What is the Qingming Festival?
Qingming Festival (清明节), which directly translates to “Pure Brightness Festival,” is a day for ancestral worship and remembering and honouring the deceased. Qingming Festival is also known as Tomb Sweeping Day.
When is the Qingming Festival?
The Chinese (lunisolar) calendar is divided into 24 solar terms, each consisting of 15 days. Qingming Festival takes place 15 days after the spring equinox; therefore, it falls on the first day of the 5th solar term. This year, it is on April 5th.
When Did the Qingming Festival Start?
Qingming Festival is a roughly 3000-year-old Chinese tradition that started in the Zhou dynasty as a festival for the elites.
How do People Commemorate During the Qingming Festival?
Many people visit ancestral graves and care for them by cleaning, painting, pulling out weeds, and repairing any damage. Some families also give offerings by burning incense, leaving flowers, putting out food such as fruits or roasted meats, burning paper spirit money, and burning paper structures that resemble valuable goods, such as cars. The act of burning is believed to transform these items into a form that can be used by ancestors in the spirit world. Sometimes, people place willow branches on tombs in hopes of warding off evil spirits.
What’s Happening in Chinese Communities Across Canada for March 2026?
In Vancouver, on March 21, the Vancouver Cantonese Opera will have a performance that honours the artistry of traditional Chinese opera. The Chinese Canadian Museum will also host events related to the Qingming Festival towards the end of the month.
Burnaby, in British Columbia, is hosting a Mahjong Funday at the Grand Villa Casino.
On March 21, the Winnipeg Chinese Senior Association (WCSA) will be hosting a mass Taijiquan practice session and cultural exchange in honour of International Taijiquan Day.