The significance of ancestor worship

Sacrificing ancestors is a traditional custom in China and a grand traditional folk activity.

First, the concept of ancestor worship.

Sacrificing ancestors is a traditional custom in China and a grand traditional folk activity. New Year's Eve, Tomb-Sweeping Day, Double Ninth Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival (except Qing, Jiu and Chongqing) are the four major traditional festivals of the Han nationality, and this custom has been very popular since ancient times.

Due to different local customs and habits, the forms of ancestor worship are also different. ? China people have a tradition of pursuing the future with caution, and they will never forget to worship their ancestors on holidays.

Second, the type

1. Sacrificing ancestors on New Year's Eve: Sacrificing ancestors on New Year's Eve is one of the traditional customs of the Han nationality.

On the one hand, it stems from the traditional concept of "filial piety comes first" and "cautious pursuit of the future", expressing filial piety and nostalgia for ancestors when resigning the old year and welcoming the new year; On the other hand, people are convinced that ancestors and gods can bless future generations and make them prosperous.

2. Sacrificing ancestors in Qingming Festival: The reason for sweeping graves in Qingming Festival is that winter goes and spring comes, and plants germinate. When people sweep the graves of their ancestors, they will personally check whether the graves have collapsed due to the rainy season, or have been pierced by foxes and rabbits.

During the sweeping ceremony, weeds in graves were uprooted, new soil was added, pigs were sacrificed, incense and libation were provided, paper money was burned, and a simple ceremony was held to show the memory of ancestors.

3. ancestor worship in the central plains: ancestor worship is in the central plains festival, also known as "July and a half".

4. Worship ancestors on the Double Ninth Festival: The Double Ninth Festival is one of the four traditional festivals of ancestor worship in China, and there is a tradition of ancestor worship and blessing among the people. People hold ancestor worship activities every year on the Double Ninth Festival, praying for the blessing of the gods, carrying out activities to respect the elderly and inheriting the filial piety culture.

Local custom

I. Dongguan, Guangdong

On the first day of the first month, most people first choose an auspicious time in the almanac to hold ancestor worship ceremonies. Sacrifices include tea, wine, white rice, boxes, fruits, dragons (rice cakes) and piles of land and vegetarian dishes.

Ancestor worship procedures: burning incense, lighting candles, burning gold ingots and setting off a string of firecrackers. The whole family worships their ancestors in the order of seniority and age. Ancestor worship in upper-middle class families is always brightly lit and filled with cigarettes.

Second, Kaifeng, Henan

On the fifth watch, people who keep watch will wash their hands first, wear dresses and hats, place sacrifices on the altar, burn incense and set off firecrackers together. The whole family will continue to bow down to their ancestors according to their generations and wish them a "Happy New Year".

Third, Shandong and Northeast China.

At midnight of the first day, people of all ages put on new clothes, hats, socks and shoes to worship their ancestors. In front of the shrine dedicated to ancestors, candles, incense, paper and guns are lit, and future generations bow down like musical instruments, which is called "paper inoculation".