Qing Ming and Tomb Sweeping

 

Traditionally the Qing Ming  falls on the first week of April and Chinese will go back to attend this Tomb Sweeping Day every year.

The Chinese elderly parents will want the qing ming or  tomb sweeping Day to continue..to give an opportunity for the younger generations to meet and learn to respect the ancestors of this traditional culture.

Three months ago, the permission to remodify the tombs of my ancestors  was granted after consultation with a medium. An auspicious day was chosen and all family members are required to attend the ceremony.  

It was for a good  reason that  when  family members  come back to  pay their respects during the qing ming festival, the tombs being restored would prove that the dead are not forgotten by their filial descendants.

Under the medium’s guidance  the ceremony started with the digging of the graves to collect the ancestors bones with much care every tiny piece of bones and the skull of the dead were unearthed and placed into an urn arranged according to position and reburied into the same graves.

Another date was set for all members of the family to attend to witness the new tombs with the medium performing a ceremonial ritual..

Now the qing ming festival is near and all our family members have decided to return to our home near Ipoh on this coming Sunday and we will gather again. Our deceased grandmother’s soul would be pleased to have the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren gathered at the new tombs -rebuild after almost 50 years.

Related article: Qing Ming festival is a time to get together

Enter the Year of Golden Ox

The Year of the Ox brings economic uncertainties to Malaysian folks here. Local newspapers has reported more about the closing down of factories and retrenchment of workers.

Despite the global economic slowdown, shopping malls in Klang Valley are putting up  activities to attract crowds for this festive Chinese New Year.

I took my family to the Pavilion at Bkt Bintang Kuala Lumpur. We chose to visit this place as  the Chinese New Year Open House will be held here on Feb 7. As today is the start of celebration the first anniversary of Pavilion, the place would be hive of attraction.

A life-sized Golden Ox displayed at the entrance of the mall draws curious shoppers to have a closer look.  Many took the opportunity for a photo shoot posing next to it .

Those born in the Year of the Ox are said to be hard working and persevering. But to the businessman, the year of  Ox will bring them good business and prosperity.

As we walked around the mall we hardly see any crowd perhaps many are still on the long holiday and have taken the opportunity to go outstation. Those  here are mostly window shopping as we realise the times are bad and everyone wants to control their spending.

Nevertheless the mall is still in the festive mood for the Chinese new year as many shops are well-decorated with red and colorful lanterns, flowers and plants

Pavilion has passionately designed for the love of food especially the public food court with many local cuisines. It is the only place that is crowded with many city folks, Malay, Chinese, Indian and tourists enjoying their favourite food. We ordered three bowls of curry noodle which cost RM24.00

I hope the Golden Ox will bring all the happinese and smiles to our folks here.

The Year of Ox, Gong Xi Fa Cai

As we bid farewell to year of the rat we usher in the year of the OX which starts from the first day that is 26th of January.  It is the most auspicious day in the Chinese calendar .This “Gong xi Fa Cai” celebration traditionally lasts 15 days

Many Chinese will return home or Balik Kampong to meet together with their family members and most importantly to be home in time for a family reunion dinner on the eve of the chinese new year.

With the economic slow down, many are not sure if it will be really happy New Year. Children will run around happily with bright red packets of lai see, lucky money . Working adults should have no worries if they continue to receive the year-end bonus and in some cases bonuses,represent two or three months’pay.

Anyway I sincerely wish everyone a happy new year and let this Chinese new year of Ox be a start to all things wonderful. May you all enjoy good health and a prosperous year. Do have a nice holiday.

Gong xi Fa Cai,Kong Hei Fatt Choy and a Happy New Year

Related article: Welcome the year of  the Rat