Tag Archives: tomb sweeping festival

Qingming Festival

Nationality: American
Age: 21
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Brooklyn, New York
Language: English

Text:

Collector: “Can you describe any rituals or festivals you have participated in before?”

Informant: “My family and I have a yearly ritual where we go to the cemetery to visit my great grandparents. We visit their grave and burn fake money and clothes to send them these things in the afterlife. We also burn stuff like cars, houses, accessories, jewelry, bags. They are all made of paper but it’s supposed to give them the real thing in the afterlife. We then burn incense and bow and pray to them.”

Collector: “What time of the year do you guys do this tradition? Is it based on your family’s religious beliefs?”

Informant: “We typically try to go a little bit after Chinese New Year. My immediate family isn’t religious, but I believe it’s based on Buddhist beliefs in the afterlife.”

Context:

My informant is Chinese-American and has been participating in this yearly ritual since she was young. While her immediate family is not religious, they practice some Chinese Buddhist traditions such as bringing items to their deceased loved ones and praying to them.

Analysis:

This ritual is a part of a traditional Chinese Holiday, typically practiced in the beginning of April during the Qingming festival, which translates to “Tomb Sweeping Day”. This festival reflects a common Chinese belief in the afterlife, but is not . It is a way for people to honor their deceased ancestors and loved ones, ensuring that they are well taken care of in the afterlife. Some people believe that “sweeping the tomb” is only to be done during the festival, otherwise it would be disturbing the deceased. It is a way for the living and the dead to feel connected. People pray to feel spiritually connected to their ancestors.

Tomb Sweeping Festival

Informant: N.N

Nationality: American

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): N/A

Age: 19

Occupation: Student

Residence: Burbank, CA

Performance Date: 04/26/2024

N.N is 19 years old and is from Burbank, CA. I am close friends with his brother, so N.N is an acquaintance of mine.  I asked him if there are any festivals or rituals he participates in regularly. He tells me about the Tomb Sweeping Festival that his family participates in every year as well as the funeral customs they do during the festival. 

“Every spring break, around March or April, my family and I go to Thailand to celebrate the Tomb Sweeping Festival. It’s a tradition that’s been part of our family since I was thirteen. During the festival, we visit the altars of my great grandparents and clean them meticulously. It’s not just about tidying up; it’s a whole ritual. We bring offerings for my ancestors—my grandma’s parents. These offerings usually include their favorite foods and flowers. One of the most vivid parts of the festival is when we light firecrackers and sparklers on their altars. We then pray in Thai because our ancestors, grandma and mom used to live in Thailand. My mom and grandma always remind us, “If they weren’t alive, you wouldn’t be here”. I think they say this to instill a sense of respect and gratitude towards our ancestors. To them, and now to me, it’s important that we acknowledge and remember where we came from. Honestly, I think it’s a beautiful way to remember and pay respects to those who have passed away.”

Their Tomb Sweeping Festival reflects deep cultural values of respect, remembrance, and family ties. It emphasizes the importance of honoring one’s ancestors and acknowledging their contributions to our current lives. This ritual also shows the value of continuity and connection across generations, which reminds us of our heritage and the cycle of life. It’s a way for them to bond over shared history and instill a sense of gratitude for the past even in younger generations. The festival also embodies Chinese cultural values such as filial piety, showing their cultural roots.