Blogs
God of fortune
Hot 1 |
It has been raining since late this morning. At dusk mother was puzzled about the firecrackers let off far and near. At first I got confused too. But before long I presumed that today was the birthday of the fortune god. Later I was convinced by referring to the net. Many people especially shopkeepers believe they would make a fortune by celebrating the fortune god's birthday or offering sacrifices to the god. The cracking continued the whole evening. By tradition, firecrackers are set off on such occasions as wedding, funeral, festival and building, which could not only create an atmosphere of cheerfulness but fill our hearts with sadness or express good wishes as well. In the meantime, it might cause serious air pollution and involve a huge waste of resources.
Post comment Comment (1 replies)
- Reply sunnyv
- Over here, we are having the "ghost festival".
The gates of hell have opened. Its ghosts have been let loose to roam on earth and visit the homes of their relatives.
According to traditional beliefs this happens every year during the seventh month of the lunar year, resulting in a active, feast-and-music filled celebration known as the Hungry Ghost Festival. But not all ghosts are good. There are some spirits who wander the streets, ravenous and envious because they died without descendants or were ignored by their kin while alive.
To appease the hungry spirits, the locals do prayers, aided by giant colorful joss sticks shaped like dragons. They also burn mock currency and miniature paper television sets, mobile phones and furniture as offering to the ancestors for their use in the other world. I even noticed the latest model of paper Samsung galaxy cellphone which looked so real.
For 15 days, neighborhoods hold nightly shows of shrill Chinese operas and pop concerts to entertain the dead. The shows are accompanied by lavish feasts of grilled pork, broiled chicken, rice and fruit.
People appease the ghosts in the hopes that the spirits will help them with jobs, school exams or even the lottery. On the 15th day of the month – the most auspicious – families offer cooked food to the ghosts.
There is a story going on that a bus driver on a rural route picked up a passenger in white clothings and long hair covering her entire face. She paid with a paper hell money banknote. The driver was terrified at first, but he smartly nodded her and drove on. Somehow, she did not get off the bus but she could not be found on the bus. The drivers place a small altar at the place where she got on to appease her. Just treat this as a thriller and don't let it frighten you.
Oh, by the way, tonight would be rainy and dark, so....
