Tomb Sweeping

When the street sellers start selling fake money on the streets I know a tomb sweeping day is soon to occur. There is a holiday in the spring called 清 明节 (Qing1 Ming2 Jie2) which is a national recongized holiday, but I've realized its not just on that holiday where the money burning occurs. There are other days in the year I've seen it occur. I still have a lot to learn! Will be one of my questions I ask my teacher tomorrow in class.

The sellers

The fake money that is sold on the streets.

Tradition is to use white chalk and draw a circle and burn the fake money inside

The tradition is to burn the money so it can go to the family's ancestors in the afterlife

Its an opportunity for families to remember and honour their ancestors. Sometimes food, tea, chopsticks, accessories, and paper replica of material things (related to houses, maids, cars, phones, etc) are also burned. The night I took these pictures it wasn't the public recongized holiday of Qing Ming Jie (last year the streets were filled with people celebrating). Thats why I am curious and want to ask my teacher why I've seen it celebrated a few times throughout the year not just on Qing Ming Jie.

The ashes and remains of the burning

In my class I just started a new textbook where I'm learning in Chinese all the traditions and holidays celebreated here. Its been so fasincating learning the history and culture behind each holiday/tradition. This country has a very long history and traditions that go back thousands of years.