The poem "Qingming" by Du Mu, a poet of the Tang Dynasty: "It rains heavily during the Qingming Festival, and pedestrians on the road want to die. May I ask where the restaurant is? The shepherd boy points to Xinghua Village." It writes the special atmosphere of the Qingming Festival. . It is predicted that during the Qingming Festival this year, millions of citizens in Beijing alone will visit tombs. As for people across the country, even more people go to visit graves. Because, for the Chinese, Qingming Festival is the most important sacrificial festival. It is a day for worshiping ancestors and sweeping tombs. It is an annual festival for Chinese people to express respect and gratitude to their ancestors!
The Qingming Festival falls between April 4th and 6th every year in the Gregorian calendar. It was also called the March Festival in ancient times. It is one of the important traditional folk festivals in my country. In 2006, it was included in the first batch of national festivals. level intangible cultural heritage list. It was officially established as a legal holiday in 2008. The Qingming Festival began around the Zhou Dynasty and has a history of more than 2,500 years.
However, there are some taboos and taboos that should be avoided during the Qingming tomb sweeping period. You must know that if some rules are not paid attention to, they may cause unnecessary trouble, making the original activity of praying for blessings and luck into a lingering annoyance. Therefore, Aifidiqi experts have listed 30 things to pay attention to when sweeping a grave for everyone, so that everyone can sweep the grave smoothly.
1. Tomb-sweeping Day sacrifices are filial piety to ancestors
Qingming Festival is an activity to worship the deceased. The Qingming Festival is very important. In China, or in the eyes of the Chinese, ancestor worship is bound to filial piety. If you do not participate in ancestor worship, you are an unfilial person and a person who has forgotten your ancestors. Worshiping mountains during the Qingming Festival means sweeping tombs. Many cemeteries in the south of the Yangtze River and the south are on mountains, so they are called worshiping mountains. In the north, it is commonly known as tomb sweeping or visiting graves.
2. Are there ethnic differences in tomb-sweeping during the Qingming Festival?
Tomb-sweeping during the Qingming Festival is called "respect for the times" of ancestors. It is the biggest day for ancestor worship and tomb-sweeping in our country. Therefore, most of the Han people and some ethnic minorities in my country sweep tombs during the Tomb Sweeping Day. However, some ethnic groups also carry out similar activities on other days.
3. What is the usual procedure for sweeping tombs during the Qingming Festival?
According to custom, the order of sacrifice and sweeping is to first sweep the tomb, that is, clean the cemetery. The second is sacrifice. This procedure is very important. The first is to express grief, and the second is to relate to the ancestors. Because the mountains have spirits but no owners, and the ancestors have owners but no spirits. Respecting the ancestors can better capture the beauty of the mountains and rivers. Reiki. This is Feng Shui.
When sweeping the tomb, people bring wine, food, fruits, paper money and other items to the cemetery, offer the food in front of the tomb of their relatives, burn the paper money, put new soil on the tomb, trim the tomb, and break a few new green branches. Insert it on the grave, and press some paper money on it to let others see it and know that there are descendants of this grave, and then kowtow to worship. Afterwards, they can sit around and have a meal and drink; they can also fly kites, or even compete with each other and engage in related activities. Women and children also need to fold some willow branches nearby and tie the removed steamed food offerings with wickers. Some people braid willow sticks into a basket shape and wear them on their heads, saying, "If you don't wear willow during Qingming Festival, you will become a yellow dog in the next life."
Aifidiqi experts have summarized the following tomb-sweeping procedures, namely: modifying the cemetery - offering incense - serving meat - toasting - paying homage - setting off cannons to say goodbye...
4 , Is the earlier the Qingming Tomb Sweeping the better? There are two time issues involved here:
First, is the tomb sweeping on the Qingming Festival or any time before and after? The sooner the better? Experts from Aifidiqi believe that it can be done as long as it is during the Qingming Festival, it depends on your own convenience. Of course, there are some local customs in various places, and we must respect these customs. Also, for some customs, there are some differences in the time between sweeping the graves of relatives who have died within a year and sweeping the graves of relatives who have died for more than a year. Remind friends to abide by relevant local customs.
Second, is the earlier the specific departure time on the day of tomb-sweeping, the better?
