Thanh Minh, which could be roughly translated as Crystal Clear, is a day in the Lunar Calendar of which the weather is nice and the sky is clear. This is the day when people visit and clean up the dearly tombs to commemorate them.
General information
The festival is also known as Cold Food Festival (Tet Han Thuc) as people often eat cold dishes on this day.
Thanh Minh is not on a fixed date as it is decided on the change of weather so it might differ from years to years but will be in the 3rd lunar month. It is the time for visiting tombs (tao mo – cleaning the graves) and preferably occurs on the 5th day of the month. Cult offerings comprise food, incense flowers, tea, rice alcohol, and votive papers. The cult is dedicated to ancestors and the genie of the earth (tho dia). Spring entertainment may be organized. Families who are recently in mourning prepare, on the 5th day, a special sacrifice in addition to that which is dedicated to their ancestors.
In Vietnamese culture, people believe in “the other side world” and that when people pass away, they do not vanish, their souls still exist. These souls have emotions just like human so they need caring; therefore, Vietnamese people always have a worship table, the corner for the passed away in their home and Thanh Minh is a special day for these souls.
Before the Holiday, family members clean and tidy the graves of their ancestors and also the surrounding areas. On the date of Thanh Minh, individuals make solemn visits to the graves with offerings of incense, food, and flowers. At home, they eat Banh Troi (spheres made of glutinous rice flour, each with a piece of red sugar inside) and Banh Chay (spheres that are bigger than Banh Troi but contain sweet green bean paste instead of red sugar pieces) as cold foods.
After that, the man who “leads” the families usually holds a minor party, mostly for men to have a good time together. The “leaders” nowadays does not really act as a leader, the term is now understood as the man who hosts the activities of the families.
Activities
On Thanh Minh, there are some other activities that people usually interested in:
– Visiting temples and pagodas: In some areas of Vietnam, people also visit temples and pagodas to pray for the blessings of their ancestors. They may also participate in religious ceremonies or festivals.
– Going on picnics: Thanh Minh is also a time for Vietnamese people to enjoy the arrival of spring. They often go on picnics in parks and gardens, or go boating on rivers and lakes. This is a time for families to come together and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Due to the busy modern life, the party for alive people might be less popular but they are still keep up on visiting graves to express their love to the passed away. Thanh Minh is really a good tradition that needs preserving in Vietnamese culture.
Thanh Minh Holiday is an important part of Vietnamese culture and is a time for families to come together and remember their ancestors.
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Source: offroadvietnam.com