Qingming Festival (清明节）

Yesterday was the traditional Chinese Qingming Festival 清明节 (Qīng míng jié), meaning Clear and Bright Festival. It is a day to mourn the departed people. Traditionally, the Chinese believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors will look after the family. Hence. Qingming Festival is the traditional day for people to visit the graveyard, so it is also called Tomb Sweeping day.

According to Wikipedia,

“For the Chinese, it (Qingming) is a day to remember and honour one’s ancestors at grave sites. Young and old pray before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, wine, chopsticks, (joss) paper accessories, and/or libation to the ancestors. The rites are very important to most Chinese and especially farmers. Some people carry willow branches with them on Qingming, or put willow branches on their gates and/or front doors. They think that willow branches help ward off the evil ghosts that wander on Qingming.”