Qing Ming

Looking outside in the heart of October it is easy to tell the season is changing. Leaves are falling, the weather is getting cooler, and the luscious greenery that once surrounded the land is dissipating. With so much we are about to say goodbye to, it seems appropriate to look at what we have to look forward to.

The Chinese Qing Ming festival is celebrated during the third lunar month and is a time for people to experience the new greenery of spring and clean up the graves of loved ones.

To start on a lighter note, Qing Ming was on April 5, 2007, and the celebrations typically occur ten days before and ten days after Qing Ming. Also known as the Clear Brightness Festival, the celebration involves the start of new plowing, kite flying, the celebration of spring, and it is also a time men start courting.

When I found out the celebration is used to clean up the grave sites of loved ones, I reflect back on my frequent visits to California where we always visit burial sites of family members and leave flowers and food for them. Included in this days many names, in English it is most well known as Tomb Sweeping Day. Ancestors are honored at their grave site, sweeping and cutting of grass occurs, and food is left as an offering for the deceased.

While researching is day I knew virtually nothing about, in case anyone wanted yet another name for the celebration it can also be referred to as All Soul's Day. It is a time for reflection on the deceased loved ones, and it is a time to celebrate the rebirth of a new year.