清明 (Ching Ming) 2009

Saturday, April 4, 2009

清明 (Ching Ming) 2009

清明 is a day for the Buddhist to visit and pay respect to ancestor. For this year 清明 it falls on 4th April 2009. In Chinese believe, we can go to the grave yard to pay respect to our ancestor on the actual 清明 day or 1 month before and 1 month after the actual day depends on our schedule.

This year, i will go to my great grand-parent grave first, then follow by my grand-parent. The next day only i go to my father grave to pay respect.

On 清明 day, i will be up by 4.00 am. Ready and go out by 5.30am. Why i go out so early ? This is all because of traffic jam. That was one time, we (me and my late father) went out around 6.00am and by the time we reach my great grand-parent grave, it is almost 12.00 noon. Six hours in the car. Normal day to reach there is about 15 minutes.
On 清明 day, i predict i will be at the entrance of the grave yard around 6.00am. Hopefully no jam. I will be waiting over there until 7.00am as too early, it’s very dark with haze and scary to go in.

When we reach the tomb, we normally will clean the surrounding and try all minor repair for the tombs. Then, we will put one whole chicken (steam cook), one big slice of pork (also steam cook), some Chinese cake (fat kow) , fruits, three glass of Chinese tea, three glass of wine. With all this in place, we will burn incense and candle to pray. We will put incense and candle around the tombs (for the decease to EAT) and also pray at all their neighbors. After one hour of EATING the chicken and others, we will burn a big suitcase of money(only can be use in the spiritual world, some paper cloths, a big car and others for them to have it. All this are the same as our human world, they have Plasma or LCD TV, DVD player, mobile phone, massage chair, cars, house, maid, VISA or MasterCard, air ticket and many more. After burning all those NECCESSITY to them then we clean up and bring the chicken and slice of pork for the next grave, my grand parents grave and do the same too.

After praying for my grand parents, we don’t go home straight. This is to prevent those spirits (don’t know which spirits) might follow you home. Normally we will go to a crowded place like a shopping mall to OFF LOAD those spirit before heading home.

Then, the night, we will pray again to our ancestor offering food again. Then only we will eat together as a whole family just like a gathering dinner.

I am an old fashion man and i insist of doing this year after year. I will not forget my ancestor as without them, where am i. My advise to others is, please take care of your parent while they are still alive, spend time and happiness with them and not just go and burn money and pray for them once a year.