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The Thanh Minh festival of 2023 falls on the 5th of April in the Solar calendar, marking the 15th of February in the Lunar calendar, Wednesday, corresponding to the Year of the Quy Ty, Month of At Mao, in the Year of Quy Mao
Since ancient times, with the tradition of 'Gratitude for the Source,' the Thanh Minh festival has become one of the significant and sacred celebrations deeply engraved in the hearts of Vietnamese people. To learn more about this solemn occasion and discover the date of Thanh Minh, let's follow our article to gain a better understanding of this sacred festival!
Thanh Minh Festival
The Thanh Minh Festival is one of the calendrical concepts in East Asian countries influenced by ancient Chinese culture. It is one of the twenty-four solar terms according to the lunar calendar in countries like China, Vietnam, Japan, North Korea, etc. Thanh Minh is calculated based on the sun's movement - the solar calendar, rather than the moon's movement - the lunar calendar as commonly thought. Consequently, Thanh Minh Festival often falls on the 4th or 5th day of April in the solar calendar.
Celebrate Thanh Minh Festival
Although not a major holiday, this day has become an indispensable occasion for people in East Asia in general and Vietnam in particular. It is a day closely tied to ethics and the duty of every citizen - a duty to remember the merits of their ancestors. It is a memorial day, a collective day of remembrance for those who have passed away, where the living express filial piety, gratitude, and remembrance for their contributions.
When is Thanh Minh Festival in 2023?
Thanh Minh is the 5th solar term among the 24 annual solar terms. Thanh Minh signifies a period of clear and pure weather. It usually falls around 45 days after the Establishment of Spring or 105 days after the Winter Solstice, and the first day of this solar term is considered Thanh Minh Festival.
Thanh Minh Festival 2023 date?
Therefore, Thanh Minh Festival in 2023 falls on the 5th of April in the Solar calendar, which is the 15th of February in the Lunar calendar, Wednesday, corresponding to the Year of the Quy Ty, Month of At Mao, in the Year of Quy Mao.
On that day, the auspicious hours are:
- Ox Hour (01:00 AM - 03:00 AM)
- Tiger Hour (07:00 AM - 09:00 AM)
- Goat Hour (11:00 AM - 01:00 PM)
- Snake Hour (01:00 PM - 03:00 PM)
- Dog Hour (07:00 PM - 09:00 PM)
- Pig Hour (09:00 PM - 11:00 PM)
To find out more about Thanh Minh Festival in the coming years, or the corresponding dates in the lunar and solar calendars, you can check our lunar calendar application.
Origin of Thanh Minh Festival
Thanh Minh Festival originated from ancient China. According to historical records, during the reign of Xuân Thu, there was a king named Tan Van Cong of the Tan country, who had to leave his homeland due to exile. At that time, a virtuous man named Gioi Tu Thoi always helped the king overcome difficulties. When food ran out, he personally cut meat from his thigh to cook for the king, and the king was deeply grateful for his kindness. Gioi Tu Thoi served the king for 19 years, enduring many hardships. However, when the king regained his power, he lavishly rewarded those who had contributed but forgot Gioi Tu Thoi's assistance. Without harboring any resentment, Gioi Tu Thoi went into hiding in Dien Son mountain with his mother.
Origin of Thanh Minh Festival
Later, when the king remembered him and wanted to reward him, Gioi Tu Thoi declined. To force Tu Thoi out, the king ordered the forest to be set on fire, but he and his mother did not leave and perished in the flames. Touched by sorrow, the king built a shrine in his memory, giving rise to Thanh Minh Festival. In the folk belief, people avoid using fire from the 3rd to the 5th day of the lunar month, consuming cold food. This period is also known as Cold Food Festival.
This festival was introduced to Vietnam during the Ly Dynasty but has evolved in its significance. It is closely associated with the Grave Cleaning custom. On this day, everyone makes an effort to return home, gather around the family table, and accompany relatives to clean the ancestral graves.
Tasks on Thanh Minh Festival Day
Vietnamese people consider Thanh Minh Festival as an opportunity to repair the tombs of their ancestors and family line, ensuring the graves are clean. During grave cleaning, people often bring hoes and shovels to fill in any cracks or gaps, clear weeds and wild growth around the graves, cover them, and also to prevent snakes and rodents from digging holes.
People bustlingly visit graves during Thanh Minh Festival
After completion, individuals usually light fragrant incense and may plant small flowers like marigolds, daisies, or other blossoms on the graves. Alternatively, people may arrange beautiful fresh flowers for the departed souls.
Some considerations when choosing flowers for arrangement:
Choose modest flowers with subtle colors, primarily in yellow or white, and you can mix in some purple flowers.
- For offerings, consider white or yellow chrysanthemums, or lilies.
- For those of the same generation, choose white or yellow chrysanthemums, roses, lilies, or trumpet lilies.
