Qing Ming Festival Guide
Qingming Festival 清明节, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, is celebrated in Chinese culture on April 4 this year to honor those who have passed on.
Families pay respect to their ancestors by cleaning their gravesites (hence the phrase "tomb sweeping").
They will also burn incense and joss paper and leave food and flowers as offerings for those in the afterlife.
Qingming Festival – which also translates to "Pure Brightness Festival" – originated over 2,500 years ago during the Zhou Dynasty.
The traditions are rooted in Confucianism, which pays respect to elders and the deceased through filial piety. To wish for wealth, good harvests, and peace, emperors offered sacrifices to their ancestors.
Sources: "Qing Ming Festival" by Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art; "Qingming Festival" by Vanderbilt University
Qingming Traditions & Rituals
Cleaning family members' gravesites
Making food, wine, and tea offerings
Burning joss paper and joss sticks
Flying kites to enjoy the spring weather
Eating foods like qingtuan (sweet green rice balls) or sanzi (fried dough)
Wearing willow branches or placing them at the graves to ward off spirits
Chinese Spiritual Goods Stores
Fook On Sing
103 Mosco Street
Chinese funeral supplies store featuring
elaborate joss paper goods
Grand Tea & Imports
298 Grand Street
grandteaimports.com
Specializing in Chinese spiritual goods & imported teas
Pearl River Mart
452 Broadway
pearlriver.com
Iconic NYC Chinese emporium featuring home decor, plateware, and a sampling of religious goods
KK Discount
78 Mulberry St
kkdiscount.com
Chinese kitchen and home goods store with
a wide array of good including joss paper
G&J Florist
91 Elizabeth St
gjflorist.com
Chinese floral shop carrying cut flowers,
house plants, and fresh locally sourced produces
New Mee Lun Co
61A Bayard St
General Chinese religious goods store carrying joss paper, candles, incenses, and more
More spots!
Explore more recommendations at: meetchinatown.com
