Sunday, April 4, 2010

Modern offerings for Tomb-Sweeping Day

Tomorrow is Tomb-Sweeping Day (also known as Pure Brightness Festival) for my friends in China! This is a traditional Chinese festival for people to remember and honor the departed at gravesites. Its also a long weekend!

The tradition has always been to burn paper money and houses, which are sent to the ancestors for the afterlife. This year, there is a new range of 'modern offerings'. Paper bras, cosmetics and shampoos are now available. In fact, you can get just about anything now! Cars, motorbikes, TVs, wines, servants, cigarettes, seafood, pianos.

There is a whole street dedicated to paper items in the old quarter in Hanoi. Last time I was there I visited and couln't believe just how much is available! I wanted to bring some things back with me, but they were all too big (see pic below of the lady with the paper house). So I just settled for some paper money instead!!



Picture from here

Wishing you all a safe and happy long weekend, enjoying your traditions (whatever they may be)!!

16 comments:

Lisa said...

Sounds like your trip is grand. Your template picture is amazing. Many would love to see it at Sundays In My City hosted by Unknown Mami.

Happy Sunday.

TK said...

My Chinese friends in Malaysia are celebrating it too. I have seen them bringing BMWs to the gravesites. The paper house is definitely beautiful!

Tracey said...

I'll have a paper Ferrari!
Wow, what a fascinating tradition..xxx

BonjourRomance said...

Bonjour Karen,
What an intersting post. Wishing you and yours a very Happy Easter weekend!
Mimi

Kissed by an Angel said...

Sounds like a wonderful trip! I know next to nothing about far east customs! This one was interesting to hear about, thank you!
xxxx

betty said...

Belle le tradizioni...grazie per avermi fatto conoscere anche queste cinesi...
ciao ciao

Winchester Manor said...

What an interesting tradition thank you for the interesting and informative post!

Happy*´¨)
¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·´ * ƸӜƷEaster my Sweet Friend!

Pinecone Camp said...

I've watched a tomb sweeping ceremony before. It was amazing to observe. They burned paper shoes, a little house, car, etc.
Happy Easter!

Olive said...

Happy Easter!!

Licks and Tail wags!!

Olive

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

How interesting!! I don't know if I like the sound of burning money though!

Victoria xx

Caitlin @ Candyfloss & Persie said...

That sounds so cool! I love all the tradition that I imagine goes along with Asian cultures. Very neat!

Libbie said...

So interesting! I forgot about that! I first read about it in SNOWFLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN Have you read it? I think you would enjoy it....a book filled with pain but you fall IN LOVE with the girls. Fun to see that house!

Unknown said...

What a fun tradition! I happen to be really good at burning money LOL.
*kisses* HH

Baino said...

Such a shame to burn such intricate things but rather nice that ancestors are celebrated rather than forgotten! The trip sounds very exciting.

Holly Lefevre said...

I have never heard of this day. I can only imagine how beautiful all the lanterns must look.

Unknown said...

that doll house reminds me of one i had when i was little...a barbie townhouse.
xox alison