In both China and Samoa, people hold deep respect for their ancestors, believing that the wisdom and legacy of those who came before us continue to guide our lives today. As China observes the “Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day)” this April, it is a meaningful time to reflect on the beautiful similarities between Chinese and Samoan traditions of honouring the deceased.  

As spring breathes new life into the earth, people across China observe “Qingming Festival”, a sacred 2,500-year-old tradition dedicated to honouring ancestors. Falling on April 4th or 5th each year, this deeply rooted custom blends reverence for the past with the renewal of spring, embodying the Chinese belief that while loved ones may pass, their legacy endures.  

Meaning “clear and bright,” Qingming sees families visit ancestral gravesites to clean tombstones, offer flowers, and burn incense. Symbolic foods like “qingtuan” (green rice balls) are prepared, representing renewal and the enduring bond between past and present. Beyond these rituals, the festival serves as a day of storytelling—elders share memories of ancestors, ensuring their lives and values are passed down to younger generations.  

Recognising its cultural significance, UNESCO has inscribed the Qingming Festival on its “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”, preserving this timeless tradition for future generations.  

Samoan traditions: Honouring the past  

In Samoan culture, the remembrance of ancestors is deeply woven into both daily life and significant ceremonies, reflecting a worldview where the past and present exist in continuous dialogue. Two of the most important cultural events— “fa’alavelave (ceremonial gatherings)” and “saofa’i (chiefly title bestowals)”—serve as important occasions to pay tribute to those who came before. During fa’alavelave, which mark weddings, funerals, and other major life events, families gather not only to address immediate matters but also to honour ancestral legacies through formal speeches (lauga), the sharing of precious fine mats (‘ie toga), and the presentation of food gifts (mea alofa). These rituals reinforce the Samoan belief that ancestors remain active participants in family and communal affairs.   

Beyond formal ceremonies, Samoan families maintain strong ties to their heritage through “oral storytelling”, where elders pass down genealogies (gafa) and historical narratives to younger generations. Traditional dances (siva) often embody these stories, with movements and songs preserving the memory of ancestors and key events. The upkeep of family graves is another vital tradition, with Sundays often dedicated to cleaning and decorating burial sites—a practice that mirrors the communal aspect of China’s Qingming Festival.  

A shared cultural spirit   

While the customs differ, the essence remains the same: “Respect for lineage: Both cultures emphasize family ties and ancestral wisdom. “Rituals of care”: Whether through Qingming tomb-sweeping or Samoan grave decorations, physical acts of remembrance keep bonds alive. “Oral traditions”: Stories of ancestors educate the young about identity and values.  

In today’s fast-paced world, these traditions remind us to pause and reflect on what truly matters—the love and lessons left by those before us. As the Chinese saying goes, “yǐn shuǐ sī yuán” (When drinking water, remember its source). Likewise, Samoan proverbs teach, “E lele le toloa, ae maau i le vai” (The duck flies, but never forgets the water).  

May we all cherish these shared values that connect humanity across oceans.  

Zhou Yufang is the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at NUS