Joss Paper and Incense for Qingming Festival
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.
Qingming traditions include:
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
Sources: "Qing Ming Festival" by Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art; "Qingming Festival" by Vanderbilt University
Why we use joss paper and joss sticks
Joss paper, or spirit money, is burned to provide money to our ancestors in the afterlife. It is typically made of white and gold bamboo paper and is burned at funerals and grave sites.
Joss sticks are a type of incense burned to honor our ancestors, with the rising smoke representing the receipt of our messages and prayers in the spiritual world. They are often used as an offering along with tea, food, and fruits.
Source: 'Joss Paper (spirit money)' by tenement Museum; Made with Lau
Grand Tea & Imports
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Specializing in Chinese spiritual goods & imported teas
New Lee Mun Co
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General Chinese religious goods store carrying joss paper, candles, incenses, and more
G&J Florist
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Chinese floral shop carrying cut flowers, house plants, and fresh, locally-sourced produce
Fook On Sing
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Chinese funeral supplies store with elaborate joss paper goods
KK Discount
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Chinese kitchen and home goods store with a wide array of goods including joss paper
Pearl River Mart
452 Broadway
Iconic NYC Chinese emporium featuring home decor, plateware, and a sampling of religious goods
