Culture Insider: China's Ghost Festival

Burning paper "money"

It is said in folklore that departed ancestors will be released by Yama for half a month. As a result, there is a custom to welcome ancestors at the beginning of July and send them off on July 15. When sending off the spirits, people will burn a lot of paper "money" so ancestors can spend it in the nether world. They will also insert some paper "money" into an envelope on which the user's name has been written. The envelope will be burnt for sacrifice.

People burn paper to honor the deceased a day before Zhongyuan Festival, Aug 20, 2013.[Photo/CFP]

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