What's the date of July 30th, 20 18? Hunan will receive guests on the Ghost Festival on July 30th.
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As the saying goes: "In July and a half, the gate of hell is closed." "In July and a half, ghosts are running around." Taoism believes that Yan Luowang opens the gate of hell on the first day of the seventh lunar month every year, releasing a group of ghosts who are not worshipped, hungry and cold, and have a bad temper, and enjoying people's offerings among the dead. By mid-July, the local officials were demoted, the good and evil in the world were determined, and the three realms were pardoned. The Taoist priest recited the scriptures that night, and the ghosts were freed. On the last day of July, these ghosts had to return to the underworld before the gate of hell closed again. People believe that in this way, their grievances can be resolved and will not become a disaster.
Dead ancestors will return to their homes from the underworld to visit relatives and friends. Because it was the transition from midsummer to cool autumn, it was believed that ancestors would also go home to visit their children and grandchildren at this time. So there are ghosts walking everywhere on the road, and there will be "murderous look" and "Yin Qi" everywhere. These days, adults warned: Don't leave the house casually, be careful when walking on the road, and don't be knocked down by ghosts ... Even if there are no pedestrians on the road, staying at home is called "hiding from ghosts".
How to "receive guests" in Hunan in July and a half
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The date of "receiving guests" should be chosen in advance. At that time, people will present portraits or memorial tablets to their ancestors, put chicken, duck, fish, wine and delicacies, fruit cakes and high-fragrance candles, burn paper money, paper houses, paper clothes and gold ingots for them, set off firecrackers and fireworks, post red paper everywhere, put water lanterns (lotus lanterns) near rivers and lakes, and ask Taoist priests to make lanterns.
Most of the chicken, duck and fish in the dish are ducks. As the summer harvest has just ended, ducks eat a lot of rice in the field and are naturally fat. On the one hand, people celebrate the harvest and enjoy the fruits of labor, on the other hand, they should remember and thank the "old customers" who have brought them everything.
When eating, two tables of the Eight Immortals are combined into one big table, facing the shrine in the wing of the nave, with a rich dining table (usually 10 dishes, 10 nights, which means perfection and great commemoration and respect for ancestors); Set the seats, fill the dishes, pour the good wine, let the ancestors enjoy it first, and then people can eat. According to adults, children who eat what "old customers" have eaten will not have a stomachache.
No noise, no talking and no nudity. They must dress neatly and sit solemnly. You must not kill snakes, frogs, butterflies, birds, etc. Even have to worship and respect them. Adults say that these things are most likely changed by ancestors. Children will also be taught by adults not to sit on the threshold (called "Chu" in our dialect) or lean against the gate, so as not to block the way of "old customers".
According to the "rules" of the underworld, you can't cook sacrificial dishes: beans are sticks that hit people, especially long beans, and the longer they are, the worse they will be; Bitter gourd is medicine; Pumpkin is shit; Luffa is a snake; Eggs are stones. In addition, if eggplant is used as a chicken leg, it should be braised in brown sauce; If winter melon is braised pork, it should also be braised pork.
One-year-old or two-year-old babies held by adults are mostly "yin-qi" heavy, open-eyed and psychic. Adults often cry when they hold their babies around them. Because they will see the black or white souls of "old customers" and be scared to cry. At this time, adults will take the baby to the back room to distract him and stop crying after a while. If so, it proves that the soul of "old customers" has really come back for dinner.
There are also women who are "Yin Qi". The situation is even worse when women are in menstruation, postpartum and postoperative. When you meet or see an old customer, you don't have to be afraid. July and a half is the time when they come out to enjoy human sacrifices, which are generally harmless. All you have to do is kindly tell them that there are strange things, and you must burn more paper when you go home. If they don't stop, they can swear, but it doesn't matter.
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Besides, there is only one oil lamp. Generally speaking, there is only one lamp (spotlight), and all objects have only one shadow. But when the "old guests" eat, there will be two or more shadows on the stationary chopsticks on the table.
Also, at this time, cats and dogs that used to follow their old owners at home usually hide; Because they are also psychic, they are afraid of being taken away by their old owners.
Gradually, the oil lamp doesn't seem to jump much, that is, the "old customer" has finished eating. After eating and drinking enough, the "old customers" returned to the lower bound with clothes and paper money. Instead, I left my blessings and sustenance on earth and left them to future generations. ...
In the ancestor worship ceremony, paper clothes (which we call "clothes" and must be black, that is, ochre clothes, which are divided into men and women, are exquisite, unique and beautiful) are essential, which is obviously different from the ancestor worship customs such as Qingming. Because it is hot in July and summer is about to pass, you should change your clothes to keep out the cold. The Book of Songs also says, "Fire will be brought in July, and clothes will be given in September".
Paper money is actually rough paper, a kind of yellow-brown paper. In some places, this kind of paper money will be cut into 15 cm square and piled up in piles; Then, a steel casting (commonly known as "chisel") with the lowest cross section and a square column in the middle is punched on the cut paper money in rows like a chisel, with a small hole in the middle, similar to the ancient copper coins and "Kong Fang brothers". Nowadays, this kind of paper money is rare, and most of it has been replaced by large-scale printed money.
When sending "old customers", burn paper bags, that is, a square carton made of yellow paper; Sometimes kill a rooster and then pour chicken blood into the bag; Spread the rice into a circle and put the paper bag into the circle to burn; At the same time, burn some loose money paper outside, which is "burning wild money" There are several inches of paper money and some daily necessities in the paper bag; Write down the ancestral taboo with a brush on the front, and write the word "seal" on the back after wrapping it, so that the "old guests" can enjoy happiness in the underworld and have no worries about food and clothing. The more buns are burned and the bigger the fire, the more developed and prosperous this family will be.
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Some people will also do "acrobatics" at night, that is, make a big V-shaped hook with peach wood and spread flat rice grains on a bamboo dustpan; Then the two men crossed their hands, held the handle of the wooden hook and shook it in front of the bamboo dustpan. If it is destiny takes a hand, the soul of the "old guest" will be possessed by two people and "write and draw" on the flat rice grain ... People will ask the "old guest" about his life in the lower world and predict his good or bad luck, and the "old guest" will write the corresponding answer on the rice grain through the wooden hook. ...
There are also some lawless people who want to help themselves with the help of "old customers" and put their offerings at home; If they come, this person will trap them in some way, kneel on the ground, make a wish and ask for their help. What seems to be pleading is actually a threat. Because if the "old guests" don't go back to the hell when the rooster crows in the early morning, there will be ghosts to destroy their souls. At the very least, they will suffer for several years after returning to the hell. If you want to return in time, the "old guest" has to promise him.
It is normal for some people to meet "old customers" with dreams, so don't be too afraid. Ordinary "old customers" will complain to the living in their dreams: not enough money, not enough clothes, not having a house to live in, being bullied by other ghosts and so on; Or you can't worry about someone and want to take care of yourself with you. For those who complain, meet their requirements: burn more paper money if you have no money; If you have no clothes to wear, burn more paper bags; If there are no women, burn more paper "maids" and "beauties". As for those who are uneasy and want to take it, don't flatly refuse. If you don't refuse or can't think clearly in your dream, just tell them when you burn the bag: Everything is fine above, please rest assured.