Spirit Festival in China

When did the Spirit Festival in China start?

The first recorded date of Spirit Festival in China being celebrated on August 30 was in the year 206 BCE – 220 CE.

About Spirit Festival in China Holiday

The Ghost Festival is an important Chinese traditional holiday celebrated in August on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month. It is a time when families come together to venerate and make offerings to their ancestors and the spirits of the dead. They also burn joss sticks and paper money as offerings. Also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, it is a time of ghosts and spirits roaming the streets by night, so different precautions are taken by people who feel that their homes offer temporary soothing shelter from these supernatural entities. The festival is especially important to Buddhists and Taoist, who make up the majority of people in China. They offer food, money, and gifts to the gods in order to appease them and ensure they have a safe journey. Typical events at the festival include religious ceremonies, ancestor worship, lion and dragon dances, and Chinese opera performances. People also engage in activities such as burning joss paper and incense, decorating public pagan alters and releasing birds, incense paper boats, and bamboo lanterns into the sky.

Spirit Festival, Ghost Festival or Hungry Ghost Festival in China

The Spirit Festival, also known as the Ghost Festival or Hungry Ghost Festival, is an important event for many cultures around the world. In China and other parts of East Asia, the Spirit Festival is held on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, which falls on August 30, 2023. It is a day to honor and commune with the spirits of the dead both peacefully and joyously, and to remember our ancestors in thoughtful ways.

History and Origins

The origins of the festival are unclear, though there is evidence that Chinese people have celebrated it since at least the 6th century CE. The festival is associated with Taoism and Buddhism, and is said to have originated from a legend related to the Chinese Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin.

In this legend, Kuan Yin, out of her mercy, allowed her disciples to offer food to the hungry ghosts, or yōnguǐ, on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month. This is believed to be the origin of the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Celebrations

The tradition of celebrating the Spirit Festival is still strong in East Asia today. In Mainland China, many families traditionally light incense and burn paper replicas of clothes, money, and other items to “feed” the dead, and to bring them luck, health, and prosperity in the afterlife. It is also traditional to hang strips of red paper near gates and doors to ward off evil spirits.

In Taiwan, people leave food offerings such as fruits and cakes on altars or their ancestors’ gravesites. In Hong Kong, the festivities include the burning of joss paper and traditional Chinese paper effigies. On the night of the full moon, a large ceremony is usually held in which Taoists and Buddhists perform rituals and prayers to honor the spirits of the deceased.

On the 15th day of the lunar month, many temples organize theatrical performances of Chinese operas to honor their patron gods, as well as to entertain the hungry ghosts who have come to earth to be entertained.

Other Customs

Other customs associated with the Spirit Festival include visiting the graves of ancestors, leaving wine, fruit and other offerings at these graves, and even organizing a cleansing ceremony for the ancestor’s wandering souls.

It is also traditional to give gifts to those born in the month of the festival. These gifts usually include red envelopes with money inside, sometimes along with other items such as food, clothing and books.

It is also traditional for people to write the names of deceased ancestors in special books and place them in temples so that the spirits of the dead may read them.

Conclusion

The Spirit Festival is a very important celebration to many cultures in East Asia, and its traditions have been passed down from generation to generation. On the 15th day of the seventh lunar month of each year, citizens of these countries take time off from their daily lives to honor the spirits of their ancestors, as well as to enjoy performances and special ceremonies. The rituals associated with the festival are unique and fascinating, making it a holiday well worth exploring.

How to Say "Spirit Festival in China" In Different Languages?

Czech
Festival duchů (cs-CZ)
Dutch
Geesten Festival (nl-NL)
Estonian
Vaimude Festival (et-EE)
French
Festival des Esprits (fr-FR)
German
Geisterfestival (de-DE)
Greek
Φεστιβάλ Πνευμάτων (el-GR)
Hebrew
חג הרוחות (he-IL)
Hindi
आत्मा उत्सव (hi-IN)
Hungarian
Szellem Fesztivál (hu-HU)
Italian
Festival degli Spiriti (it-IT)
Japanese
霊祭 (ja-JP)
Korean
정령 축제 (ko-KR)
Polish
Festiwal Duchów (pl-PL)
Portuguese
Festival dos Espíritos (pt-PT)
Romanian
Festivalul Spiritelor (ro-RO)
Russian
Фестиваль Духов (ru-RU)
Spanish
Festival de los Espíritus (es-ES)
Swedish
Ändarnas Festival (sv-SE)
العربية
مهرجان الروح (ar-AE)
Spirit Festival in China Also Called
The Spirit Festival in China is sometimes referred to as the Qingming Festival, the Ancestors Worship Festival, or the Tomb-Sweeping Day.
Countries where "Spirit Festival in China" is celebrated:

FUN FACT:
In year 206 BCE – 220 CE, Spirit Festival in China is celebrated on August 30 for the first time.

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