1000 Flowers for the Planet - #167 Honour Your Ancestors
Today, 5 April 2014, is Tomb Sweeping Day
in Hong Kong, more properly known as the Ching Ming Festival (Qingming
Festival). It is a special day put aside to enjoy the greenery of springtime
and to tend to the graves of the ancestors. Apart from people enjoying
themselves, the tradition involves attending graves of the ancestors. Weeds are
cleared away, the tomb is repaired where necessary and everything is made neat
and tidy. The person’s favourite food and wine, and paper money are presented
then burned to ensure the deceased are not without food and money. This is a
somewhat simplified version of the festival. Please read more about this
wonderful gesture at http://chineseculture.about.com/od/chinesefestivals/a/Tomb-Sweeping-Day.htm
I think this is a wonderful festival
and an honourable one. To remember our ancestors is to show our respect for the
past, for all they have done for us. It’s important to know where we come from
so we can understand where we are going. Hopefully we will be remembered in our turn.
Furthermore, the planet benefits because
the tombs, the graveyards where we have set up our monuments, are tidied,
repaired and cleaned. To look after what we have built is the right thing to do,
and honourable.
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