Can I make offerings to the Buddhist temple after my father passed away during the Spring Festival?

Yes! "If my father passes away during the Spring Festival, he can make offerings to the temple." However, he cannot set off fireworks, wear red clothes, or celebrate various festivals during the year.

The first anniversary after the death of a relative is called "Dui Nian", and the sacrifices performed are called "Zuo Dui Nian", also known as "Xiao Xiang". Because the deceased was not in a leap year, if there is a leap month in the year, it needs to be done one month in advance, that is, the date of the year is pushed forward 30 days, and the calculation is based on 30 days per month. According to custom, families with family members who have a funeral do not celebrate any festivals before the New Year. They do not make rice cakes during the Chinese New Year, make glutinous rice balls during the Lantern Festival, make rice dumplings during the Dragon Boat Festival, and cook mochi during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The so-called "Hundred Days", according to the current etiquette and customs, is counted from the day the ancestor died to the 100th day. When the deceased reaches the 100th day, he must offer sacrifices again, or invite the master, Taoist priests and monks chant sutras.

The so-called three years of mourning refers to the three-year mourning period in ancient rites. When a parent dies, the children must serve a three-year mourning period (actually 25 months). However, nowadays most of them have changed to The deceased will pay homage to the deceased for three years after the new year. Worshiping for three years is the same as worshiping for seven or a hundred days.

The so-called "Heglu" is also called "Daxiang" and "Hehuo". When a loved one passes away, a memorial tablet (sacred tablet) is usually set up in the home. After the death, the memorial tablet of the deceased can be cremated on a selected date, or part of the ashes of the incense burner can be put into the incense burner enshrining the ancestor tablets, and the memorial tablet of the deceased can be cremated. The memorial tablets of the deceased are included in the ancestor tablets, and the ancestors are reunited and worshiped together, and the deceased relatives are promoted to ancestors.

There are three timings for closing the furnace:

1. Closing the furnace at the same time on the day of the new year: If the day of the new year is good (auspicious), then it should be at 10 a.m. on the day of the new year. At 11:00 o'clock, we first pray to "Die Nian", and then hold "He Lu" at 11 o'clock.

2. Dui Nian and He Lu are on different days: If the day of Dui Nian is not auspicious, only "Dui Nian" will be held on the day of Dui Nian, and "He Lu" will be held on another auspicious day.

3. After three years in the afterlife, do the Helu: 12 months in the first year, 12 months in the second year, and one month in the third year, that is, 25 months will be used as the "Helu", which is called "Do it for three years."

During the "Year of Comparison", descendants, relatives and friends can go to the cemetery tower in person, or hold a memorial ceremony in front of the deity at home, which is called a "sacrificial ceremony", also known as Xiaoxiang. The married daughters of the deceased have to come back to offer wine, food, sacrifices, and fruits to worship. Some people will also invite masters, Taoist priests, and monks to chant sutras and perform rituals, which is called "making the right year."

Preparation of sacrifices 1. Six or twelve vegetable bowls of cooked food, a bowl of white rice, and a pair of chopsticks.

Explanation: Vegetable bowls are used to worship the deceased, so you can prepare other foods that the deceased liked to eat before death and worship together. If you don’t stick to traditional dishes, you can also cook your own dishes or buy dishes from the buffet, which can be meat or vegetarian; some people simply use fruits to worship.

2. Four fruits: Prepare four kinds of fruits to worship Buddha and Bodhisattva. Please prepare an odd number of each kind, one big one such as cantaloupe is enough.

3. Three animals (pork belly, fish, whole chicken). Vegetarians can switch to vegetarian diet.

4. Three red circles and fat cakes (symbolizing the reunion and prosperity of descendants).

5. Mian Tou Mountain (also known as Zisun Mountain or Daughter Mountain).

6. A pair of flowers.

7. A bottle of rice wine or tea: rice wine is mostly used to worship royal officials or the deceased, while tea is suitable for worshiping Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

8. Paper money: one piece of incense, two pairs of Buddha cup candles, one piece of longevity gold, one piece of cut gold, and several pieces of silver paper.

On the morning of the closing ceremony, incense must be burned to inform the deceased and ancestors that the closing ceremony will be held today. At 10 o'clock in the morning, we will first "make the right year", and at 11 o'clock, prepare to "make the closing furnace", and tell the door god to welcome the souls of the deceased and the ancestors to take their places at the memorial tablets. Afterwards, arrange the new tablets, incense burners and ancestor tablets, open the "ancestor card" and arrange the names of the ancestors in order, and then write down the name of the "newly deceased", the time of birth and death, important events, etc.

Preparation of offerings:

1. Prepare a set of "three animals" and three glasses of wine.

2. "Hero" is the first "family sacrifice", with 7 sets of bowls, chopsticks and cups, "four pieces of longevity gold", a pot of "rice", and cooked dishes such as chicken and fish , celery, squid, beans, leeks, onions, and garlic.

3. The "seven cups of wine" must be poured three times for longevity gold, red balls and hair cakes, etc. The family members successively offer incense and burn longevity gold as gifts to their ancestors.

Be careful not to forget your ancestors. While paying attention to the rituals and customs of worshiping ancestors, you should also remind the next generation of good filial ethics education, accumulate good deeds for the ancestors, make offerings to the Three Treasures, give alms to the poor, and increase The blessings and wisdom of our ancestors.