For decades, Xia Qingzi was nearly extinct. The Cultural Revolution, rapid urbanization, and the dominance of Western and commercial holidays pushed this subtle festival to the margins. However, since 2015, a grassroots movement has been revitalizing the Xia Qingzi - Chinese New Year Thanksgiving Festival.
It is important to note the differences. Western Thanksgiving (USA) celebrates a specific harvest pact (between Pilgrims and Native Americans) and is generally secular and forward-looking (Black Friday). Xia Qingzi - Chinese New Year Thanksgiving Fest...
The Xia Qingzi - Chinese New Year Thanksgiving Festival is: For decades, Xia Qingzi was nearly extinct
In traditional Chinese thought, ancestors are not dead; they are simply existing in another realm. Xia Qingzi is the day when families clean ancestral tablets, offer bowls of five grains (wugu – 五谷), and burn incense. Unlike the Tomb-Sweeping Festival (Qingming), which is somber, Xia Qingzi is celebratory. Families thank their ancestors for the wisdom passed down, rather than mourning their absence. It is important to note the differences