Qing Ming

As a kid growing up in a Taoist family, I remember Qing Ming as a 'Family Picnic Day". We will wake up early, and arrive at my Father's Parents' graves around 7.30am. My father's siblings and their families would usually be there too. And there will be food galore - sweet cakes, meats, fruits etc. I remember there was even a whole roasted pig! (One of the siblings must have had a great awesome year!) After all te praying and burning of offerings, we get to eat!! Yes, having a picnic at the gravesite! That was the best part! :-D

Of course this pix didn't come from my childhood. I googled it and 'borrowed'. It sparked a memory. :-)

Qing Ming is an expression of filial peity -  a way to respect, honor and look after ancestors in their afterlives as well as seek their guidance for their living descendants. In this regard, many cultures and religions have similar practices. Some may visit the graves of their parents or other ancestors, leave flowers and pray to them in order to honor and remember them, while also asking their deceased ancestors to continue to look after them.

When I beame a Catholic and then married a Catholic, Qing Ming became irrelevant. Hubby's father was buried in Penang, and we never had time (or rather, never made time) to travel to Penang to practice this Filial Duty. We Catholics do have our own version - the All Souls Day, which is on Nov 2nd every year. We do our duty by praying and celebrating Mass for the deceased. Christians have been praying for their departed brothers and sisters since the earliest days of Christianity.
 
This year is the first time since a long long time that I actually took note of Qing Ming. It's already 8 months since Pa passed away. Time flew by, and it felt like just yesterday he was still with us. And as this is the 1st Qing Ming after his death, we were told that we have to observe it 3 weeks earlier from the actual date (April 5th, 2010) 
 
The kids were excited. A week earlier, they were helping Por-Por fold Joss Papers. Altogether, they must have folded a million! :-D

Yesterday was their first experience of Qing Ming. My father was cremated and his urn is placed in the Ching Fatt Zhi Temple in Kwong Tong Cemetary, KL. As Christians, we did not participate in the prayers, but our presence there is our way of showing great respect to a beloved father and grandfather.
 

Everyone helping to prepare the 'table'

Simple Fare for a Simple Man

His Soul will rest in Peace, knowing he has filial descendants

Some people believe that their ancestors actually need to be provided for by their descendants, thus the burnt offerings. Others do not believe that the ancestors are even aware of what their descendants do for them, but that the expression of filial piety is what is important. Whether or not the ancestor receives what is offered is not the issue.

After everything, Jeremy asked, "When are we having the picnic?"