Why is July and a half a Ghost Festival?

July and a half is the Mid-Autumn Festival, commonly known as Ghost Festival.

It is generally believed that July 15 is the day of Ghost Festival, and it is also the day when the gates of hell are wide open. At this time, Yin Qi is the heaviest, so it is best not to go out of the street that night to avoid hitting ghosts. In addition, it's best not to go to the river or the seaside, lest you accidentally slip and become body double, a water ghost. In addition, it is best not to say anything unlucky or offend the spirit world, so as not to provoke the ghost. "Orchid Festival", commonly known as "Ghost Festival", is the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, which is said to be the day when the gates of hell are wide open. In Taoism, it is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a day when local officials forgive their sins. In Buddhism, it is called "Orchid Festival". It is said that since the first day of the seventh lunar month, the wandering ghosts in the underworld have been released and can wander around the world for a period of time to pick up people. There are the following stories about the origin of Yulan Festival. It is said that Sakyamuni received ten disciples when he was alive. One of them was a yogi named Mulian, and his parents died before he attained the Tao. Because Mulian was very concerned about his dead mother, he used his "Eye of Heaven" to see how her mother lived in the underworld. It turns out that they have become hungry ghosts. "Manglietia" felt very sad after reading it, so she used her magic power to give her mother some food. Unfortunately, as soon as the food was delivered to the mouth, it immediately turned into a flame. Mulian was very sad to see this situation and told it to "Sakyamuni". The Buddha taught him that his mother planted many sins when she was alive, so she fell into the hungry ghost road after her death and was beyond redemption. Later, this legend has been spread to later generations and gradually formed a folk custom. Every year in the middle of the seventh lunar month, people will slaughter chickens and ducks, burn incense and clothes, and worship the hungry ghosts who come out of the underworld, so as to resolve grievances and avoid harming the world. Over time, the custom of Halloween was formed.