Today is the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, which means it has been half-a-month since this blog page was updated. But it also means that today is Qing Ming Festival.
One of the four major holidays in China, this holiday is known for its tradition of visiting your ancestor's grave. While there, you would sweep the grave and offer food to your ancestors. This is related to the Confucian principle of respecting your elders and where you came from. Since Qing Ming Festival is related to the dead, the festival was one sad festival. Just take this poem from the famous Tang poet Du Mu.
Qing Ming (Translated by Zhao Yanchun)
The rain rustles on in Tomb Sweeping Day;
The traveler's tired, his soul in dismay.
Where is a tavern? He asks a shepherd,
Who points to Apricot Bloom faraway.
At least Du Mu was able to go to a tavern to ease his sadness. We can't even go outside anymore. Life in quarantine is a struggle. Stay strong! We will get through this together.
