Early this month Taiwan celebrated the Qing Ming, or Tomb Sweeping Festival. Qing Ming is the most important holiday for venerating one's own ancestors (often mistakenly called ancestor worship). Families gather at the gravesite, clean and decorate it, and often will eat the cold food which has been offered to the dead. Some will also set off fireworks to chase away any evil lurking around. The colored paper that is placed on the graves is another kind of spirit money. Some think that the grave is like the house of the dead and the placing the colored paper is to retile the roof. All these activities are ways that the living continue to participate with their departed family members.
Note 1:This video is large. As always, if it keeps stopping as you watch, pause it for 5 minutes or so and then watch to the end.
Note 2:For animal lovers, this video has images of animals that have been sacrificed. There is no blood and gore seen, but if seeing a dead boar would bother you don't watch.
