Ching Ming season,ancestors and descendants
Pic courtesy of Mathew Ong
It is ching ming season again. Ching Ming is the Chinese equivalent of All-Souls Day. The descendants gather to clean the graves, offer offerings to the departed and basically remember, mourn for those who are no longer with us and at the same time perpetuate reverence for older people. We did what we had to do this morning. As usual there were a lot of cars and some people took the opportunity to set up temporary stalls selling flowers.
Benghui: Mummy, why do you look so sad?
Mummy: Ching Ming is a time to remember those who have gone.
Benghui: Where have they gone?
Mummy: Heaven.
Benghui: Oh, like my goldfish last year? Next time daddy and you die, I go and ching ming you too?
Mummy: If you want to, yes.
Benghui: What are the people burning?
Mummy: Money for the loved ones who have died.
BengHui: I know now. When you die, you will leave the money for me? You want me to burn the money for you?
Honestly, sometimes I think this kid is not so silly or innocent as he makes himself to be.
which day is it? Thursday or Saturday? i didn’t manage to go back, plus sibu no flight back. i don’t want to be stuck in the jam
BB: thursday
i believe if we want to visit the dead… it doesnt need any special festival… i think i will go see my mom as and when i am free.
BB: I haven’t gone back to see her in many years
it is not easy for me to arrange a family trip and it is so far and hotel expenses and three flights away 
makes me very very sad. She passed away in 1998