In folk belief, the seventh month of the lunar calendar is a significant time with important festivals that families should not overlook.
The 1st and 15th of the Seventh Lunar Month
According to ancient customs, the first day of each lunar month is called the ‘Sóc’ day. On this day, families offer a simple ritual of incense, flowers, and fresh fruit to the altars of deities and ancestors, praying for a lucky, smooth, and peaceful new month.
The 1st of the Seventh Lunar Month follows the same tradition as the other months.
Additionally, on the Full Moon day (known as the ‘Vọng’ day), families also perform rituals. For the Seventh Month’s Full Moon, homeowners may prepare a more elaborate ceremony compared to other Full Moon days of the year. Apart from incense and flowers, some families also set up vegetarian or meat-based feast offerings.
The Seventh Lunar Month is also called the ‘Month of Wandering Souls’. This month holds several important festivals that families should pay attention to.
The Qixi Festival – The Day of the Weaver and the Cowherd
The 7th day of the Seventh Lunar Month is known as the Qixi Festival, commemorating the annual meeting of the Weaver and the Cowherd (the Chinese counterparts of the Vietnamese tale of Mr. Ngâu and Mrs. Ngâu, or the Cowherd and Weaver Girl in Western astrology).
On this day, people may visit temples to pray for peace and happiness for their families and seek blessings for their love lives and future descendants.
The Ceremony for Liberating the Hungry Ghosts
This ceremony is held on the Seventh Month’s Full Moon day, coinciding with the Ullambana festival. Folk belief holds that during this time, wandering souls are free to roam the mortal realm. Many of these souls are homeless and hungry, with no living relatives to pay respects or make offerings. To avoid disturbances from these spirits, families perform rituals offering porridge, ‘bánh kéo’ (a type of cake), rice with salt, clothes, and other items. These offerings are made with the hope that the wandering souls will find peace and move on. This ceremony is also known as the ‘Festival for Wandering Souls’.
The rituals and offerings made during the Ceremony for Liberating the Hungry Ghosts can vary across different regions.
Ullambana – The Festival of Filial Piety
Ullambana is a separate festival from the Ceremony for Liberating the Hungry Ghosts, though they are both held on the Seventh Month’s Full Moon day. Ullambana is a time for descendants to show their respect and gratitude to their ancestors and is highly valued by many.
The Month-End Thanksgiving Ceremony
Before concluding this spiritually significant month, some people prepare fresh flowers and fruits as offerings to the altars of Buddha, the God of Wealth, and their ancestors, expressing gratitude for the blessings of good health, peace, and smoothness throughout the month.
This information is for reference only.
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