional shops and night markets and modern and fashionable shops and cafes. Standing side by side. If you happen to catch up with the Ghost Festival, you can sign up for a life, death and life tour organized by the Chinatown Merchants Association, where you will learn about various life, death, joy and funeral rituals.

4. Participate in the auction at the Laiba City God Temple

During the Ghost Festival, believers returned to this Taoist temple on Arumugan Road to worship.

The temple celebrations will include a popular auction of auspicious items and numerous performances.

5. Vietnam’s Ghost Festival

Time: the fourteenth day of the seventh lunar month

Traditional customs:

In Vietnam, the Dai people also celebrate The Hungry Ghost Festival is one day earlier than the Hungry Ghost Festival in China. The "Dai Hao" people in northwest Vietnam not only worship village gods on a village basis, but also worship ancestors on a family basis.

The customs of sacrificial offerings are very similar to those in mainland China, where sacrifices are the main focus. Generally, people go to worship the village gods in the morning and ancestors in the afternoon. After worshiping the ancestors, the whole family gathers for dinner.

When worshiping the village god, each family can only send male representatives to participate. When worshiping ancestors, the whole family participates.

Relief will also be distributed in the village

Visit the village

The Ghost Festival is also a day for family reunions. Wine, pork, duck, Various sacrifices such as cakes and dyed glutinous rice are made. After the sacrifice ceremony, familiar friends will be invited to a dinner party.

Because the Dai people in Vietnam are relatively isolated, various traditional customs are well preserved. You can visit and learn about the traditional Dai culture.

6. Mexico’s Day of the Dead

Time: November 1st and 2nd

The English name of Day of the Dead is dayofthedeath. Day of the Dead is an indigenous Indian festival. It was originally held in July and August; later it was moved to November after incorporating the "All Saints' Day" of the Spanish colonists.

The Day of the Dead is held on November 1st (Day of the Dead: commemorating young children) and November 2 (Day of the Dead: commemorating adults) every year