Sweeping the Tomb & Honoring Ancestors
Tomb Sweeping Day is an important festival to Cantonese. It is a traditional time when Cantonese pay their respects to the deceased and ancestors as well as a time for family reunion. People living or working far away from their families will begin preparing their journey home before the festival.
On this day, whole families, young and old, will go to the gravesite of deceased family members to sweep the tombs, burn incense and perform a ritual offering while clearing away plant overgrowth from the gravesite.
In Cantonese tradition, four essential offerings will be prepared on Qingming Festival, namely Roast Suckling Pigs, fresh fruit such as apple and sugar cane, incense, paper money and cakes.
However, in recent years, many young people like to bring fresh flowers to pay their respect to ancestors.
Yellow Chrysanthemum
Yellow Chrysanthemums are symbolic of lamentation or grief. It is a good choice for those commemorating the dead on Qingming Festival and it is often higher than the usual price.
White Chrysanthemum
White Chrysanthemums are symbolic of death and are only used for funerals or on graves.
A bunch of flowers
White flowers are used for commemorating the dead, people usually bring a bunch of flowers with light colors consists of Lily, white roses or carnation to the deceased on Qingming Festival.
