I heard that you have to visit graves early during Qingming Festival. How many days in advance should you go?

Visiting graves during the Qingming Festival generally requires visiting graves a few days in advance, but the sooner the better.

Extended answer

1. How many days in advance are the general visits to graves during the Qingming Festival

Try to sweep the tombs as early as possible during the Qingming Festival. There was a proverb in the past: "Early in the Qingming Festival, late at the eleventh hour" The earlier the Qingming Festival to pay homage to ancestors, the better. It can be done one to two weeks before the Qingming Festival. Do not rush to the Qingming Festival. In addition, it is best to sweep the tombs between 7 am and 3 pm. On this day, the sun is shining. The time when Qi is rising is the best time for us to pay homage to our ancestors. Because after three o'clock in the afternoon, the yang energy gradually fades and the yin energy gradually increases. If you are unlucky or weak during this time, you will easily be haunted by yin spirits and cause harm to you.

2. How early is the appropriate time to sweep tombs during Qingming Festival?

1. New graves:

Refers to those buried less than 3 years ago. The first time to sweep tombs should be at Choose an auspicious day 10 days before Qingming Festival; choose the day before Qingming Festival for the second time to sweep the tomb; choose an auspicious day 10 days after Qingming Festival for the third time to sweep the tomb;

2. Old graves:

Refers to those buried for more than 3 years; the time for sweeping the graves in old graves can be chosen on any day within 10 days before and after Qingming Festival, and there is no need to choose an auspicious day; when the date of sweeping the grave is selected, The specific time for sweeping the tomb should be chosen at the fifth watch of the day, that is, before the sun comes up. This is because traditional customs believe that ghosts and gods dare not come out to eat offerings until dawn. (Note: The fifth watch is about 4 o'clock in the middle of the night)

3. Is the earlier the better during the Tomb-Sweeping Day?

The earlier the better during the Tomb-Sweeping Day, it does not mean that the earlier the better. It depends on your own situation. It is best to do it between 5 and 7 o'clock, which is Mao hour. In the ancient calendar, it was one. Tomb sweeping does not necessarily have to be done in the morning. Generally, it can be done between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., as long as it is not dawn or the sun has set.

4. The correct steps for sweeping tombs during the Qingming Festival

The "Turkey God" should be sacrificed first, and then the deceased; this order cannot be mistaken! Relatives come to the tomb, weed and add grass. Soil and repair the grave. Folks generally believe that the dead live underground, the graves are houses, and the graves are the roofs. After being washed away by rain, weeds became overgrown and many of the tombs were damaged. Therefore, it is necessary to weed, fill the soil, and build drainage ditches around the graves to prevent rainwater from washing into the graves. After the tomb is repaired, offerings are placed behind the tomb and sacrifices are made to the "Tuigong" first. Then the offerings are placed in front of the grave, and then the deceased is sacrificed. Light incense candles during worship. After the sacrifice, paper money is burned or pressed on the grave. When worshiping graves, people often pray to their ancestors to bless themselves and their families with health and happiness, because ancestors are the family gods who bless their families.