Ancient Celebrations
Modern Customs
Worshipping Ancestors
Kites
Celebrated two weeks after the vernal equinox, Tomb Sweeping
Day is one of the few traditional Chinese holidays that follows
the solar calendar-- typically falling on April 4, 5, or 6.
Its Chinese name "Qing Ming" literally means "Clear Brightness,"
hinting at its importance as a celebration of Spring. Similar
to the spring festivals of other cultures, Tomb Sweeping Day
celebrates the rebirth of nature, while marking the beginning
of the planting season and other outdoor activities.
Qing Ming Jie in Ancient Times
In ancient times, people celebrated Qing Ming Jie with dancing,
singing, picnics, and kite flying. Colored boiled eggs would
be broken to symbolize the opening of life. In the capital,
the Emperor would plant trees on the palace grounds to celebrate
the renewing nature of spring. In the villages, young men and
women would court each other.
The Tomb Sweeping Day as Celebrated Today
With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a
day to the honor past ancestors. Following folk religion, the
Chinese believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors looked
after the family. Sacrifices of food and spirit money could
keep them happy, and the family would prosper through good harvests
and more children.
Today, Chinese visit their family graves to tend to any underbrush
that has grown. Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the
family will set out offerings of food and spirit money. Unlike
the sacrifices at a family's home altar, the offerings at the
tomb usually consist of dry, bland food. One theory is that
since any number of ghosts rome around a grave area, the less
appealing food will be consumed by the ancestors, and not be
plundered by strangers.
Honoring Ancestors
Honoring ancestors begins with proper positioning of a gravesite
and coffin. Experts in feng shui, or geomancy, determine
the quality of land by the surrounding aspects of streams, rivers,
trees, hills, and so forth. An area that faces south, with groves
of pine trees creates the best flow of cosmic energy required
to keep ancestors happy. Unfortunately, nowadays, with China's
burgeoning population, public cemetaries have quickly surplanted
private gravesites. Family elders will visit the gravesite at
least once a year to tend to the tombs.
While bland food is placed by the tombs on Qing Ming Jie,
the Chinese regularly provide scrumptious offerings to their
ancestors at altar tables in their homes. The food usually consists
of chicken, eggs, or other dishes a deceased ancestor was fond
of. Accompanied by rice, the dishes and eating utensils are
carefully arranged so as to bring good luck. Sometimes, a family
will put burning incense with the offering so as to expedite
the transfer of nutritious elements to the ancestors. In some
parts of China, the food is then eaten by the entire family.
Kites
Besides the traditions of honoring the dead, people also often
fly kits on Tomb Sweeping Day. Kites can come in all kinds of
shapes, sizes, and colors. Designs could include frogs, dragonflies,
butterflies, crabs, bats, and storks.
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