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After the Clear and Bright Festival, remember not to bring these things back to avoid bringing bad luck and sickness.

Grave visiting is a traditional activity of Vietnamese people to honor their ancestors during the festival of Tomb Sweeping Day. However, there are certain things that you should be aware of in order to avoid bad luck.

Administrator

19 March, 2024

Grave sweeping is the act of bringing offerings to the cemetery to pay respects to loved ones, check on the grave, clean and tidy up the surrounding area. It embodies the tradition of remembering one’s roots. Therefore, this practice has been passed down through generations. Many people travel back and forth, but during the Qingming Festival, they return to their hometown to sweep the graves of their ancestors, especially the men in the family. This is also an occasion for close relatives to gather and meet, letting their children and grandchildren know their extended family. Nowadays, when many people live far from their hometowns, and relatives rarely meet, Qingming Festival is also a time for family reunions and for visiting the graves of their relatives. Grave sweeping is a beautiful custom, but after paying respects, it is common for people not to bring the following items back home:

Grave sweeping is a common activity during the Qingming Festival

Avoid bringing leftover incense back home

Incense is an essential part of grave sweeping. Lighting incense is necessary to connect with ancestors, so even if something is missing, incense cannot be omitted. However, many people bring more incense than the number of graves in their family, resulting in leftovers. Traditionally, it is believed that once the incense has been taken to the cemetery, it should not be brought back home. This is because the incense may carry negative energy and wandering spirits, which can disturb the qi in the house and cause illnesses.

Therefore, when going grave sweeping, it is advisable to bring an appropriate amount of incense. In case there is leftover incense, it should be left at the grave without bringing it back home.

Avoid bringing objects from other graves

Avoid mixing up offerings between families

The Qingming Festival attracts a large number of people to the cemetery, and most families go grave sweeping on the same days. It is important to avoid mixing up offerings between different families, especially when setting up incense in the ancestral worship area of the cemetery. Bringing the wrong offerings back home is considered bad feng shui.

It is particularly important to pay attention when bringing children along to avoid any confusion, as they may unknowingly take offerings from other families. It is also advisable for young descendants to avoid performing rituals at the graves of other families to prevent any misunderstandings.

Avoid bringing any objects from the cemetery back home, such as soil, grass, or strange-shaped objects…

When going grave sweeping, it is best to only offer offerings to the ancestors. Fruits and food offerings can be offered directly at the grave, while any waste should be properly disposed of. Avoid bringing anything else from the cemetery back home.

During the Qingming Festival, when the weather is pleasant and plants are thriving, many people may be tempted to take flowers from the cemetery or bring back some soil to plant flowers at home. However, according to the advice of our ancestors, it is best to avoid bringing anything back, as the spirits in the cemetery may have strong negative energy and accompanying wandering souls. Bringing these objects home may surround the family with negative energy and cause fatigue and illness.

Especially, it is advisable to avoid bringing back any strange-shaped objects, as they may have strong negative energy in terms of feng shui.

Therefore, when going grave sweeping, remember not to pick up anything from outside the cemetery, except for fruit offerings for the family. After returning home, it is recommended to take a bath or cleanse with fire to ward off any negative energy.

This information is for reference only.

Frequently asked questions

Grave sweeping embodies the tradition of remembering and honoring one’s roots and ancestors. It is a way to show respect and keep the memory of loved ones alive. This practice has been passed down through generations and is often a time for family reunions and gatherings.

The Qingming Festival is a time when many people travel back to their hometowns to sweep the graves of their ancestors. It is a traditional holiday for paying respects to the deceased and is often a time for family gatherings and reunions.

It is considered inappropriate and bad feng shui to bring back certain items after grave sweeping. Leftover incense, objects from other graves or offerings meant for other families, and items from the cemetery such as soil, grass, or strangely shaped objects should not be brought home. These items are believed to carry negative energy and wandering spirits, which can disturb the peace and harmony of your home.

Incense is an essential part of grave sweeping as it helps connect with ancestors. However, bringing leftover incense back home is traditionally avoided as it is believed to carry negative energy and wandering spirits. It is advisable to bring only the necessary amount of incense to avoid leftovers.

During the Qingming Festival, many families visit the cemetery on the same days, increasing the chances of confusion. Pay close attention when bringing children along, as they may unknowingly take offerings from other families. It is also advisable for young descendants to avoid performing rituals at the graves of other families to prevent misunderstandings and mixing up offerings.

It is recommended to take a bath or cleanse yourself with fire to ward off any negative energy that may have been picked up during the visit to the cemetery. This helps ensure that any potential negative influences are left behind and do not affect your home or family.