Tag: festival
The photo shoot for QingMing Festival (that is, the Chinese grave sweeping festival) did not quite go as well as planned. The only word I can think of is letdown…or maybe that is two words (then it is double the let down, you know). I was so excited about QingMing with my wife’s family, and they were more than happy with someone to help them take photos. It worked out well in theory.
I knew I had expectations of what it would be and I also knew that some of those expectations were likely to be wrong. It is not like Chinese culture is going to look exactly the same in every country and every family around the globe. There are only a couple billion of them or something.
QingMing is just a few days away. I could not tell you why the seemingly official English translation of this festival is the “Chinese grave sweeping festival”. Yes, they clean up the grave sites of their ancestors, but the real core of the holiday is solidly rooted in paying respect to their ancestors. You choose your word: respect, worship, veneration, honor, …you get the picture.
I will be returning to my wife’s hometown tomorrow and the next day heading to her Dad’s hometown for the celebration of QingMing. The whole Chinese side of the family will be there. Yes, it will be nice to finally meet all the family on my wife’s dad’s side, but I have to be totally honest, I am giddy with the thought of the photo opportunities.