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Thanh Minh festival in Vietnamese people's mind

For years, Tiet Thanh Minh (Tomb-sweeping festival) which comes in the early days of spring has become a familiar custom of Vietnamese people. This day has a humane meaning and is imbued with cultural and spiritual values.
Thanh Minh festival in Vietnamese people's mind ảnh 1Thanh Minh is a time for family members to visit their deceased relatives' resting places. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – For years, Tiet Thanh Minh (Tomb-sweepingfestival) which comes in the early days of spring has become a familiar custom of Vietnamese people. This day has a humane meaning and is imbued with cultural and spiritualvalues.

Thanh Minh is not really a big festival in Vietnam, but itis of great spiritual importance as it is a time for family members to visittheir deceased relatives' resting places.

It is the name of the fifth solar term of thetraditional lunisolar calendar which divides a year into 24 ones.Therefore, there is no fixed date but normally it falls between April 4 orApril 5 to April 20 or April 21. This year, it falls on April 5 (the 15th day of the second lunar month).

Thanh Minh festival in Vietnamese people's mind ảnh 2Thanh Minh is a time for family members to visit their deceased relatives' resting places. (Photo: VNA)
During this festival, people often visit the graves oftheir deceased relatives, and clean the grave areas by picking off the wildgrass and adding new earth.

While the elderly are busy praying for their deceasedrelatives at the graves, children are instructed to follow the practices aswell.

Offerings are also prepared to worship the deceased,including flowers, cakes and candy, votive offerings, and incense sticks./.
VNA
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