As summer transition to Autumn – the mid-point is considered a time when the material world is in a state of commune with the unseen spiritual world. The ideograms “重陽” are pronounced “Zhong Yang” (Double Nine) in Putonghua (Mandarin) – are pronounced “Chung Yeung” in the Cantonese dialect (spoken in Hong Kong). In our Hakka dialect we say “Chhiùng-Yòng” – which is nearer the Northern Beijing dialect (Hakka people migrated into the South from the North). Although the graves are cleaned of leaves and dirt – this time of year is usually designed for “feeding” the spirits. Bowls of fresh (sealed) food can be laid near the grave with paper clothing “burned” (the smoke carries the objects up to the divine-sky). The food is then taken away, Incense is lit and flowers distributed.
