Every year, between the 20th and 25th days of the twelfth lunar month, families across Phu Quy Island observe the long-standing tradition of grave cleaning, a practice that expresses deep respect and filial piety toward their ancestors.
As the Lunar New Year approaches, family members gather to visit ancestral graves. Some tidy the burial site, clear weeds, trim surrounding plants, and rebuild the mounds, while others offer incense and prayers. This collective effort helps restore and beautify the resting places of their forebears.
During these days, the cemeteries become lively with people of all ages. Adults pray and pay homage, while children accompany their parents or grandparents—not only to learn the locations of ancestral graves but also to be taught about honoring and remembering their roots. Even those who work far from home often return to the island at this time to visit ancestral graves and reunite with family.
Fresh flowers, cakes, and fruits are essential offerings during the year-end grave-cleaning ritual. After arranging the offerings, descendants light incense, burn votive paper, and symbolically invite their departed ancestors to return home and celebrate the New Year with the family.
For the people of Phu Quy, grave cleaning is a deeply meaningful and human tradition. Just as families prepare and decorate their homes for Tet, they also take care of ancestral graves to show reverence and gratitude. This custom reflects the enduring Vietnamese value of “uống nước nhớ nguồn”—remembering one’s roots and honoring those who came before.
