How to properly sweep graves during Qingming Festival? What are the rules and taboos?

How to properly sweep graves during Qingming Festival? What are the rules and taboos?
Introduction: When the Qingming Festival comes every year, many people, no matter how busy or tired they are, will go back to their hometown to go out for an outing and visit graves to remember their ancestors and pay tribute to them. This is a traditional custom that has been passed down for two thousand years. So, how do we visit graves correctly during Qingming Festival? What are the rules and taboos? Next, let’s learn about it together! March is the last month of spring, when all things will revive and begin a beautiful growth process. The third month of the lunar calendar is a time full of vitality because it is the most beautiful.

Paying homage during Qingming Festival

There is an order of priority for worship. In order: father, mother, eldest son, eldest daughter, second son, second daughter... After the worship is completed, the offerings are blessed by the ancestors and then everyone can eat them. Finally, we remind you to pay attention to fire safety and wait until all the incense and candles are lit before leaving.

The usual process of tomb sweeping during Qingming Festival

According to custom, the order of tomb sweeping is to sweep the tomb first, that is, to clean the cemetery.
The second is sacrifice, which is a crucial procedure. First, it is to express grief, and second, it is to communicate with the ancestors and pray for the spiritual energy of mountains and rivers, which is often called "feng shui".
When sweeping the graves, people bring wine, food, fruits, paper money and other items to the cemetery. They first offer the food in front of their relatives' graves, then burn the paper money, add new soil to the graves, repair the graves, break off a few green branches and insert them on the graves, and also put some paper money on top so that others can see that there are still descendants in this grave, and then kowtow and pay their respects.

Is it better to sweep tombs earlier during Qingming Festival?

The dates for tomb sweeping vary from place to place. Some are ten days before or ten days after Qingming Festival; some are called "three before and three after"; some are held on "odd" days before or after Qingming Festival; in some places, tomb sweeping activities can last as long as a month. As long as it is during the Qingming Festival, it depends on your convenience. Of course, every place has its own local customs, and we must respect them. The earlier the departure time is, the better it is. According to the ancient calendar, the best time is between 5 and 7 o'clock, which is the hour of Mao. It is usually not necessary to do it so early now, it depends on your own situation, but it is best to complete the Qingming mountain worship activities before 3 pm.

Can I worship my ancestors at home during Qingming Festival?

The Qingming Festival memorial ceremony should be held in person at the cemetery, but for various reasons, many people cannot return to their hometowns to participate in the Qingming Festival worship activities, so they can also worship their ancestors at home. The method is to place food for worship on the balcony or in the living room towards the direction of hometown, burn three incense sticks, bow three times, and express grief. Then, burn paper money for sacrifice.
Summary: The above article mainly introduces some things to pay attention to and some analysis on tomb sweeping during Qingming Festival. I hope that friends who are going to tomb sweeping during Qingming Festival can refer to it. I also hope that the content of this article will be helpful to you!

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