Folk theory holds that crossroads are places where ghosts go south and north, and they are placed at crossroads to facilitate mailing, because there are also postmen in the underworld. At crossroads, especially crossroads in the forward direction, with the directions of southeast, northwest and northwest, no matter how far away the deceased relatives are, they can receive paper money from their living relatives.
Thousands of years of Chinese cultural history have continued like this. Every New Year, Tomb-Sweeping Day, and October 1st of the lunar calendar are festivals to commemorate deceased relatives. Those who are close to their hometowns will burn them on their graves. Those who live far away from home will choose to burn at crossroads.
The meaning of burning paper on the Hungry Ghost Festival:
Burning paper refers to the paper money that people burn to worship ghosts and gods. It is also called "burning paper money". In some places called Huabao, the purpose of burning paper money is to offer sacrifices to ancestors and gods and pray for blessings.
There are roughly three types of objects for burning paper money: one is dedicated to the Buddha and gods, and paper is usually burned in a clean outdoor place; the other is given to ancestors and relatives, and paper can be burned at a crossroads near home; the third is given to The ghost spirit wandering is performed by the river or before burning paper to the ancestors.
1. When buying burned paper, don’t buy piles of printed matter. One piece costs hundreds of millions. The money is not real and it is not as valuable as the old ruble or Vietnamese dong. But while you're burning a lot of money, it's not a bad idea to burn a little like this. There are a lot of debt collectors down there who will shamelessly ask you for money and will torture you if you don't give it, so you have to answer them right with this kind of small money.
2. To buy yellow straw paper, spread it out and press a piece of real money of one hundred yuan on the paper. You should feel that the one hundred yuan is a stamp, from right to left, from top to bottom, Cover them row by row until the entire paper is covered. Such burning paper is hard currency down there.
3. Fold the burning paper, divide the burning paper into seven or eight parts, and fold them twice diagonally. Otherwise, it will be very troublesome to burn a pile of paper. It is very convenient to stack them and burn them.
4. Before going to burn paper, you'd better prepare a lighter (preferably a windproof one, July 15th is a day of heavy Yin and strong winds) and a small stick. This makes it easier for you to pull out the burned paper when burning it, allowing air circulation and making it easier to burn. A used mop rod at home is a good choice, but be careful not to take it back after use, just throw it away. .
5. You have to burn it when it is completely dark. No one dares to come out to withdraw money at dawn. On the way back and forth to burn paper, try to avoid burning paper and don't step on it. Sometimes an intersection is lined with piles of paper ash and you can't get around it, so you have to carefully cross it. Sometimes it may take a lot of effort. Take a step, and before passing, you have to say, I'm sorry, I borrowed it.