Tomb Sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated in Taiwan. It's an annual public holiday that takes place on April 4th or 5th. The holiday allows individuals and families to pay respects to their ancestors by visiting their grave sites, cleaning the tombs, and making ritual offerings. It is a time for remembrance and family unity as people take a moment to honor the individuals who came before them.
Tomb Sweeping Day is filled with an array of customs and rituals. The primary activity is the sweeping or cleaning of graves, from which the day gets its name. People often bring a broom and duster to clean the tombstone and the area surrounding it. Additionally, family members often make offerings to the deceased by leaving food, tea, or even the deceased's favorite items at the gravesites. It is also common to burn incense and paper money, which according to tradition, will be used by the ancestors' spirits in the afterlife.
The significance of the Tomb Sweeping Day extends beyond grave cleaning and includes spending quality time with family, celebrating the arrival of spring, and enjoying nature. People take this day to reconnect with family and often have meals together, fly kites and walk in the countryside. These activities honor the life-giving nature of the season, and at the same time commemorate the ancestors, creating an atmosphere of respect for the past while celebrating present life.