Can't really remember when was the last time I went for Qing Ming. Could be years. But I know for certain, I didn't went for last year's session. (not the most filial cucu around) However, I do feel I have atone (to some extent) by waking up at 6 this morning just after 3 hours of sleep to honour my ancestors.
Over at the *insert some Chinese name which I can't recall* graveyard, it wasn't as crowded and busy as I first thought it would be. Perhaps in the coming week, there will be more hustle and bustle? Despite that, the mood was more the less the same one that I had experienced when I was a kid. The hilly slopes, the smoke, the burning offerings and of course the mandatory burn form the joss stick's dropping (pedih). There was even the familiar jingles of the ice cream man circling the graveyard on his motorcycle .
I did however took note of a certain trend going on with regards to the whole Qing Ming business. As the graveyard I went to today, was a rather established one (the site was divided into different sections, with the oldest grave site being over 40 years) I noticed all the older grave sites have the elusive atmosphere of neglect. A few may have some distant cucu-cicit offering their respect (like what my family did today!) but in general, such sites tend to be solitary in nature.
It got me thinking; do people really plan or think what will happen to their final resting place in the long run? One might be expecting one's children to perform the annual pilgrim to the burial ground, but what happen, when it's time for their children to be six feet under? Their grandchildren's turn? Do one discount the possibility of a break in the chain of pilgrimage? If yes, why do one still go ahead with it? Customs? Religious beliefs?
Of course nowadays, we may have columbariums for those who wish to be cremated. But from the way I see it, may it be cremation or burial, they still pose the same question. What will happen in the long run? The inevitable really.
At this point (being 18), I've came up with a personal conclusion with regards to my own rites. Only time can tell though how it will eventually turn out. I'm not trying to sound morbid over here, but I guess 'tis a fascinating food for thought at times, no?
PS- I can't believe I tan that easily. A mere 5 hours in the sun is enuff to trigger an overdrive of melanin. I even got an ugly tan in the shape of my flip flop on my two feet. Argh.
Over at the *insert some Chinese name which I can't recall* graveyard, it wasn't as crowded and busy as I first thought it would be. Perhaps in the coming week, there will be more hustle and bustle? Despite that, the mood was more the less the same one that I had experienced when I was a kid. The hilly slopes, the smoke, the burning offerings and of course the mandatory burn form the joss stick's dropping (pedih). There was even the familiar jingles of the ice cream man circling the graveyard on his motorcycle .
I did however took note of a certain trend going on with regards to the whole Qing Ming business. As the graveyard I went to today, was a rather established one (the site was divided into different sections, with the oldest grave site being over 40 years) I noticed all the older grave sites have the elusive atmosphere of neglect. A few may have some distant cucu-cicit offering their respect (like what my family did today!) but in general, such sites tend to be solitary in nature.
It got me thinking; do people really plan or think what will happen to their final resting place in the long run? One might be expecting one's children to perform the annual pilgrim to the burial ground, but what happen, when it's time for their children to be six feet under? Their grandchildren's turn? Do one discount the possibility of a break in the chain of pilgrimage? If yes, why do one still go ahead with it? Customs? Religious beliefs?
Of course nowadays, we may have columbariums for those who wish to be cremated. But from the way I see it, may it be cremation or burial, they still pose the same question. What will happen in the long run? The inevitable really.
At this point (being 18), I've came up with a personal conclusion with regards to my own rites. Only time can tell though how it will eventually turn out. I'm not trying to sound morbid over here, but I guess 'tis a fascinating food for thought at times, no?
PS- I can't believe I tan that easily. A mere 5 hours in the sun is enuff to trigger an overdrive of melanin. I even got an ugly tan in the shape of my flip flop on my two feet. Argh.
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