The Sweeping.

A holiday is coming up. Some people strike preemptively by celebrating it early and beating the rush.

    TOMB SWEEPING.

That is a grave. A tomb, if you will. Two can fit in there nice and cozy.

That is a cemetery. Filled with lots of tombs.

And this is how you tomb sweep:

 Step 1: You sweep. Make sure the area around the actual tomb is nice and clean. There are no caretakers for cemeteries over here; it's all up to living relatives to keep the dead ones looking pretty. So the first step is to make sure there are no unsightly twigs or clumps of dirt around.

Step 2: You re-cover the top of the grave. With egg shells and colored paper (what my cousins are doing in the picture above). There may have been a particular reason for egg shells and colored paper at some point, but that kinda got lost in the shuffle. So just do it, because it's respectful, okay? 

Step 3: You place newspaper in front of the tomb, and in front of the statues of the Gods that protect the tomb, in preparation for food and money offerings.

Step 4: You place food on the newspaper as an offering to your ancestors. You wait until the "essence" of the food has been accepted (you know this through consulting the special "joss sticks" you brought with you). 

Step 5: You burn certified fake paper money, so your ancestors will have something to spend up in Heaven.

Step 6: You eat the food you just offered. It's okay, because the essence of the food has already been eaten by your ancestors, remember? So don't even worry about it.

Repeat, if necessary. (Like, maybe you have more than just one dead ancestor.)

The idea of respecting those that came before you (or those that left before you) in this way makes me think I would like to show a similar respect for my deceased loved ones when I come back. We have a holiday like this too, you know. Except, I can't remember the last time I visited the graves of my ancestors on Memorial Day. Egg shells and colored paper aren't necessary for me, I believe, but it's through my ancestor's choices and decisions that I can enjoy the life I'm living now. I think that deserves something, don't you?

Tomb Sweeping isn't the only thing that's been happening around here. We've been having more familiar fun, as well.

(Thanks, Kendra, for taking those two pictures!)

∏ Day was a great success. 

And I've made a pact. 

For a solid 30 (THIRTY!) days, no refined sugar is going to pass my lips, in any way, shape, or form. 

That's right. I'm going to do it, dangit, just to say I can.

How can I give up things like that down there, you ask? 

That is a good question. But it's only a month, and besides, I can still eat these!

And trust me, they're delicious.