Grave sweeping process
Time:
Taking Tomb-Sweeping Day as the first choice, in view of the large number of grave-sweepers in Zhengqing tomorrow in recent years, it can also achieve the purpose of worship by choosing grave-sweepers before the festival. We can choose to finish the whole grave sweeping before 5: 00 am-11and13 pm. Be sure to avoid the afternoon 1 1 and avoid the evening. It is better to eat vegetarian food in Tomb-Sweeping Day.
Cleaning and adding soil:
When you arrive at the cemetery, you should first dust off the tombstones, tomb turtles, Tang Ming and incense burners, and look at the cemetery carefully. If there are cracks, collapses, damages or abnormal scenes, they should be repaired or adjusted as soon as possible. There are buried graves, so weeds should be removed and new soil should be added at the same time. Don't dig holes around the cemetery, don't pick soil from other places to fill the cemetery, and don't damage the tomb. This is very important, which is related to the rise and fall of the grave sweeper family.
Incense: Hold three incense sticks in your hand and insert your left hand into the grave in turn, so that once you insert incense, you will be stable. Don't find it difficult to insert, then pull it up and insert it again.
Offering decoration: worship according to local customs, vegetarian food is preferred.
Shakily bow down:
Worship is not to worship Buddha, and there is no so-called "head fragrance". It is suggested that one of the family members insert incense uniformly. Bow down in the order of generations, generally speaking, outsiders can't participate. When burning incense, you should read the honorifics of the ancestors in front of the grave, and pray that the ancestors will live better and better in their hearts no matter what dimension they live in. I wish them good luck!
Burning paper:
This is the last item in the process of sweeping graves. Usually burn some paper money, ingots made of tin foil and so on. But now we all advocate civilized sacrifice, and there must be no kindling on the mountains or in places where fireworks are strictly prohibited. We can put it on the spot or burn it in a special place. The money for burning paper is divided into several circles. First, we should burn it to the city god. Second, burn it to passers-by. Third, we should burn it to our ancestors. At this time, I will recall the achievements of my ancestors, appreciate their blood inheritance, tell my ancestors what I am doing now, and pray for their help in what I want to accomplish. Contact your ancestors in these sincere ways.
Taboo of sweeping graves
1. clothes-grave-sweepers are not allowed to wear brightly colored and excessively exposed clothes.
Grave-sweeping itself is a serious matter, and the clothes you wear should conform to the environment. It is generally recommended to wear black or plain and dark clothes to express respect and condolences to the deceased. If you wear clothes that are too eye-catching, such as big red, it is difficult to ensure that the dirty air will not affect your health in a cemetery with extremely heavy yin. Of course, it is unacceptable to expose clothes too much, which is immoral in the eyes of ancestors and the world.
2. Eat-it should not be too full before sweeping the grave, and the diet should be light; Don't eat or worship when sweeping the grave.
In the grave-sweeping etiquette handed down from ancient times, people should fast before sweeping graves, but it is unrealistic for people with accelerated pace of modern life to worship on an empty stomach. Really want to eat, the diet should be light, avoid big fish and big meat, and should not eat too much. It is also a sign of disrespect for the deceased. In addition, no matter how hungry you are, don't chew food in your mouth when sweeping the grave, which will only highlight your ignorance of fooling around.
3. Alive-it is forbidden to talk about family disputes when sweeping graves, such as real estate and property inheritance.
The "living" here refers to some trivial disputes in the grave sweeper's home, which can be put in private chat, but it is not good to argue with relatives and friends who are sweeping the grave in front of the tombstone. Isn't it disrespectful to have to make others laugh and make ancestors worry when they worship?
4. OK-pay attention to the time of going to the grave and choose the sun to avoid the yin.
The time for sweeping graves handed down from the old days was from 5 am to 7 am, and the morning sun was gradually exposed and the yang was gradually strengthened. However, this time is too early for urbanites. Generally, cities are not too close to suburban cemeteries. Therefore, the time of worship can also be arranged in the morning. It's best to arrange it before three o'clock in the afternoon. After three o'clock, the yin will get longer and bigger.
