The Qingming Festival (also known as Tomb-sweeping Day) falls on April 5 this year. Traditionally, people have paid tribute to their deceased relatives and friends by burning “spirit money” and paper replicas of material goods, and setting off firecrackers before the tombs of the dead. These days, however, due to environmental concerns and new opportunities offered by technology, there are a number of alternative ways to honor our ancestors in a more modern and civilized manner.

Replacing spirit money with flowers

Nowadays, the practice of carrying flowers instead of spirit money (joss paper) to grave sites is growing in popularity. However, many still prefer burning paper money, though they should remember that this causes great environmental damage both in terms of air pollution and litter. Therefore at Shanghai Fushou Garden, a memorial park that will prohibit burning spirit money and lighting fires from this year, visitors can exchange their spirit money for flowers and smoke-free incense. They can also get discounted bonsai and other services at an exchange desk.

Using e-candles

Traditional candles are made from paraffin. However, the vapor produced by paraffin at high temperatures not only damages the environment, but also causes great harm to the body. Electronic candles are smoke-free, pollution-free and energy-efficient, making them the environmentally and safety-conscious choice. Moreover, an electronic candle can offer the flickering flame of memory to our ancestors for far longer.

Honoring the deceased in music

Music is another way to remember our ancestors and express our feelings toward our deceased loved ones. While visiting the grave, family members can play a piece of their ancestor’s favorite music as a way of connecting soulfully with their loved one. Musically talented family members can even bring their favored instrument to the gravesite and perform a heartfelt piece of music for their ancestor.

Planting trees

Planting a tree and hanging a memorial card on it is another way to remember the deceased. Along with the deeply buried roots your devotion and remembrance will become entwined with their terrestrial resting place. At the same time, you will be doing your part in protecting the environment, by providing one more lung with which the earth can breathe.

Live streaming the ritual

For those who cannot make the journey to the gravesites of their ancestors, their families can live stream the entire ritual. Since 2017, a cemetery in Nanjing has been offering live streaming services, whereby staff are entrusted with streaming the service to absent family members. This represents the very epitome of a modern Qingming, with technology allowing tradition to find its place within our busy modern lives.

Going online

The Internet has the power to transcend time and space. Therefore it is the ideal tool with which to extend traditional rituals and further pay respect to the dead. Today people can create a virtual tombstone for the deceased person on a website. Then, to remember the dead, they can input their name, choose an appealing bunch of flowers, light a virtual candle and leave a sincere message of affection.