July and a half of the lunar calendar is "Ghost Festival". What are the customs and origins?

"July and a half" is not called Ghost Festival, but called Zhongyuan Festival, which comes from ancient sacrifices.

Mid-Autumn Festival, alias July 30th and July 14th, includes ancestor worship, Arahara Festival and local officials' day, mainly including ancestor worship, setting off river lanterns, worshipping the dead, burning paper ingots and offering sacrifices to the land. "Mid-Autumn Festival" is the name of Taoism, which is called "July 30th" (or "July 14th") in folklore. Its appearance can be traced back to ancestor worship and related festivals in ancient times.

July 15 in the north and July 14 in the south.

The custom of ancestor worship in July and a half has existed since ancient times. It was originally a folk festival to worship ancestors, not a "Ghost Festival".

According to historical documents, autumn ancestor worship activities existed in the pre-Qin period. The custom of ancestor worship in July and a half is the product of local culture, and inclusive festivals are more complicated. It is not only an autumn festival for ancestor worship, but also the Mid-Autumn Festival of Taoism and the Bonin Festival of Buddhism. The folk, Taoism and monks are integrated. People have a tradition of pursuing the future cautiously, so it is necessary to worship their ancestors. The worship ceremony is usually held in mid-July.

For example, Qing Qianlong's "Puning County Records" said: "The ancestors return to the soul, and there are salty clothes and wine recommendations. Although poor, I dare not lack it. " Clothes are indispensable in the sacrifice. Because of the heat in July, it is necessary to change clothes to prevent cold, and "July is a fire, and clothes are given in September." In the old days, the Mid-Autumn Festival was not only significant in the belief dimension, but also a festival with high mass participation and distinctive entertainment functions in the secular level.