【中元节 English】How much do you know in English about the customs and taboos of the Obon Festival?

Article source: Takeaway English official website

The ghost gate opens in the seventh month of the lunar calendar. Unlike Halloween in the West, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a very important folk festival for the Chinese. How to introduce the customs of the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival to foreigners? How to explain in English the opening of the ghost gate, the ritual of offering sacrifices to good brothers in Purdue, and the release of water lanterns? What are the English sentences for Ghost Moon Taboo? Come and learn the English of the Chinese New Year Festival and learn about the customs and taboo English of the Ghost Festival together!

Hungry Ghost Festival

There are many sayings about Zhongyuan Festival in English. Taoist Taoist called Zhongyuan on July 15th, which is the birthday of local officials. It is the day to forgive sins for dead souls, so it is called "Zhongyuan Festival"; Monks, dedicate merits to their parents, called "Ullambana/Yulan Festival", Ullambana is a Sanskrit word used to save the suffering of hanging upside down, the derivative meaning is to make offerings to the Buddha and monks to save the suffering sentient beings; people will be held during the ghost month. Yuan Pudu, so Zhongyuan Festival is literally translated as Zhongyuan Pudu Festival. This festival can be called "Hungry Ghost Festival" in order to make good brothers eat and drink. In addition, it is different from Halloween in the West. Chinese is added before the Ghost Festival. Also known as "Chinese Ghost Festival".

Taoist
Buddhist
Zhongyuan Festival/Zhongyuan Pudu Festival
Ullambana/Yulan Festival
Hungry Ghost Festival
Chinese Ghost Festival

Chinese New Year's Day English: Chinese New Year's Day time, the gates of hell open in English The Gates of Hell are Unlatched

【English sentences about the time of Chinese New Year's Day】

Corresponding to Halloween in the West, the Chinese Ghost Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, the sign of the ghost month. The ghost month in 2021 will be from the eighth day of the eighth month of the solar calendar to the sixth day of September.

The counterpart of Halloween in the West, the Chinese Ghost Festival, falls on the 15th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar, the halfway mark of Ghost Month. For 2021, the ghost month starts from August 8 to September 6 of the solar calendar when the gates of hell open and close.

counterpart noun n. corresponding person (or thing), counterpart
lunar calendar lunar calendar, lunar calendar; solar calendar Gregorian calendar
the gate of hell/ the gate to Underworld

Some souls have not been reincarnated and must wander in this world. To appease the homeless ghosts and fear that their ancestors might wander alone and helpless, Chinese traditionally hold a grand religious ceremony on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month.

Some souls have not reincarnated yet and must wander in this world. To propitiate these homeless ghosts, and fearing that their own ancestors may be drifting lonely and uncared for, the Chinese traditionally hold a grand religious ceremony on July 15 by the lunar calendar.

reincarnate verb v. to reincarnate
wander verb v. wandering, wandering; wandering soul/ghost
propitiate verb v. soothe
ancestor noun n. ancestor

【Ghost door opens English sentence】

The Zhongyuan Festival starts on the first day of the seventh lunar month. The gate of the underworld opens at dawn on the first day of the seventh lunar month every year, allowing lonely and wild ghosts to enjoy the sacrifices of people in the underworld.

The Ghost Festival begins on the first day of the 7th lunar month. The gates of hell are unlatched at daybreak on lunar July 1 every year, allowing condemned souls to visit their old homes and to partake of food in the real world.

latch verb v. bolt; noun n. latch
condemn verb v. to condemn, to declare guilty
partake verb v. [book] to share, participate in to partake in sth. [mouth] to eat up, drink up

【Ghost Gate Pass in English】

The Mid-Autumn Festival ends on the 30th day of the seventh lunar month, and ghosts must return to the underworld before closing the door. Devout Taoists and Buddhists believe that at this time of year, the gates of hell are opened for a full month, allowing hungry ghosts to roam the earth in search of food, money, entertainment and souls.

The Ghost Festival ends on lunar July 30, and the ghosts must return to hell before the gate closes. It is believed by devout Taoists and Buddhists that during this time of year the gates of hell are opened for a full month for hungry ghosts to roam the world of the living in search of food, money, entertainment, and possibly souls.

devout adj. devout
roam verb v. to roam, wander

Chinese New Year's Day English: Who are these Hungry Ghosts?

Although there are many festivals to sacrifice to the gods, the special thing about Zhongyuan Festival is that it also sacrifices the homeless orphans. Out of awe, people refer to these ghosts as "good brothers" so as not to offend them.

