Are the winter clothes given on the Cold Clothes Festival real clothes? What kind of winter clothes are burned on the Cold Clothes Festival?

The Cold Clothes Festival is one of the four major ghost festivals. Whenever this festival comes, sacrificial activities are held in various places. Among the many activities, the most important thing is to send winter clothes to the deceased ancestors. So, are the winter clothes sent on the Cold Clothes Festival real clothes?

Are the winter clothes given on the Cold Clothes Festival real clothes?

The clothes given during the Cold Clothes Festival are not real clothes, but paper clothes.

The Cold Clothes Festival is one of the four major ghost festivals in China. Since ancient times, there has been a saying that "October is the first day of the lunar calendar to send off cold clothes." When winter comes, we who are still alive will rummage through our wardrobes, add some clothes, and prepare cotton clothes for the winter. So don't forget your deceased relatives. On October 1st, burn some warm clothes made of paper for them to prevent them from suffering from cold in the underworld.

What kind of winter clothes are burned on the Cold Clothes Festival?

The clothes given to deceased ancestors during the Cold Clothes Festival are all made of paper. However, if you want your ancestors to receive them, the clothes and paper money given to the deceased must be burned. Only when they are burned cleanly can these pieces of paper from this world be transformed into silk, cloth, houses, clothes, quilts, gold, silver and copper coins in the underworld. As long as there is even a little bit that is not burned out, all previous efforts will be wasted and the deceased cannot use it. At the crossroads, some colored paper is burned, symbolizing cloth. The purpose is to help those lonely souls who have no one to worship their ancestors, so that the winter supplies sent to their relatives will not be snatched away by them.

What is the meaning of giving winter clothes on the Cold Clothes Festival?

The Cold Clothes Festival, which is called "October 1st" in our local area, is the first day of the tenth month in the lunar calendar. On this day, we burn paper cotton clothes or paper money for our deceased relatives. The weather is getting cold, and it is time to change into cotton clothes to avoid the cold. Now with the progress of society, the styles and colors are already extraordinary, some are even made into electric blankets, etc. On this day, the married daughter must return to her parents' home to burn paper cotton clothes at the grave for her deceased parents. This custom that has been passed down for thousands of years embodies the warmth among human beings!