Not necessarily. You need to do it according to your own situation. It is best to do it between 5 and 7 o'clock, which is Mao hour. In the ancient calendar, it was one. Of course, it is usually not that early now, but experts from Ai Fidi remind friends that it is best to complete the Qingming mountain worship activities before three o'clock in the afternoon, because the Yang Qi has gradually faded and the Yin Qi has gradually increased. If you are a person with low fortune, , it is easy to be haunted or harassed by evil spirits.
5. Can pregnant women go to visit graves during the Qingming Festival?
Generally speaking, pregnant women should avoid the Qingming Mountain Worshiping Activities, and that’s not all. Strictly speaking, it is best for women not to participate in such activities when they are on their period, especially during the Qingming Festival after 3 p.m. Experts from Aifidiqi remind friends: Our motherland is vast, and the customs of tomb-sweeping are slightly different between the north and the south. For example: in the south, sons and daughters usually go to tomb-sweeping, while in some places in the north, daughters usually do not go to tomb-sweeping. If they are married daughters, then I went with my husband to visit the grave.
6. Can we worship our ancestors at home during the Qingming Festival
The Qingming sweeping ceremony should be held in person at the cemetery, but due to various reasons, many people cannot return to their hometowns to participate in the Qingming mountain worship activities. , then you can also worship your ancestors at home. The method is to put food for worship on the balcony or living room at home, facing the hometown, burn three sticks of incense, bow three times, and silently recite relevant words. Then, paper money is burned to offer sacrifices. It is important to remind friends of this.
7. What flowers are appropriate to buy during Qingming Festival to commemorate the deceased?
Usually chrysanthemums, because in ancient my country, chrysanthemums were regarded as flowers of sustenance, with the meaning of longing and remembrance. White chrysanthemums are the most suitable, and they can also be paired with some green grass, such as lilies, green leaves, carnations, etc., to make them more beautiful. Yellow chrysanthemums are known as longevity chrysanthemums and are more suitable for visiting patients.
8. Why should you look at your forehead on the morning of Qingming Festival?
On the morning of the tomb-sweeping day, before washing up, look at your forehead in the mirror to see if there is any dark complexion. If there is, it means that your fortune is low, so it is better to avoid tomb sweeping on that day; if you must go, you can wear jade, peach wood, etc. with you to alleviate the problem.
9. Is it necessary to fast before sweeping the tomb?
It is best to fast before sweeping the tomb: When you set out to sweep the tomb, it is best not to eat food or eat vegetarian food, dress neatly, and Show courtesy and respect to the ancestors. Experts at Ai Fidi think this is very important, but for some friends it may be necessary to aggrieve themselves.
10. Why is it necessary to offer incense to the mountain god’s land when sweeping the tomb?
When sweeping the tomb, in addition to bringing incense, candles, flowers and fruits, paper money, wine and other items as well as the ancestor’s favorite food during his lifetime Things (the amount of sacrificial gifts is optional) are placed outside the tomb, and incense candles are also lit to offer incense to the mountain god who looks after the cemetery, because the mountain god is the patron saint of the cemetery. After that, they respectfully kowtow to the ancestors, offer incense and flowers, then burn the incense sticks and make libations (that is, spilling the wine on the ground, which means toasting to the ancestors). After the ceremony, you can gather for a meal and drink, and you can leave after the incense candles are lit.
11. Why should you not laugh or curse when sweeping a grave?
Because the cemetery is the home of evil spirits, you should not step over the grave and the offerings and make loud noises, laugh or curse. Speaking obscenities, running around, and urinating everywhere not only disrespect your ancestors, but also cause nuisance to nearby spirits. You should not trample on other people's tombs or comment on the design of the tomb. It will be regarded as blasphemy. If you encounter a bad aura, you will get into trouble when you go home.
12. Why you should be careful when taking photos at the graves of your ancestors
In China, ancestor worship is not just about commemorating ancestors, but also obviously means worshiping and praying to the souls of the dead. Experts from Aifidiqi specially remind friends: be careful when taking photos at the ancestor's cemetery, whether it is a photo of the grave sweeper himself or a photo of the grave sweeper and the cemetery. It is even more taboo to take pictures of other tombs in the camera lens. Otherwise, your fortune is likely to decline and all aspects will be imbalanced.
