As we all know, Tomb Sweeping Day, as a traditional Chinese festival, is also a day for people to return home to worship their ancestors and sweep their graves. On Tomb Sweeping Day, many people will hold flowers, money, candles, food, etc. So what do you need to buy for Tomb Sweeping Day in 2019? What do you need to prepare for sacrifice?
What to buy on Tomb Sweeping Day in 2019
joss sticks and candles
Incense candle is the most important and necessary item for tomb sweeping. We should not only light incense candles at present, but also offer incense to the mountain god who is in charge of the graveyard, praying that the mountain god's land will protect the graveyard and protect the dead of our ancestors.
Paper money
Paper money is to be burned to the deceased, so that they can spend money in the underworld, so that they must be burned clean. Generally, we buy yellow paper for sacrifice, and then use 100 yuan RMB to print Chairman Mao's head on the paper from top to bottom. Then these yellow paper become coins that can be used in the underworld. The paper is then twisted (referring to local customs) for easy burning. Specific reference can be made to local customs.
Plain wine
In the process of tomb sweeping, it is equivalent to bringing food to celebrate the festival for our ancestors. Therefore, we should lay a drink for our ancestors. Wine is necessary for tomb sweeping.
tribute
It is suggested to buy five kinds of tributes, namely, apples, oranges, bananas, cakes and biscuits. At the time of offering, five portions of each tomb is OK (some apples and other tributes can be used together). We decide the total according to the number of graves. Fruit is suitable for local seasonal fruit, there is no special requirement; snacks can be determined according to the specific situation.
meal
It's better to eat what you like before you live. While paying homage to your ancestors, many people will tell the children about your deeds before you live, so that the next generation will never forget their ancestors.
flower
Chrysanthemum has the meaning of missing and remembering. Chrysanthemum is suitable for Tomb Sweeping Day. White chrysanthemum is especially suitable for scenery.
burden
The "burden" refers to the food and clothing that the grave sweeper (family members of the deceased) brings to the deceased. It gets its name because it pastes a large bag with white paper. It contains money, gold and silver, and various paper-made 'Yuanbao', 'clothes',' furniture ', etc. Burning a bundle is an important form of mourning for the dead. Burning a bundle means giving it to the ancestors.
Which day is good for Tomb Sweeping Day in 2019
The Tomb Sweeping Day is on April 5, 2018. According to the custom of "the first three and the last four", from April 2 to April 9, it is suitable to go to the grave, but there are also local customs of "the first seven and the last eight".
It is said that there will be a meeting in the underworld on Tomb Sweeping Day, and people without descendants can't attend. People attending the meeting must carry flags sent by their descendants before they can enter. Therefore, at Tomb Sweeping Day, people put paper scissors on the graves of their deceased ancestors. Therefore, Tomb Sweeping Day should be before Tomb Sweeping Day, not after Tomb Sweeping Day.
When it comes to tomb sweeping time on Tomb Sweeping Day, some people say 'early Tomb Sweeping Day, late 11'. It means that before 12 o'clock on the Qingming Festival, I went to the grave and came back for dinner; after lunch on the 11th day, I went to the grave. It is also said that Tomb Sweeping Day, generally before the Tomb Sweeping Day, or in the Tomb Sweeping Day burning paper. It is said that at that time, there were two hundred pieces of paper.