How to Properly Offer Incense on Qingming Festival: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Properly Offer Incense on Qingming Festival A Step-by-Step Guide

Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a solemn occasion dedicated to honoring ancestors. One central ritual involves burning incense as a respectful gesture. Here's the correct and respectful way to offer incense during Qingming:

Step 1: Wash Your Hands

Cleanliness symbolizes respect. Before lighting incense, thoroughly wash your hands to ensure you approach the ritual with clean hands and a pure heart. Qingming traditions emphasize sincerity and reverence toward our ancestors.

Step 2: The Number of Incense Sticks

• Outdoor: Light three incense sticks. This number traditionally symbolizes respect for heaven, earth, and ancestors.

• Indoor: One incense stick is sufficient to express remembrance and respect.

Avoid burning too many incense sticks, as excessive smoke can be harmful to both health and the environment.

Step 3: Extinguishing the Flame Properly

Do not blow out incense flames with your mouth—it's considered disrespectful. Instead, hold the incense sticks with both hands and gently shake or wave them in the air until the flame naturally extinguishes.

Step 4: Raising Incense Above the Forehead

Hold the lit incense with both hands and raise it slightly above your forehead. This gesture shows deep respect and reverence toward heaven, earth, and ancestors. It also helps prevent accidental burns to others around you.

Step 5: Place Incense Properly in an Incense Burner

Never insert incense sticks into food or fruits, as incense contains additives and combustion aids that are toxic and can contaminate food, creating both health risks and fire hazards. Always use a designated incense burner to safely and respectfully position incense sticks.