APR 4th. 2009 -Ching Ming Festival, remember to worship and honor your ancestors!

[Mak_Tin_Si]

Ching Ming Festival is coming on this weekend, april 4th!

 

As a taoist, we shall all know that Ching Ming is a very important day for us to worship and honor the ancestors who passed away.

 

Ching Ming is also called the "tomb sweeping day" in chinese culture.

 

Ching Ming is one of the solar terms too, which is good for people to go walk outside and enjoy the spring's energy. That is also why people like to walk up the mountains and visit their ancestor's grave. During the festival, lots of people will go out to their ancestors tomb for visit and honor them with all kinds of offerings such as fruits, meats, flowers, etc,. For those who do have their own ancestor altar setup at home, they will also do it at home too.

 

It is a showing of "love and respect" to the ancestor to remember this special day and honor them with offerings and incense every year. Ching Ming and "double yang" 重陽 festival are the 2 major festival that chinese worhsip and honor their ancestors. Which we never forget and will also do our best to honor them.

 

In our temple, we are hosting a Jade Ceremony for the dead and the ancestors too. 玉籙大齋. If you are one of them that visit your ancestors on the day, remember to bring offerings and remember to burn incense!

 

all the best!

[seadog]

Thank you for the post.Sounds like a good combination of respect of those who have gone before us coupled with a bit of exercise in the spring air.

Just out of curiosity does the Chinese community in the southern hemisphere celebrate this day on the same date?

Obviously the Ching Ming festival was celebrated in the Spring time for a reason.

Very much like Easter in the Christian calender.Living in the southern Hemisphere it always has struck me as a bit odd Celebrating these season dependent festivals in the polar opposite season.

Perhaps like many things its what we make of it.

Anyhow heres to our ancestors.

[Mak_Tin_Si]

No matter where you are, if you are following the "chinese traditions", you follow the chinese calendar, which is the same date as well.

 

Yes, people usually do hikings on this day too, good for health!

[Mak_Tin_Si]

http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?showtopic=9529 Edited April 1, 2009 by Mak_Tin_Si