A friend said: "When I was sweeping a grave three years ago, I took a photo at the ancestor's cemetery because I didn't understand. In addition to taking a photo with the grave sweeper himself, I also took a photo with the cemetery, and when I took the photo Other graves were also included in the shot. I would like to ask the expert of Aifidiqi, if I delete these photos, can I remedy the bad luck caused by this? In addition to deleting or destroying these photos, it is best to burn incense at the door. Please go out. Good "qi".
13. What is the situation of "burning baggage" during Qingming Festival?
"Burning baggage" is a form of paying homage to ancestors. The so-called "baggage" is also called "baggage burning". "Package" refers to the parcel sent by filial piety from the Yang world to the "underworld". The so-called "wrong skin" is a large bag made of white paper.
There are two forms: one is to use a woodblock board with the Sanskrit transliteration of the "Rebirth Mantra" printed around it, and a rosette tablet printed in the middle, which is used to write the name of the deceased person who received the money, such as: "The late Mr. Zhang's family name" The words "Master Yunshan" are both a postal package and a tablet. The other type is plain furoshiki, which does not have any pattern printed on it. There is only a blue label stuck in the middle to write the name of the deceased. It can also be used as the main sign.
14. Is it taboo to visit friends and relatives during the Qingming Festival?
It is best not to visit relatives and friends on the Qingming Festival. It is better to visit the next day. Because Tomb-Sweeping Day is a special time to pay homage, it is unreasonable or unlucky to visit relatives and friends at this time. Of course, you can also invite friends and family to eat out.
15. Is it better to get married during the Qingming Festival?
Same as above, marriage is a major event in life, so it is best to avoid getting married during the Qingming Festival. Of course, there are still many things to consider when choosing a wedding date.
16. Can I travel during the Qingming Festival?
The important activity of the Qingming Festival is to go outing. It is understandable to feel the beauty of nature when the spring is warm and the flowers are blooming. However, special attention should be paid to not going to other people’s mountains where they have more sacrifices! Do not say unlucky words, let alone disrespectful words to the deceased, and be cautious in activities at night. Therefore, traveling during the Qingming Festival cannot be said to be a disservice to our ancestors.
17. Are there any particular requirements for clothing and accessories during Qingming Festival?
Yes, especially red and purple clothes should be avoided and plain-colored clothes should be worn. In addition, do not wear red accessories (except for those born in your zodiac year).
18. Is it important to pay attention to seniority when worshiping during Qingming Festival?
Of course it is necessary, and worshiping must be done in order. The order is: father, mother, eldest son, eldest daughter, second son, second daughter...and so on. After the worship is completed, the sacrifices are blessed by the ancestors, and everyone can eat the sacrifices. Finally, we remind you to pay attention to fire safety and leave after the incense candles are lit.
19. Will worshiping during the Qingming Festival bring the Yin Qi home?
It is difficult to explain this problem simply. Of course, we can wear some Buddha statues, amulets, peach trees, etc. In fact, Aifeidi experts believe that as long as you are kind, respect your ancestors, and respect the deceased around you, there should be no problem. After worshiping and returning home, you can perform a brazier ceremony if necessary, which can remove the aura caused by worshiping when your luck is low.
20. Can the wife visit the grave of her husband after his death?
There is a saying: 3 years before the death of the husband, the wife cannot visit the grave. This is a matter of customs. Experts from Ai Fidi believe that as long as you respect the local customs, if there is such a custom in the local area, then it is best to avoid it, otherwise it will cause a lot of psychological trouble in the future. If there is no local custom, there is no such taboo.
21. Can I accompany my friends to visit their graves?
Due to various reasons, many people may encounter the question of whether to accompany their friends to visit their graves. For example, should my girlfriend accompany her boyfriend to visit her grave? Accompany your boss to sweep the grave, or even accompany your client to sweep the grave in the business field. It is best not for outsiders to accompany you to visit the grave, because each person’s aura is different. If it cannot be avoided, it is recommended that you wear evil-proof mascots, such as peach wood hand beads, etc. Otherwise, it will violate the taboo.