- For friends or younger individuals, select flowers based on their preferences during their lifetime without being overly formal.
Considerations when visiting graves:
- Before heading to the grave, set up the altar, and light incense to seek ancestral permission.
- When visiting the grave, even if it means carrying a heavy load, avoid hiring someone and let family members carry it.
- During the ritual, the eldest or designated family member should lead, showing respect for the deceased.
- Light incense at the ancestral altar before doing so at the grave site.
- After the ritual, clean the surroundings only by removing weeds, planting flowers, wiping, etc. For unconstructed graves, add soil gently without causing erosion.
- Burn paper offerings in designated areas, avoiding close proximity to the grave to preserve the spiritual atmosphere.
Upon arrival, elders handle the ceremonial bowing, while descendants stand respectfully, folding hands in prayer. Maintain seriousness, avoid jokes or loud conversations during the ceremony, demonstrating solemnity and respect for the departed.
After grave visitation, clean and tidy the home, ancestral altar, and worship area. This act reflects the descendants' respect, reverence, and care for their ancestors.
Things to avoid during Thanh Minh Festival:
In addition to essential tasks, steer clear of these actions to prevent mishaps:
When visiting graves:
- Avoid desolate and less-traveled paths; choose well-trodden routes to avoid potential dangers.
- Approach with sincerity and without distraction.
- Respect other graves; do not step on or show disrespect to avoid negative consequences.
- Clean and adorn ancestral graves with fresh flowers, paying attention to all sides.
- While visiting graves, tidy up and enhance all four sides of the tomb to express reverence.
- Pregnant women and those menstruating should avoid visiting graves to ward off negative energies.
- Avoid taking photos around the gravesite.
- If superstitious, stepping over fire upon returning home can ward off negative energies.
Additional considerations:
- Avoid hosting celebrations, parties, or excessive merriment.
- Avoid overly bright clothing.
- Avoid traveling or visiting friends as it may bring unwanted consequences to both oneself and the host family.
- If not a family member, refrain from visiting graves.
- During this time, do not cover the forehead with hair or buy new shoes. According to ancient beliefs, the forehead is the gate of destiny, and spirits illuminate it, so it's best not to cover it with hair. The word for 'shoes' in Chinese sounds like 'evil,' so avoid buying new shoes to prevent malevolent spirits from following you.
- Some traditions suggest that a widow should not visit graves within three years of her husband's passing. However, this varies, and it's best to adhere to local customs to avoid gossip and criticism.
The mentioned precautions are specific to certain regions. If your locality doesn't observe these customs, feel free to follow your own preferences. However, be mindful of local traditions as they may hold significance and help avoid unnecessary criticism.
How to Conduct Thanh Minh Rituals?
Outside the tomb
The head of the household arranges the offering table with items such as gold coins, incense, betel leaves, fruits, vegetarian or savory offerings in the communal worship area. Then, light candles, bow three times to show respect to the local spirits, invite ancestral spirits back, and recite specific prayers for grave visitation, as recorded in books and passed down through generations.
Thành Minh Rituals Beyond the Grave
While waiting for the ritual at the spiritual altar, family members go to their ancestral gravesite to light incense and seek permission to tidy and decorate. After completing the rituals, the cleanup process begins.
Once the incense has burned two-thirds, everyone can offer thanks, transform gold, seek blessings, and then depart.
At Home
Prior to the ceremony, the head of the household should tidy up the home and the ancestral altar.
At home, individuals can prepare their own ancestral offering table. The contents may vary depending on each family's circumstances, but the crucial aspect is preparing with a sincere heart.
The offering table can include plates of sticky rice, a roasted chicken, fruits, betel leaves, gold coins, and other dishes according to the family's preferences.
During the ritual, the head of the household should maintain a solemn demeanor, expressing filial piety to the ancestors.
Is Tết Thanh Minh the same as Hàn Thực Festival?
Many people often confuse these two festivals, thinking they are the same. In reality, these are two entirely different occasions.
Tết Thanh Minh starts around the 4th or 5th day of the 4th month, falling approximately 45 days after Lập Xuân and 105 days after Đông Chí. It marks the beginning of the Thanh Minh season. During this time, families gather to visit ancestral graves and share meals after the ceremony.
On the other hand, Hàn Thực Festival falls on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month. On this day, people often enjoy cold dishes, soups, and traditional glutinous rice cakes.
Therefore, these are two distinct celebrations. Some regions may only observe Hàn Thực, while Thanh Minh is often combined with year-end and New Year festivities, close to the Lunar New Year.
Here is some information about Tết Thanh Minh, including what to do, what to avoid, and how to perform rituals. We hope this article can be helpful to you!
Visit our auspicious days application to find favorable days of the month, auspicious hours in a day, and beneficial directions for your journeys. This app is extremely useful for checking propitious timings for long-distance travel during the beginning of the Lunar New Year.
