What is Ching Ming Festival?

     Ching Ming Jie is a period to remember, honour and pay respect to one's deceased ancestors and family members.  It reinforces filial piety in the Chinese community by letting them make special effort to visit the grave, columbarium or temple to pay their respects. 
     Ching Ming Festival, (meaning ‘clear and bright’) also known as the All Soul's day is celebrated on the 5th of April (106th day after the winter solstice). To be practical, this occasion is extended 10 days before and after the actual day.  Among some dialect groups, one month is allocated.. It is a popular Chinese Festival which has been passed down over generations and Chinese all over the world faithfully follow the practice to remember their ancestors on this day. 

What are the origins of the Ching Ming festival?

        According to Chinese legend, Ching Ming began in 600 BC at the Chinese province Shanxi. Jie Zi Dui, a Chinese hero, gave a piece of his own leg to save his starving lord. When the lord became ruler of the province, Jie left to live in the mountains with his mother. The lord wanted Jie to join him, so he set fire to the mountain, hoping to force Jie out. But Jie chose to die in the fire instead. 
        To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all fires in every home to be put out on his death anniversary. This also led to the ‘cold food feast’, which occurs on the eve of Ching Ming, when no food is cooked because no fires can be lit.