The east wind brings green grass, and it’s Qingming time again. During the Qingming Festival, it is a traditional custom of the Chinese nation to pay homage to ancestors and remember the deceased. In the past few days, reporters have found during visits that with the improvement of citizens' awareness of civilized and environmental protection, traditional sacrificial behaviors such as burning paper money have been greatly reduced. Flower sacrificial offerings, "cloud sacrificial sweeps" and other methods are gradually replacing traditional sacrificial methods, making Qingming Festival sacrificial activities more environmentally friendly and civilized.
Students of Bozhou Vocational and Technical College are conducting an "Online Memorial to Heroes" activity. (File photo) Photo by Zhang Yanlin
Offer flowers to express condolences
On the morning of March 29, the reporter visited several cemeteries in the urban area and saw that there were flower stalls around each cemetery. Many citizens who came to pay homage would buy flowers before entering the cemetery.
"Hello, we are currently promoting the change of customs and advocating civilized sacrifices. Our cemetery has prepared flowers, which can be exchanged with the ghost coins and paper money brought, or purchased separately. It only costs 10 yuan a pot." At the entrance of the Tiantang Palace Cemetery in the urban area, the staff distributed a Qingming Festival civilized sacrifice proposal to the citizens who came to worship, and guided the memorial staff to use flowers for sacrifice.
"Whether they are brought by ourselves or potted flowers purchased on site, we have staff responsible for watering and maintaining them every day." A staff member of the Tiantang Palace Cemetery said that in addition to flower sacrifices, the cemetery has also launched online sacrifices, valet sacrifices and other sacrifice methods. The cemetery's radio also broadcasts a proposal for civilized sacrifices in a loop, which has been recognized by many citizens.
In the eastern cemetery area of the Martyrs Cemetery in Qiaocheng District, each tombstone is surrounded by flowers, reflecting the surrounding green pines and cypresses and the nearby Guohe River. The entire cemetery area looks elegant and solemn.
"When we miss our loved ones, heart-felt sacrifices are more important than formality." Wang Yun, a citizen, said that his mother loved flowers and green grass when she was alive. In the past two years, when her family came to pay homage, they always brought flowers to express their remembrance and at the same time make the environment here cleaner and more beautiful.
Online remembrance remains unchanged
During the visit, the reporter found that in addition to offering flowers and placing fruit baskets to pay homage, many citizens also joined the ranks of "cloud sacrifices and sweeps" to participate in this green and civilized way of offering sacrifices. The so-called "cloud memorial service" is an online commemorative space for the deceased's family members to express their condolences through online tributes, flowers, and messages.
"Our cemetery has always had online cloud memorial services. Friends from other places can express their longing for their deceased relatives by sending flowers and writing condolence letters online. In the past two years, more and more people have participated in online memorial services." said a staff member of the Tiantang Palace Cemetery.
In addition to cemeteries and cemeteries offering online condolences, the Bozhou News Network hosted by the Bozhou Evening News also launched the "Online China Festival Qingming Festival" special topic. On the special webpage, you can learn about the deeds of heroes and martyrs in various periods, red stories about Bozhou, Qingming customs and culture, etc. You can also express your condolences by clicking on the online gift of flowers.
"In the week or so since we launched, more than 50,000 people have clicked on the Internet to send flowers and express their condolences. This shows that the new trend of civilized sacrifices has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and more and more people agree with this method of sacrifice." Shan Jingzhi, the person in charge of Bozhou News Network, said.
Civilized sacrifice spreads new trends
Although new forms of memorial service such as online memorial service and flower memorial service are different, the memory of loved ones remains unchanged and the cultural genes rooted in the heart remain unchanged. A few days ago, the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau and the Municipal Civilization Office issued a proposal for civilized sacrifices and sweeps during the Qingming Festival to citizens, advocating civilized sacrifices and sweeps, promoting the change of customs, establishing a new trend of civilization, and creating a good atmosphere of civilization, environmental protection, frugality, and safety in the city.
The initiative advocated citizens to conduct civilized sacrifices, not burn paper money, use flowers instead of tin foil, advocate frugal funerals, avoid random burials, and avoid feudal superstitions. These ideas of changing customs have also been recognized by citizens.
During the visit, staff at several cemeteries told reporters that with the improvement of citizens' civilized and safe quality, many people have begun to choose to offer flowers, plant green plants and other methods to express their grief and pay respect to the deceased, creating a good civilized sacrificial atmosphere.
"Sacrifice sweeping is not about the form, but about the intention. Using ribbon sacrificial sweeping to replace traditional sacrifices such as fragrant wax and paper money is not only beautiful but also responds to the advocacy of civilized sacrificial sweeping and green sacrificial sweeping." Mr. Liu, a citizen, said that the ancients explained the Qingming Festival as "a time of freshness, clarity and purity", and civilized sacrificial sweeping can better return the Qing Dynasty to the clear scenery, making the sacrificial sweeping more solemn and the air more refreshing.
