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The traditional calendar says November 10 was the day for sending your great-grandparents warm woolies to wear during winter in the spirit world. To many Tianjinren (Tianjin people), burning piles of paper clothing and spirit money on the street corner that evening would be like Westerners taking flowers to the cemetery on Memorial Day, hoping that their departed loved one could really smell them. While tending their little bonfires, locals will say deceased parents and ancestor」s names and invoke their protection and blessing.
農歷十月一號送寒衣，人們要在那天把暖和的衣服寄給在另一個世界的祖先，讓他們溫暖過冬。對於不少天津人，在十字路口燒紙衣紙錢就像西方人在陣亡將士紀念日時帶一束花到墓地去祭奠亡靈，希望逝去的親友能聞到花香。天津人一邊燒紙衣紙錢，一邊呼喚先人，祈求他們來保護和祝福健在的後代。
In Tianjin, only those with Hui ethnicity can choose burial rather than cremation. By tradition, the funeral is held three days after death. The departed are often dressed in a high-collared, long-sleeved, red or yellow silk mourning gown. Tianjinren often bring the body home the night before so neighbors and friends can gather to support the family in an all-night farewell vigil. The wake begins and ends with firecrackers to ward off inhospitable spirits. Scattering paper money ensures the departing soul a generous welcome to the next world. These customs, especially the live bands leading mourners in procession through the streets, are now officially discouraged. Fresh flower arrangements have largely replaced paper wreaths but you may still glimpse a paper horse or cow, representing the departed man or woman, or paper children portraying future caregivers.
在天津市，只有回族可以選擇土葬，其他人必須被火化。根據傳統，死者去世三天以後舉行葬禮。死者通常身著高領、長袖紅色或黃色的絲綢壽衣。天津人在葬禮前一晚把死者抬回家，親朋好友和家人一起停靈守夜，告別亡魂。守靈開始和結束的時候都要放炮趨小鬼，撒紙錢是為了幫死者在陰間疏通關系。這樣的風俗習慣，尤其是和尚在街上吹吹打打等大規模的送葬行為現在並不鼓勵。鮮花已經代替了紙做的花圈，不過，仍然可以看見紙牛馬，代表死者是男性或者女性，也有紙人，是在陰間伺候死者的人。
A rental coach and driver transport the family to and from the government-sponsored mortuaries. State employees don white lab coats over their navy suits and lead mourners in bowing before the deceased three times before the cremation. Families may add vehicles to the funeral procession and expand this committal ceremony according to their beliefs and budget. After cremation, most Tianjinren offer food and incense before their loved one」s photo for three days, then move the box of ashes to a memorial park in the suburbs. Dongli boasts a memorial park with over 115,000 square meters of mausoleum. 200 employees handle over13, 000 cremations every year and maintain thousands of trees and plots.
司機開送葬車接送死者的家庭。殯儀館員工外面穿著白大褂，裡面是深藍色的西裝，引導送喪的人做告別儀式。火葬以前，向死者三鞠躬。家人可以按自己的意願多租一些輛車，在預算允許的范圍內把告別儀試辦得更排場一些。火化後，天津人在家裡把貢品擺放在逝去親人的照片前，三天以後再把骨灰盒葬在郊區的陵園。東麗區的殯儀館有一個佔地115，000平方米的陵園。200員工每年火化13，000具遺體，還要看守陵園，種植樹木。購買墓地要花12，000元以上，骨灰盒可以在殯儀館存放20年，還可以選澤海葬或樹葬。
Ancient Chinese history includes City Protectors who recorded each citizen」s deeds in a book. When a person died, this god would report to the King of the Underworld. In the northern countryside, look for pyramid-shaped, earthen mounds near the edges of fields. Southern farmers enshrine tombs on hillside terraces. Although graves are no longer permitted, it is still important for Tianjinren to visit cemeteries and memorial parks on April」s Pure Brightness Tomb Sweeping Festival.
中國古代文化中的土地神掌管亡魂，他把每個人的行為都記錄下來。當一個人死之後到了陰間，土地神會把這個人生時的行為報告給閻羅王。在北方農村，可以在田地邊看到金字塔形的土堆，那就是墳墓。南方人把墳墓蓋在山上。雖然土葬不被允許，但是天津人很重視清明節的掃墓活動。
SIDEBAR:If a friend or neighbor passes away, you can offer condolences like this: 我真遺憾。請你節哀，多保重。Wo3 zhen1 yi2 han4. Qing3 ni3 jie2ai1, duo1 bao3 zhong4
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