Clear Brightness Festival - Qing Ming & Ghost Festival

Festivals Honor the Death

Because China only have 2 festivals honoring the death, I decide to put them in the same article. Sorry, if it inconvenvient.

Clear Brightness Festival - Qing Ming

This festival occurs in the month of April on 4th through the 6th days. This is not a festival per se. This is the time when a family goes to their ancestors' tombs to show some respect by cutting the wild grass, sweeping the dirt around the tomb, and burning paper money.

From time to time, a family may have a picnic around the tomb as well. In my opinion, the meaning of this gesture is to show that the dead ancestors had never been forgotten in the family.

Traditionally, a family will burn paper money (paper having the imprint of money) and paper replicas of some material goods such a car, maid, home, phone, etc. In Chinese culture, even though a person has died, he/she may still need all of these in the afterlife.

There should always be an even number of dishes put in front of the grave and a bowl of rice with upright incense sticks. Then, family members take turns bowing before the tomb of the ancestors.

Bowing will go in order starting with the most senior member of the family and so on.

china

Ghost Festival

This holiday occurs in the 15th or 17th of August. Again, I'm not really sure. This festival is another form of the American Halloween, but it has completely different meaning and practice.

This day is dedicated to honor all the homeless souls, meaning all the souls that are not properly buried or somehow have been forgotten by their family. In return, the souls will not cause any mischief or harm.

When you are a tourist around this time, you will see some monks and priests performing ceremonies for the lost souls. The natives will burn some paper money in a barrel along the street.

The meaning for this tradition is for souls to have enough money to give to the underworld official so they can reincarnate as human. Or, this act also considers to be bribing the souls themselves so they will not bother the living or businesses. Sorry, there will no candy for Trick or Treat.

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Raphita Tobing