Qing Ming : A festival to hold memorial ceremony for the dead. It is a time to express one's grief for his lost relatives.

People often go to sweep and weed graves with whole family and take a walk in the countryside. Of course this does not apply to Spore. Who wanna walk along Lim Chu Kang? The road so long.

During the Period of Spring and Autumn in the Jin Kingdom, one of the King's sons was called Chong Er. Jealous of his talent, a concubine falsely accused him of rebellion to make her son the crown prince. He had no choice but to flee and with him were some officials. They hid themselves in a mountain and went hungry for quite some time. An official named Jie Zitui took great pain to cut some flesh from his thigh and cooked it for Chong Er.

When the fact was known the young master was moved to tears and knelt down in gratitude. And Jie replied his best repayment should be a just king. They lived a life of hunger and cold for three years until the evil concubine died. Many soldiers were sent to look for him and to escort him back home. Going into the carriage, he saw an official packed an old mat onto a horse, he said laughingly, 'What on earth is the use of that? Throw it away!' Jie Zitui heard it and sighed, 'It is hardship that can be shared with His Majesty but not prosperity.' So he went away quietly and lived in seclusion with his old mother.

《途 中 寒 食》（唐）宋 之 问:
马上逢寒食，途中属暮春。可怜江浦望，不见洛桥人。
北极怀明主，南溟作逐臣。故园肠断处，日夜柳条新。

As Chong Er became king, he rewarded many people but he forgot Jie Zitui. He did not realize it until was reminded. However his invitation was refused and he flared up. Soldiers were ordered to burn up the mountain to force Jie to come out. Finally they found Jie and his mother scorched under a willow. He would rather die than yield to the power. Chong Er was so overwhelmed with regret that he ordered people hold memorial ceremony for Jie. So every year on that day folks mourned for him and the day before ate cold meals, which avoided making fire. Later the custom of inserting willow branches on gates was also added.

清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂。

借问酒家何处有？牧童遥指杏花村。----（唐）杜 牧

No need to intro this poem right...

民间广为流传的孟姜女寻夫小曲:

"三月里来是清明，桃红柳绿百草青；别家坟上飘白纸，我家坟上冷清清。"

From what i understand, people will commonly go to sweep tomb 10 days before and after Qing Ming actual day. However, due to no holiday and busy weekend. This traditional was changed to 2 weekends before and after Qing Ming

《寒 食》（唐）韩 翃:

春城无处不飞花，寒食东风御柳斜。

日暮汉宫传蜡烛，轻烟散入五侯家.

Anyway, these few weeks are the only time whereby u will see police or Cisco at Lim Chu Kang.

Due to the festival... i enclose pic of some "ghosts"... heheee.

I was counting the "ghosts"... Think that there is 1 missing somewhere...

WHAT!!! Become real ghost !!!!

Dont frighten me leh... Qing Ming leh... 7th month coming also leh..