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Qingming Community Workday

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Friday, April 9, 2021,
10am - 12pm

Evergreen Cemetery
261 Evergreen Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Free - Volunteer Opportunity

Join the Evergreen restoration team on a community workday to celebrate and honor the Chinese cultural holiday Qingming.

The Qingming Festival, also called Tomb Sweeping Day or, literally, 'Pure Brightness' Festival in English, pays respect to ancestors and celebrates the warming weather of spring. It’s a time for honoring the past with a spirit of celebration that includes space for both reflection and renewal. Join MAH staff and the Evergreen Cemetery Committee, a team of dedicated volunteers, in honoring this celebration by cleaning tombstones and the cemetery grounds.

Unfortunately, hate against Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities has risen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we've seen an increase in violence this last year, this isn’t a new occurrence, especially in Santa Cruz County. The MAH stands against racism and will continue to share stories and preserve the history of many previously unspoken voices.

The Qingming Festival

Qingming

The Qingming Festival is a traditional Chinese festival observed by the Han Chinese of mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and by the Chitty of Malaysia and Singapore.

It falls on the first day of the fifth solar term of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. This year's celebration falls on April 4th, 2021. During Qingming, Chinese families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the gravesites, pray to their ancestors and make ritual offerings. Offerings would typically include traditional food dishes and the burning of joss sticks and joss paper.

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Volunteer at Evergreen Every Friday
Join the Evergreen Cemetery Committee every Friday from 9:30am-12:30pm to help with basic gardening like pulling weeds and clearing walkways, all while discovering Santa Cruz County History.
Learn More & Get Involved

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