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Qingming: tombs, Faithful Departed, All Souls ...

A crowd filled the streets around the station Babaoshan underground. It Qingming, or "Day of Clarity" (or pure brilliance); paradoxically, the only day of the year when more than 100 000 people come to the west of Beijing, the darkest area of \u200b\u200bthe city, saying the Chinese , because the area hosts the most famous cemeteries in the capital of China.

Two weeks after the spring equinox, usually on April 5, the solar calendar, the Chinese engaged in the day, or at least the morning, to their ancestors. Qingming: Day of the Dead, Souls, the day of all souls.

This time, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day is one of the few Chinese holidays, based on the solar calendar, not the lunar setting that determines the highlights of traditional celebrations.

Many families traveled more than an hour by subway, by car, bus, avoiding the difficulties of the "city congestion" to be reunited with their dead, who continue to raise a family from the "most beyond. " From this earthly world, the Chinese try to ensure the happiness of the dead in dissimilar ways: sweep the dust from the tomb in a year, bring flowers, wine, a favorite food of their dead, they bow to the stone; representations burn paper money, houses, cars, gold bullion ... Only thus, in this welter of offerings, the dead will have the honor and attention needed to rest in peace, happiness, and protect their loved ones.

Annually, on this day, hundreds of firefighters were mobilized to the cemeteries of the capital to prevent any incident arising out of this (another) chance for China arson, in the guise of tradition. Hence, communities, guided by local authorities, try to generalize new ways to honor the dead, such as planting a tree.

The technology also makes mischief in the middle of the tradition. In many websites, the Chinese "light up" virtual candle to yours. And there, in the China section of the World Wide Web celebrated its digital Qingming from the room of your house or cafe, no delayed arrivals, without the hassle of traffic, without the burnt paper.

In 2008, Qingming was declared a national holiday. Hence the modern Chinese take advantage of days off to go shopping with friends, go to an arcade / game rooms karaoke, visit other places, at home or abroad, in order to accounts the news said "the Chinese are spending more and more, it is a myth about the savings," and "is forecast that domestic demand will rise to weather the global financial crisis and to grow the GDP."

However, the most romantic, alienated from the economy and actually prefer flying kites to harness the benefits of the spring wind, hoping that their wishes and will also fly away.

However, Qingming is a time for family reunion, which gives the conclusion of the merit of banishing for a few hours of solitude, ostracism and lack of socialization for many in this great capital.

The tradition has been officiating at 2 500 years ago, from the Zhou Dynasty, when the Duke Wen, state, Jin, honored the memory of an officer who had sacrificed his life to save him. Since ancient times comes this mix of sentiment and nostalgia that brings Qingming, immortalized in ancient literature:

A thin drizzle falls on the Day of the Dead
heavy heart is broken in the way
Where to find the wine cellar
me drown this sorrow?
Hua Xing Nearby, in the distance

Fragment Qingming scroll painting by Zhang Zeduan, which shows the celebration in the city of Kaifeng, Song Dynasty's capital