5. Dharma-It will bring bad luck when you come back from the grave.
As one of the three ghost festivals in China, it is inevitable for Tomb-Sweeping Day to visit the grave. At this time, when the cemetery in the suburbs is also in a heavy shade, people will inevitably have bad luck after sweeping graves. Therefore, it is extremely important to go to the grave in time after sweeping the grave. In many areas, when you come back from worship, it is very popular to put a brazier in front of your house and then cross home. Others take a bath with grapefruit leaves and wash their hands afterwards to avoid bad luck. In short, the method you choose must be effective, otherwise it will inevitably cast a shadow over your fortune.
6. People who worship can choose. The following people had better stay away from cemeteries and cemeteries.
pregnant woman
Considering the actual physiological factors, the number of grave-sweepers is vast every year, not to mention the congestion problem, just going back and forth is enough to toss pregnant women and fetuses in the womb; Judging from the customs left over, the fetus is still in the womb, so it is not appropriate to see the deceased relatives, which may easily lead to the premature death of the child.
A sickly person
People who are seriously ill and weak are not suitable for sweeping graves. The fatigue of traveling by boat is enough to consume their energy, resulting in a lack of yang, and sweeping graves is also a tiring job. Sick people need to rest and persist in going, which is not only not conducive to restoring their vitality, but also easy to lead to the invasion of evil spirits.
child
Babies under the age of three should not be taken to the grave. On the one hand, although the grave-sweeping site is not as polluted as before, it does not rule out that there are still some incense shots. These smells and sounds are easy to make children twitch, which is not conducive to physical and mental health; It is also said that at this stage, children can easily see the underworld that adults can't see. Of course, whether it is true or not, the environment and facilities around the cemetery are not convenient for adults to take care of their children.
Precautions for grave sweeping
How to determine the date of sacrifice
The date of the memorial service varies from place to place. Some are in Tomb-Sweeping Day for the first ten days, some are called "the first three and the last three", some are held one day around Tomb-Sweeping Day, and some places have grave-sweeping activities for a month.
What flowers are suitable for buying?
It is usually chrysanthemum, because chrysanthemum is regarded as a flower of sustenance in ancient China, which means missing and nostalgia. White chrysanthemum is the most suitable, and it can also be matched with some green grass, such as lily, green leaves and carnations, which will be more beautiful. Huang Juhua is called Longevity Chrysanthemum, which is more suitable for visiting patients.
Don't laugh and curse when sweeping the grave.
For liuxue86.com, it is very impolite to talk loudly, laugh, swear, swear, run around and urinate everywhere in the cemetery. At the same time, attention should be paid to taking photos in the graves of ancestors, whether it is the grave sweeper himself or the grave sweeper and the cemetery. In addition, it is best not to comment on the design of the tomb.
Pay attention to dress accessories
Especially avoid wearing bright red and purple clothes, you should wear plain clothes. In addition, don't wear red ornaments (except the animal year).
Worship in order of generations
The order of worship should be: father, mother, eldest son, eldest daughter, second son and second daughter. ...
You can worship your ancestors at home.
Tomb-Sweeping Day should have been held in the cemetery, but for various reasons, many people can't go back to their hometown to attend the Qingming Festival, so they can also worship their ancestors at home. Generally speaking, it is best to go to the grave together. But now, maybe members of the same family can't arrange to visit the grave on the same day for various reasons, or they can go in batches.
Etiquette of sweeping graves and sending flowers
Tomb-Sweeping Day commemorates the deceased, and can place flowers when sweeping the grave to express his thoughts and nostalgia for the deceased. What flowers to choose is very particular. Usually send some plain flowers, or send flowers that the deceased liked before his death.
Tomb-Sweeping Day (April 5th, Gregorian calendar) usually sends some plain flowers to express their grief. April 5th every year is Tomb-Sweeping Day. On this day, people will express their thoughts and condolences to the dead by sweeping graves and offering sacrifices to their ancestors. The flowers that can be sent are pansy, pine and cypress branches, etc. In addition, some plain flowers are usually sent on this day, not some brightly colored flowers, because white, yellow and other plain flowers express grief.