"Tomb Sweeping Day?" you wonder, "What is that?"
Since I didn't know what it was either, I did a little Googling and this is what I found:
"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."
"With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to honor past ancestors. "
Very interesting. You can read more about it here. Cheers to learning new things everyday.
1 comment:
My Dad used to date this lady whose family practiced this - we'd go to this little cemetery in southeast missouri and clean the headstones, lay flowers, notes and other important things there. It was pretty surreal.
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