The Tomb-Sweeping Festival

As introduced by the Yearbook of the Republic of China, and in Festivals, Kwang Hua Publishing Company, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China, 1993.

The Tomb-Sweeping Festival is a time to pay respects fo one's ancestors and to tidy their gravesite. The date of this festival was set on the third day of the third lunar month during the period of the Wei-Chin Dynasties. In recent years it has been moved to April 5th, which falls close to the original lunar calendar date, to unify vacation times for civil servants and others.

As the name of this festival suggests, the main activity of the Tomb-Sweeping Festival is for the whole family, young and old, to go to the gravesite of deceased family members to burn incense and perform a ritual offering, while at the same time clearing away plant overgrowth from the gravesite. Meats, fruits, and wine are arranged before the tombs. Government offices are closed.

Here is an interesting article to read:

• EPA urges eco-friendly tomb-sweeping (April 3, 2006)
• Underworld Finance (March 1, 2006)