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QINGDAO TODAY
在线翻译:
szdaily -> Speak Shenzhen -> 
Festivals for honoring the deceased
    2019-04-08  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

Qingming

Qingming is popularly associated with Jie Zidui in the Spring and Autumn Period, who saved his starving lord’s life by serving meat cut from his own leg. The lord, known as Jinwengong, was later able to take power and decided to reward Jie, who declined. Jinwengong tried to force Jie out of a forest by fire but unfortunately burned him to death and felt deep regret. He ordered all his people to ban the use of fire and eat cold food that day to mark Jie’s death. It is the origin of the Cold Food Festival, which starts one or two days before Qingming and later merges with Qingming. Qingming Festival then became an important holiday.

Diwali — festival of lights

Diwali or Deepavali, the festival of “rows of lights,” is one of the most important of all Hindu festivals. People place candles on the stairs, hallway and balcony at home when night falls that day to pay respect to the deceased and pray for their family. Lighting lamps and candles on the festival is also considered auspicious because they bring light, which stands for knowledge and eternal life.

Orchid Basin Festival

Falling on July 15 according to the lunar calendar, the Orchid Basin Festival is one of the big events in Japan. People are often given days off to go back to their hometowns to pay respect to their ancestors. It is said that their ancestors’ spirits will return home, and so each household puts fire basins outside at the gate and hang lanterns for the spirits to find their way back.

All Soul’s Day

All Soul’s Day observed in Mexico, also called the “Day of the Dead,” usually occurs Nov. 2, when families fondly remember the deceased by praying before an altar. It’s also a time marked by festivities, including parades of skeletons. In one notable tradition, revelers lead a mock funeral procession with a live person inside a coffin.

Day of the Dead

Poland and most of the Catholic world have celebrated the festival Nov. 1 for many centuries. Also known as All Saints’ Day, it’s a national holiday when people all over Poland visit the graves of loved ones and place candles and flowers at tombstones. The candles, which can burn for hours, are placed to help the departed souls find the way home.

清明节

春秋时代,介子堆曾割下自己腿上的肉让逃亡的晋国公子重耳充饥。重耳执政后要封赏他,但介子堆拒绝封赏。无奈,晋文公重耳放火烧山想逼他出山,不料却烧死了恩人后悔不已。自此,晋文公下令每年的这一天禁止生火,只吃冷食,这就是寒食节的来历。因寒食节恰好在清明前一两天,逐渐和清明合二为一,清明就变为重要节日了。

排灯节

排灯节为印度每年最大的节日。节日当天,夜幕降临后,人们会在家里的楼梯、走廊、阳台都放上点燃的蜡烛,为死者祈祷,并期盼亡灵保佑家人平安。点灯还被视为吉祥,因为光明象征知识和永恒。

盂兰盆节

盂兰盆节是日本最盛大的节日之一,每年农历7月15日举行。日本全国放假3天,让城里人返乡祭祖。据说在这段时间,逝去的祖灵都会回到家中,为防止祖灵找不到家,人们会在家门口摆放欢迎的火盆,并挂上灯笼。

万灵节

万灵节是墨西哥的传统节日之一,又称先人节,定在每年11月2日。人们在家里摆祭坛,供上祭品,悼念死去的亲人。气氛浓厚的节日传统还包括化妆骷髅的盛大游行,以及把活人放进棺材里的“模拟葬礼”。

亡人节

每年11月1日,波兰及绝大多数信奉天主教的国家都要举行亡人节,也称万灵节,以悼念逝人。这天是法定假日,人们都去扫墓,摆上鲜花并点上可燃烧几小时的蜡烛,给亡灵指引回家的路。

(Chinadaily.com.cn)

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