22. Why do people dream about their deceased ancestors before Qingming Festival
Some people always dream about their deceased relatives or friends almost every year before Qingming Festival, even during the Qingming Festival. I even talked to him in my dream. In fact, this clearly tells you that it’s time to visit their graves.
A friend said: "My father and my mother have been divorced for many years. I have been living with my mother and rarely see my father. However, what I didn't expect is that my father passed away 3 years ago. I was very unfilial and could not see him for the last time. Since his death, I have been dreaming about my father more and more frequently. I have dreamed about him telling me that he misses me. Many times, I even dreamed about him going there naked. It rubbed all over me, and I don’t know why. After my mother found out, she asked many people to watch it, and took care of things after watching it. But not long after, I dreamed of my dad, and I don’t know why,... "This is a dream, and you need to treat it carefully and not ignore it. You have to do everything you can do, and you can't be lazy.
23. Why you should not buy shoes during the Qingming Festival
Some people happen to have their birthdays during the Qingming Festival, so sometimes it is inevitable to buy a pair of shoes during the Qingming Festival. Don’t you know that shoes are the same as evil, so you usually don’t buy shoes at this time? If necessary, buy at a staggered time. I remind you to pay attention to why the business of shoe stores is not good during Qingming Festival. If some friends accidentally buy shoes on Qingming Festival, how to solve the problem? Ask these friends to wrap their shoes in red paper, leave them at the door overnight, and then burn the red paper early in the morning.
24. Should you celebrate your birthday during Qingming Festival?
Some friends happen to have birthdays on Qingming Festival, so they remind you to celebrate your birthday in advance. If it happens that the birthday of an old person falls on Qingming Festival, there will be even more taboos. For example, don't accept flowers on the day, and you can't eat the birthday cake on the same day. It is believed that in this way the longevity star will live a safe and auspicious year and live longer.
25. How to determine the specific date of Qingming Festival
The customs of different places vary in the date of Qingming Festival. Some are ten days before and ten days after Qingming Festival; some are called "before" "Three after three"; some are held on "odd" days before and after Qingming; in some places, tomb-sweeping activities last for a month.
26. Do you need to clean yourself and wash your clothes after sweeping the tombs during the Qingming Festival?
Similar to the fact that you should not buy shoes before the Qingming Festival, you must clean your shoes when you return from sweeping the tombs during the Qingming Festival. Keep the toes of your shoes facing in, and don't forget to wash and dry the clothes you're wearing.
27. Why are there less entertainment activities on the Qingming Festival?
Due to various reasons, friends who are unable to worship ancestors and sweep tombs during the Qingming Festival should try to have as few entertainment activities as possible on the Qingming Festival. Don't quarrel or say irrelevant words, otherwise, you may cause trouble in the future.
28. Why can’t you cover your forehead with hair?
According to the ancients, Qingming Festival is also the “Ghost Festival”. If you need to walk at night during this period, be sure to bring protective mascots with you, such as peach wood beads. At the same time, you must not forget what the experts of Fidiqi have repeatedly said: Show your forehead and do not cover it with hair, because that is where your magic lamp is.
29. Can members of the same family go in groups?
Generally speaking, it is best to go to the tomb sweeping together. However, due to various reasons in modern times, members of the same family may come from all over the world due to work reasons and cannot arrange to go to the tomb sweeping on the same day. They can also go to the tomb sweeping in batches. hinder.
30. Can the same person visit the graves of two families within one year?
A friend asked: "Can't the same person sweep the graves of two families within a year? For example, if he sweeps the grave of my grandmother, and then sweep the grave of my husband's father (who is married) another day, is it okay?" In fact, in this situation, It’s something we often encounter, and the answer is yes, it’s okay.
The 30 Qingming principles and taboos mentioned above are to help friends have a better Qingming Festival. This is because worshiping ancestors and sweeping their tombs during the Qingming Festival is a concrete manifestation of the Chinese nation's moral character of being cautious about the end and pursuing the past, adhering to family ties, and practicing filial piety. Since ancient times, sweeping tombs during Qingming Festival is not only to commemorate one's ancestors, but also to commemorate people who have made contributions to the people and done good deeds in history. Visiting the tombs of martyrs and monuments to revolutionary martyrs during the Qingming Festival has become a good form of education on revolutionary traditions.