Qing Ming

Today is Qing Ming or Tomb Sweeping Day. Mark had to work 7 days is a row last week because Monday through Wednesday this week is another Chinese Holiday. This is a day for Chinese to pay respect to ancestors. The traditions on this day , which is the 4th day of the 4th month in the Lunar calendar, includes serving cold food only and visiting the burial grounds of family members and friends. The tombs are far away from where people live or anywhere daily activities are held. This is partly because most Chinese believe in an afterlife and that the living and the dead should dwell away from each other. The other belief that influences the distance is because it is believed that how one is buried may change the fortune of his descendants.