Last Wednesday we had a teeny Qing Ming celebration.
Qing Ming is a Chinese festival also known as Tomb Sweeping Day.
"Qing Ming" literally means "Clear Brightness", which also heralds in the beginning of Spring.
In ancient times, the day would be celebrated with dancing, singing, picnics and kite flying. Also, there would be the coloring of boiled eggs and planting of trees to celebrate new life.
Today, Chinese visit their family graves to tend to weeds and dirt and set out offerings of food and spirit money to their ancestors. This spirit money is burned at the gravesite in honor of the family and to bring good fortune.
Many of our local Chinese groceries carry the proper Spirit money and now carry replicas of Iphones and Ipads that can be burned as an offering.
Mimi and I colored a few eggs(including quail eggs). We prepared a small shrine to our loved ones and we roasted a duck, and made Chinese pancakes and dumplings.
Mimi was just beginning to come out of her extended funk, so this was a great way to welcome Spring and a healthy beginning.
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