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Saturday, May 14, 2011

Qing Ming Festival

Qing Ming Festival is also known as Tomb Sweeping Day. It is a traditional Chinese festival usually occurring around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar. Qing Ming Festival is when Chinese people visit the graves or burial grounds of their ancestors. This festival is an opportunity for celebrants to remember and honour their ancestors at grave sites. Young and old pray before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, chopsticks and joss paper to the ancestors.




Food and tea is offered to the ancestors and placed on the tomb.



Burning of hell money is folded into shapes of gold ingots.


Burning of paper money.


Some people carry willow branches with them on this festival. They believe that willow branches help ward off the evil spirit that wanders on this festival. On this day, people go on family outings, start the spring plowing, sing and dance. It is also the time when young couples start courting. Qing Ming was frequently mentioned in Chinese literature. Among these, the most famous one is Du Mu's poem.


A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mouring Day;


The mourner's heart is breaking on his way.


Where can a winehouse be found to drown his sadness?


A cowherd points to Almond Flower Village in the distance.



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