Ghost Festival Steamed Buns

Ghost Festival Steamed Buns

　　Ghost Festival Steamed Buns: On the 15th day of the seventh lunar month every year, rural households in Qingyuan make “Ghost Festival Steamed Buns” to worship incense and honor deities. As early as the Han Dynasty, people designated the 15th day of the first lunar month as the “Shangyuan Festival,” the 15th day of the seventh lunar month as the “Zhongyuan Festival,” and the 15th day of the eighth lunar month as the “Xiayuan Festival.” These three festivals are collectively known as the “Three Yuan Festivals.” The “Zhongyuan Festival” is also called the “Earth Deity Festival,” and is commonly referred to among the public as the “Ghost Festival.” The “Xiu Xing Zhi” states: “On the Zhongyuan day in the seventh month, the Earth Deity descends to judge human good and evil, and Taoist priests chant scriptures day and night.” Buddhists hold the Ullambana Festival on this day. In the past, ancestral halls in Qingyuan would invite monks and Taoists to perform rituals and prepare steamed buns distributed to clan members to honor their ancestors, which were also called “Ghost Festival Steamed Buns.”

　　The “Ghost Festival Steamed Buns” are made with premium glutinous rice, which is soaked in water, ground into a paste, then pressed dry to form the outer wrapping for fillings. There are various types of fillings: one is made by steaming red beans, mashing them into a paste, mixing in brown sugar, and forming them into balls. Another is sticky rice mixed with brown sugar. Yet another uses brown sugar mixed with dried bitter herbs. The “Ghost Festival Steamed Buns” are pure white, translucent, tender, and soft. They are loved by both the elderly and children.