Beijing attractions

 

 

祭祀
Sacrificing Ceremony

Before the Family Reunion Dinner, the Chinese are used to holding a worshipping ceremony to offer sacrifice to the Heaven, gods and ancestors. Due to different local traditions, the worshipping takes on different forms in different regions. In some villages, there are ancestral halls special for the worshipping. A big crowd of people gathers in the hall. Their sacrificial offerings are often placed side by side in a table special for sacrifice. Traditionally, women are not allowed to be present in such a ceremony, which is a manifestation of sexism. But there are exceptions. In my village, women are allowed to attend the ceremony. In cities, people don’t have ancestral halls. They usually enshrine the gods and the ancestral tablets at home and do the worshipping at home. Although difference does exist, the intention of worshipping is the same. That is to show respect and give regards to the Heaven, gods and ancestors, and pray for a happy and prosperous future.