April 4 to 6 is a Chinese National Holiday, a bank holiday
when all offices are closed. Qingming Festival is also known as Pure Brightness Festival or Tomb-Sweeping
Day. It is a traditional Chinese festival dating back to 732 BC, over 2500
years ago, held on the 104th day after the winter solstice or the 15th day
after the Spring Equinox. It is said that from this day on, temperatures begin to
rise and rainfall increases indicating that it is time for plowing and sowing for this years crops. It is also a day to pay respect to the dead, enjoy a Spring outing
or fly a kite.
Tomb sweeping is an important custom in the Qingming
Festival, it is cleaning the tomb and paying respect to and remembering past
relatives. Weeds around the tombs are cleared away and fresh soil is added to
show care of the dead.
Besides commemorating the dead, it is a time for people to
enjoy themselves, to go on an outing, to get outside and enjoy Spring, as the
tress turn green, flowers blossom and the sun shines brighter. A day to promote
a healthy body and mind.
Flying kites is a favorite activity done by many people
during the Qingming Festival. Not only during the day but also in the evening.
Little lanterns are tied to the kites or the strings and when flown at night
they look like twinkling stars in the evening sky.
ME had a hair appointment this morning in the center of
Shanghai, so I wonder around in the city and stumble upon this wonderful little
park, Huaihai Park. I then walked over to Fuxing Park. Below are some of the
pictures from these two parks. The parks are general active throughout most of
the day but today it seemed even more so.
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| pansies in the park |
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| it is very common for older men to walk their pet birds to the park in the morning |
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| they are uncovered and hung in the trees |
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| hopping and chirping in their cages |
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| having conversations with friends |
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| exercising and stretching |
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| stretching / click to enlarge |
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| men playing to a recorded classical tune |
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| Fuxing Park around 11:00, very active for a Thursday morning |
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| trees are just about to pop |
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| click to enlarge |
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| Chinese water calligrapher |
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| ancient art of writing Chinese characters |
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| singing in the park from a boom box |
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| two women with mics, with folks joining in |
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| children painting with there parents |
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| enjoying the Spring morning |
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| playing cards, a little gambling |
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| a big pastime, you always find groups playing cards |
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| keyboard player, saxophone player, singer and dancer with conductor |
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| folks enjoying the day off |
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| tai chi |
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| daughter and dad flying a kite |
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| making adjustments |
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| a 2500 year old tradition |
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