While there are many festivals that pay respects to different deities and spirits, the Ghost Festival is special in that it also pays respect to spirits without any family. As a sign of respect, the term "Good Brothers", as opposed to "ghosts, " are considered preferable when referring to lost souls to avoid offending them.

deity noun n. god
spirit noun n. soul, ghost

Hungry ghosts are thought to be souls that do not end well, or that they have committed evil in their lives. So when these hungry ghosts are released from the underworld for a month every year, they will come back in the form of unhappy, dissatisfied, hungry ghosts, seeking satisfaction on earth.

It is thought that hungry ghosts are the souls of individuals who have experienced an unpleasant or violent death, or who committed evil deeds during their lifetime. So, when these souls are released annually from the underworld for a month, they come back as unhappy, dissatisfied, hungry ghosts looking for fulfillment in the land of the living.

commit verb v. commit (sin)
dissatisfied adj. dissatisfied
fulfillment noun n.

Chinese New Year's Day English: How To Celebrate?

【English sentence of worship time】

Brothers Purdue, avoid the noon when the sun is at its peak, and get there before the sun goes down, which is about 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The place of worship can be chosen outdoors or at the entrance of the building, and worship indoors or on the balcony should be avoided. After Purdue, clean up the offerings, tables and chairs as soon as possible, with the intention not to leave guests.

The best time for inviting "Good Brothers" to feast should be around 2 pm to 7 pm before sunset, avoiding noon when the sun is the strongest. The place for tribute can be outdoors or at the entrance of the building. Indoors or balconies should be avoided. Pack the offerings, tables and chairs as soon as possible after tributes, meaning “not to keep guests”.

tribute/offering noun n. offering, offering
balcony noun n. balcony

[English sentence for offering sacrifices]

People burn incense and pray for protection with offerings. Offerings include fruits, various dishes, steamed buns, rice, soup, soft drinks, flowers, instant noodles, and ingots, but do not worship food that has been eaten or has been opened. Toiletries (water in the washbasin, towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste) are also placed at Purdue so that good brothers can cleanse themselves. People also burn paper money, thinking that this kind of paper is burned for ghosts.

People burn incense and ask for protection with the offerings. The offerings include fruits, various dishes, steamed buns, rice, soup, soft drinks, flowers, instant noodles, sycee; yet, do not worship food that has been eaten or opened. It is also expected to provide spirits with a basin filled with water, towel, toothbrush, and toothpaste to allow the spirits to clean themselves. Joss paper is also burned as people believe that this paper money is used by ghosts after burning.

Incense noun n. to burn incense; verb v. to burn incense; to pay incense to
sycee/ silver or gold ingots noun n.
worship verb v. worship, worship
gold joss paper/ghost money/paper money noun n. gold paper

Chinese New Year's Day English: Water Lanterns

Water lanterns are another ghost festival custom designed to guide the reincarnation of homeless orphans and save people from drowning. These lanterns are lit in water and pushed away. The farther the lantern floats, the more blessed the benefactor is.

The release of water lanterns is another Ghost Festival custom. They are intended to guide homeless spirits to reincarnation and save people from drowning. These lanterns are placed in the water and lit on fire before they get pushed further. The further they float, the more blessings the one who offered the tribute will receive.

release water lantern
reincarnation noun n. reincarnation, reincarnation
drown verb v. to drown
float verb v. to float

Chinese New Year's Day English: Ghost Moon Taboo Don't provoke Good Brothers!

Ghost Moon is afraid of bad luck, so there are many taboos, and some beliefs may be superstitious, but sometimes it is better to believe it and respect the existence of souls in another world, and don't provoke good brothers!

There are many taboos to abide by during the ghost month in fear that it may be inauspicious, perhaps some beliefs are superstitious, but sometimes you'd rather believe it to be true than not, and respect the existence of spirits in another world. Don 't provoke Good Brothers!

taboo nounn. taboo
Abide verb v. obey, obey
inauspicious adj. unlucky, bad luck; auspicious adj. auspicious
belief noun n. belief, belief
superstitious adj. superstitious
existence noun n.
provoke verb v. to provoke, incite, provoke

[Ten common ghost month taboo English sentences]

1. Postpone moving into a new house
2. Avoid going out after midnight
3. Avoid any weddings or childbirths
4. Don't swim in lakes, rivers, or in the ocean
5. Don't whistle, take pictures nor hang clothes outside at night
6. Don't pick up money found on street
7. Don't share items with Good Brothers
8. Don't take the last bus or train ride
9. Don't buy puppets, sculptures, or dolls
10. Don't place shoes facing the bed

The above is the English for sharing the customs and taboos related to the ghost month. In fact, as long as you maintain a pious heart and treat your good brothers well, I believe that they in the other world will definitely feel our wishes!

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