Today is the Ching Ming Festival. This is a day where Chinese go to a cemetery and clean the grave of those who have died. They also offer up food, money, and other items.

While we think remembering the dead is a good idea we are opposed to many other practices of this tradition much to the sorrow of those who are still living.

1) Many people see this as a holiday and think nothing of the dead. They go other places or do anything except pray for the dead.

2) The offering of food, money, etc for the dead is something the dead do not need or want. For those who have, at least, made it to Purgatory all they want is prayers and sacrifices so they can end their sufferings and go to Heaven.

3) Hong Kong has, over the years, started a “green” burial. Where people throw ashes out to sea or in some burial ground. How are people supposed to clean a grave when there is no grave to clean?

We hope that the Chinese people will stop giving material offerings and instead offer prayers and sacrifices to their loved ones. This will do more good for the dead than anything else.