The Qing Ming Festival is observed with big gathering among the relatives. For those that are new to Chinese customs, this is an annual event when families come together and visit ancestral graves to reminisce the past. To most of us, it is a form of filial piety to one's ancestors, to remember and pay respect even when they have passed on. During such occassion, the graves are cleaned, and the offering of food and spirit money are part of the deal.
It has been ages since I last joined such activity. To most of my relatives, this is still a very important annual ritual to observe. Well...tradition aside, such occassion does bring families together. For hectic Singaporeans with limited time to spare, this is a good opportunity to catch up with the rest, especially those we hardly meet throughout the year. For this very reason, it is very common to find traffic jams and chaotic mess at temples, graveyards and crematoriums.It is unlikely that my ancestors will ever received those offerings, however I do see the importance to take every opportunity to build ties among each other.
I guess the nice thing about a typical Singaporean gathering, it always end with a sumptuous meal before we part our ways.
