Before I get married, my family
used to have a Christian middle-aged helper, who was very thrifty. She loved to
collect items uncontrollably without being able to throw anything away. Sometimes she tried to “recycle, reuse
and reduce” all those unnecessary items which was good, but in other times it
created unsanitary, dangerous and unhealthy living environment.
One day on Cheng Beng (Qing Ming/
清明節) also known
as Tomb-Sweeping Festival, a festival or an opportunity for celebrants to
remember and honor their ancestors at grave sites where young and old will pray
before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, wine, chopsticks,
joss paper accessories, and/ or libations to the ancestors.
But for those who do not go to
the grave sites, some families will remain or gather at home as a group to burn
paper shoes, clothing and joss paper accessories for their ancestors, as our
neighbor did at the front side of their house (garage).
And when our helper noticed that,
she abruptly ran outside and yelled out, ”Auntie, why on earth you burn all
those shoes? They still remain in a very good condition. Why you burn them? If
you don't want them, you can give it to me, I would love to keep them.”
All the families (neighborhood)
literally just burst out laughing (very loudly), even my mom unable to hold back
her mirth, and left out our helper standing alone in greatly perplexed. Later
on our neighbor tried to explain to her - what they burnt was a paper shoes for
the ancestors, not a real shoes. She was so embarrassed and ran away back home.
Since that day, Cheng Beng for my
family had never be the same again. For us, those funny moments remained in our
memory. :)
