April 6, 2011
Peaches & Eggs
Qingming Festival was once again on my birthday (April 5). Qingming Festival, or Tomb Sweeping Day was celebrated by an estimated 460 million people this year in China. Qingming is a day to remember one's ancestors by visiting the graves, or tombs. But the Festival is much more. People appease their ancestors' spirits by burning paper money offerings to ensure good luck for the coming year. Read more about the festival.
While looking around for some pictures, I came across something interesting. Eggs. Eggs are common for Qingming Festival. Boiled eggs are used to play an "Egg collision" game with the first egg cracked being the loser. And another picture of painted eggs. Strange. Is this because of Easter eggs? I'll have to ask some students and get back with an answer.
And peaches. Grace, our friend, reminded us to eat peaches on Qingming Day to avoid disease. So superstitious.
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