First, when will it burn?
During the first three days and the last four days in Tomb-Sweeping Day, it is best to choose a single day for the corresponding activities. The time is after dark, of course.
Second, what to burn?
It is very important for Tomb-Sweeping Day to burn some paper money, gold ingots and paper money. If you miss your loved ones too much, you can also prepare some other paper products. There is also a big paper bag with something in it and the name of the deceased written on it. In ancient times, the paper money for burning paper was cut by relatives themselves, not bought from stalls to show sincerity and respect. Now, of course, most of them are ready-made, but the new fashion of DIY burning paper products is very popular recently, such as iPhone6 paper model.
Third, the rules and taboos of burning
1. Burn at the intersection before Tomb-Sweeping Day. It is said that burning paper at the intersection can lead to the underworld. It is not advisable to choose a road with many cars and people, and the sun is heavy.
2. Before burning paper money, take out a few pieces and burn them to ghosts, so that they don't go to the enclosure.
3. When you draw a circle around the enclosure, you should draw a circle by yourself, or recite the names of your loved ones when you draw a whole circle. There should be no gap in the circle.
You must use a wooden stick to make sure that all the burnt paper is burned out.
5. After burning the wine offering (water), throw it out of the circle and call it goodbye.
6. You can't put all the paper money in at once, but put it in one by one or two by three, let the paper money burn in your hand and then throw it out.
7. In the process of burning paper, you must recite what you want to say to your loved ones. At the same time, whether squatting or kneeling, we must emphasize the thoughts of our loved ones.
8. If there is wind in the process of burning, leave him alone. If there is no fire in the circle, stir it up with a wooden stick, otherwise the relatives will not be able to collect it completely, and the wind will blow it away to take it away.
9. The denomination of burnt paper money is moderate, neither too big nor too small, otherwise it will not be changed.
10. When the wind is strong, be sure to burn more copies around. If it is too big, it is recommended to change places. There are too many ghosts robbing money.
Let's talk about sweeping graves: according to the custom determined by the Qing Dynasty. Sacrifice to sweep the grave, not in Tomb-Sweeping Day, but on a single day (the lunar calendar) near Tomb-Sweeping Day. It is said that only monks take the lead in grave-sweeping activities in Tomb-Sweeping Day. Tomb sweeping in Qingming needs renovation, weed removal and cultivation of new soil. According to the traditional custom of Tomb-Sweeping Day and Cold Food Festival in China, the food prepared before will not catch fire if eaten on this day. Of course, it's a kind of sincerity to express your inner feelings when you worship your ancestors now.
Of course, due to the severe smog weather, we also encourage people to choose electronic memorial service, which is also very popular on the Internet in recent years. I hope you can choose various ways to pay homage in Tomb-Sweeping Day in light of your own situation. At the same time, the deceased rest in peace, and we should be kind to our parents and relatives around us. A little more filial piety before their death is more valuable than crying and blaming yourself on the fire one day.