Ching Ming Taboos and Vocabulary
Ching Ming Festival 清明節 (Jyutping: ceng1 ming4 zit3), also called Tomb Sweeping Day, usually falls around April 4th or 5th - April 5th this year. On this day, people show respect by visiting the grave of their loved ones and giving the grave site a little spring clean. Traditionally, food, drinks and flowers are offered to their ancestors. Incense sticks and paper offerings are also burnt at the grave sites for their ancestors to use in the afterlife.
Here are some interesting taboos and superstitions surrounding Ching Ming Festival:
1. Avoid wearing dark colors which will attract evil spirits.
2. Visit the grave sites before sunset when ghosts and evil spirits are the least active.
3. Eat the food and drink served as offerings to the ancestors as they will bring good luck.
4. Do not take any umbrella found at the grave sites as spirits sometimes live in an umbrella and you may risk bringing the spirits home.
5. Do not walk over a grave as it may infuriate the dead. If you need to walk over a grave, you should say, "唔該借借. (Pardon me.; Jyutping: m4 goi1 ze3 ze3)"
Some useful vocabulary during Ching Ming Festival:
Ching Ming Festival 清明節 (ceng1 ming4 zit3)
Tomb Sweeping 掃墓 (sou2 mou6)
Visit gravesites 拜山 (baai1 saan1)
Grave 墳墓 (fan4 mou6)
Ancestor 祖先 (zou2 sin1)
Burn incense sticks 裝香 (zong1 hoeng1)
Ghost 鬼 (gwai2)
Chrysanthemum 菊花 (guk1 faa1)
Fruit 生果 (`saang1 gwo2)
Do you know any more interesting Ching Ming taboos? Leave a comment to share with me.
