Qing Ming Festival 清明節

Qing Ming Festival    清明節

 

Qingming, meaning clear and bright, is the day for mourning the dead, and a day for Chinese families to visit their ancestors graves. 10 days before and after the actual Qingming day of 5th of April 2014, you may observe hundreds of families visiting the cemetery to sweep/clean their ancestors’ graves and repaint the inscriptions on the tomstones to show their respect. The families will bring food offerings too.

 

"Sweeping the graves" means to clear the graves of all the leaves and weeds and repaint the inscriptions on it. The Chinese believe that too many leaves surrounding the graves disturb the spirit of the ancestors. Then food such as fruit, rice, wine, chicken, pork, cakes etc., the favorite food of the ancestors, will be put around the grave for the spirit of the ancestors. The Chinese believe that the dead ancestors are not eating well in their afterlife. Giving them their favorite food not only shows respect for them but also brings the descendants good life and health. The Chinese believe that the spirit has power to fulfil wishes. The food is not wasted as after prayers they will be brought back and shared among the descendants. The Chinese believe that eating them brings good health. Also, paper money is burned, candles are lit and the whole family kneels to pay respect. The Chinese also believes that paper money can be consumed in heaven or hell.

New generations will see less of these graves, as nowsaday all deads are cremated and kept in the government 's columbarium in Mandai or Aljunied and other privately owned temples with such facilities.

 

That reminded me of a popular poem by Du MU.

清 明
清 明 时 节 雨 纷 纷，
路 上 行 人 欲 断 魂。
借 问 酒 家 何 处 有，
牧 童 遥 指 杏 花 村。

Qing Ming
It’s raining hard at the time of the Qing Ming Festival,
The mourner’s heart is overwhelmed on the road upland.
May I ask where there’s a tavern to drown my sorrows?
The shepherd boy points to Xinghua Village in the distance.