Ching Ming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Festival)

This year, the Ching Ming Festival falls on the 4th - 6th April weekend on the Western Gregorian calender (or 15th day after the Spring Equinox and is the first day of the 5th Chinese seasonal division point).

In English, it is also known as the Tomb Sweeping Day, Ancestors' Day, Clear Bright Festival or Cold Foods Day A traditional festival in which the Chinese would go pay respects to their dead ancestors / kins.  It is similar to the Halloween / Samhain of the western calendar.

Photo source: http://dailytombstonephoto.blogspot.sg/2010/05/tombstonememorial-of-corinne-elliott.html 

Traditionally, this festival is marked by family descendants visiting the gravesites of their ancestors to clear the overgrown weeds, sweep the dust / leaves off the tombstones, place fresh offerings such as fruits , fruits, flowers etc on the tombstones and pray to their deceased loved ones. The maintenance and upkeep of gravesites is considered a responsibility of family descendents and reflects the deep cultural values of ancestor veneration and filial piety of Chinese people.

Buddhist and Taoist temples also perform ceremonies to dedicate spiritual merits to the deceased ancestors of sponsors.

Besides family outings for tomb sweeping rituals, the people also start the spring plowing (soil is supposed to be very fertile during this period), sing, dance, fly kites and young couples start courting.

Photo source: http://www.hsn.com/products/grandin-road-haunted-ash-urn/7260812

Though, in local context, due to the lack of space causing many graveyards to be cleared for building of houses, offices etc, cremation is the chosen burial method for most families these days. The ash urns are usually placed in a number of temples / crematorium around the island.

During Ching Ming, the family members would visit these temples / crematoriums and sweep the ash urns of their loved ones. Some would also bring along offerings to be placed on tables  set up at the front of the temple / crematorium.

It is a meaningful day of commemorating dead ancestors of the past, as well as for the younger generations to show their respects, love, filial piety and a continuation of the familial tree.

Unfortunately, this period is also often associated with heavy rain on a frequent basis. Hence, a beautiful Chinese poem has been written for it.

Photo source: http://jadeturtlerecords.blogspot.sg/2011/04/qingming-festival.html

The meaningful poem translates into the following:-
(source: http://thanhsiang.org/en/qing-ming-festival)

A drizzling rain falls like tears on a morning day,
The mourner with a broken heart is on his way;
Where can a wine shop be found to drown his sad hour,
A cowherd points to a cottage amidst apricot flowers.