How is Ching Ming Day Celebrated in Singapore Today? 

       Most Chinese visit their ancestor's graves on this day. They take the weeds out of the graveyard, and clean it. Then repaint the words on the tombstones. All the members in the family take part in this activity. They bring flowers, fruits, dim sum, wine and chicken. They also bring incense, mock money and paper clothes. 
       All the things are displayed at the headstone of the grave. They burn the incense and show their respect to their ancestors. Then they burn the money and paper clothes, which means they send those things to their ancestors. 
       After the ceremony, all family members sit and eat lunch. Other families go to restaurants or somewhere else to eat. Wherever they eat they bow to show respect. They talk about the stories of their ancestors so the young people can remember things about their ancestors 

What are the differences in the ways Singaporeans celebrate Ching Ming day compared to the past or other countries?  

       In Singapore, there is no observance of the ‘cold food feast’. Instead, Chinese families visit the graves of the departed, where they will carry out the traditional sweeping and decorating of graves, make offerings of food and flowers, and burn ritual money (squares of white paper with a gold or red centre). 
         
        In China or among some dialect groups, the festival lasts for a month beginning from Early April to May but to be practical, this occasion in Singapore is normally extended 10 days before and after the actual day.  
         
        In Singapore, some of the deceased may be cremated unlike China where most of the dead are buried in graves. The family of the cremated will instead bring food and flowers and ritual money to the columbarium. 
         
        Singaporeans are also adopting the practice of placing ancestral tablets in temples. Hence to pay respects to ancestors also means visiting the temples.