Ghost Festival

This ancient holiday, only observed by a few isolated communities where the tradition was never lost, is a celebration of our honorable ancestors, overlooked by Taiyi Zhenren.

History

The Ghost Festival is on the 15th night of the seventh month. Traditionally, the seventh month is called Ghost Month and the fifteenth day is called Ghost Day. During this festival it is believed that special authorization from the Jade God is given to ghosts and spirits, including those of deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm. Distinct from holidays where homage and respect is paid to deceased ancestors, this holiday is specifically about the deceased visiting the living.

Execution

Intrinsic to the Ghost Festival is veneration of the dead, where traditionally the filial piety of descendants extends to their ancestors even after their deaths. Activities during the month would include preparing ritualistic food offerings, burning incense, and burning joss paper, a papier-mâché form of material items such as clothes, gold and other fine goods for the visiting spirits of the ancestors. Elaborate meals (often vegetarian meals) would be served with empty seats for each of the deceased in the family treating the deceased as if they are still living.

Primary Related Location

Mythic Land of Jiao

Related Organizations

• The Celestial Administration

Related Ethnicities

• Jiao