Last week, many Chinese celebrated the annual Qing Ming Festival, sometimes translated as the Chinese All Souls Day and it is an occasion where family members pay respects to their dead, often also cleaning up their tombs. It is recognised as a public holiday in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, and while it is not here, many Chinese still pay respects to their family tombs on this day.

This is a picture of a graveyard in Ipoh, where kinkonkid was to observe the festival:

We would set off early at 8:00am where the air is till cool. It’s an extended family spring excursion of sort – with the uncles, aunt, cousins, nephews, nieces all in tow. It would take a half a day to make the rounds making the obeisance – with clearing of the weeds.

First it was to tombs of grandma and 5th uncles, on the new hill. After which it was to the old hill where 2nd granduncle and grandaunt – the elder brother of grandfather – were buried.

After these observances and prayers on dad’s side of the relation, mum would then make her way to offer prayers on her side of the relations. By the time all the prayers were done, it would be close to noon, and the sun is high.

As with other traditional festivals, the Qing Ming tomb-sweeping observances imparted an invaluable part of the Chinese culture and tradition to the young impressionable mind. For one it passed on values of filial piety. It also promoted family kinship and it was one of the rare occasions where the extended family of the same progenitor went on outing together – albeit to the hills.

You can read more about kinkonkid’s observance of the Qing Ming festival here.