4 Apr 2012 ~ Ching Ming Festival

Listening to: Joan Baez ~ Engine 143 (Vol 2)

Today is a public holiday in Honk Kong (although I worked, but will take a day off at the end of the month). It is Ching Ming Festival.

Ching Ming is also known as the Remembrance of Ancestors Day as well as the Grave sweeping Day.

[Photo courtesy of Expat Guru web page]

The Chinese word Ching Ming means clear and bright. Citizen go to the graves of their ancestors and pay tribute. The cleaning process is made by clearing the weeds and other plants which appears on the grave when untreated. The inscriptions on the grave stone are touched up and if there is any maintenance work pending.

When the graves are completely washed and cleaned and all the maintenance work is done the Festival begins with the offering to all the people around of flowers, usually Chrysanthemum (so these flowers type is not given at other times of the year), and food, like chicken, roasted pig, fruit, and wine.