How to properly perform the Mid-Autumn Festival (15th day of the 7th lunar month) offerings?

In Vietnamese spiritual beliefs, the 15th day of the 7th lunar month is a very important holiday, but not everyone knows when is the right time to offer prayers and sacrifices for it.

Vietnamese folk beliefs consider the seventh lunar month as the "month of wandering souls" or the "month of ghosts and demons," and also the month of the Vu Lan festival, a time for showing filial piety.

This custom originates from a folk legend that says from the 2nd to after the 12th day of the 7th lunar month, the King of Hell orders the opening of the Gate of Ghosts, allowing demons and spirits to enter, and after midnight on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, all demons and spirits must return to hell.

The full moon of the seventh lunar month is very important in the spiritual beliefs of the Vietnamese people.

From the 2nd to the 14th of the 7th lunar month are considered the "open days of hell," when wandering souls are pardoned and released back into the mortal world to roam freely. Believing these days to be days of pardon for the deceased, people prepare offerings to appease homeless and destitute spirits, hoping for peace and protection from evil spirits.

The offering to wandering souls on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month holds profound humanistic significance in Vietnamese culture, reflecting the concept of "Day of Atonement for the Dead." This day signifies that regardless of the sins committed, there is a day of atonement to alleviate suffering and pain for those without a place to rest. Therefore, people offer food such as thin porridge, rice, puffed rice, and salt to help these homeless souls find peace in the afterlife.

The most appropriate time to offer prayers on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month is during the daytime.

Many people wonder what time is appropriate to offer prayers and sacrifices to wandering souls during the 7th lunar month. Spiritual experts suggest that the Vu Lan festival, a time for praying for the souls of the deceased and showing filial piety to ancestors, should be performed during the day. However, the ceremony of offering alms to wandering souls who were unfortunate, homeless, and suffered injustice in society should be performed in the late afternoon or evening.

Note that the offerings for the Hungry Ghost Festival should be placed outside in the yard, not on the doorstep, and there are no specific directions for the offering. If you don't want to make the offering at home, you can do so at a temple. All temples hold the Hungry Ghost Festival on a specific day from the first day of the month to the full moon. Regarding offerings, please note that sticky rice, chicken, and savory dishes should not be offered.

According to Vietnamese Family