My first year in China, Grave-Sweeping Day wasn’t an official state holiday, but this year it became a government-approved day off from work. Lee In China explains how to celebrate this holiday, (no fireworks are involved):
Today is a national holiday in China, Tomb Sweeping Day. It’s when the Chinese go to the graves or tombs of their ancestors and clean them out, to show respect for them. So they clean out the tomb, put in fresh flowers, that sort of thing.
Since I’m not Chinese this has become Alcohol Swigging Day, to be followed by Partying Your Balls Off Night, culminating in Saturday Morning Hangover.
Related: Grave-Sweeping Day in Yantai, 2006
Any excuse for a 3-day weekend!