Visiting graves in spring

(Baonghean.vn) - When I was just ten years old, on the 27th of Tet, my father chose the whitest and smoothest layer of lime and put it in a red bucket. My mother went to the market to buy yellow chrysanthemums and a big bunch of incense, while my father was at home repairing the bicycle, lining it with a comfortable saddle to take me to visit the graves. I held in my hand a bunch of bright yellow chrysanthemums with their roots still intact in the soil, and asked my father:

- Why do we have to visit graves during Tet?

Dad smiled and said:

- Because according to Vietnamese spiritual tradition, when the new year comes, everything must be prepared and renovated, including the resting place of the deceased.

My father also told me that visiting graves is one of the filial duties of children and grandchildren, showing respect for their parents and ancestors. Because I am a son, I had to get used to this job from a young age so that when my father was old, I would have to take his place to maintain filial piety. At that time, I was too young to understand everything my father taught me. But just by looking at the way my father carefully and gently swept each layer of white lime evenly over the grave, pulled out wild grass, and bowed respectfully to burn incense before his ancestors, I understood that it was a very sacred custom.

As always, after having whitewashed and repaired the graves of my ancestors, my father took me to the martyrs’ cemetery of the commune. Here, I met many adults and even children like me who came to repair the graves. Among them were many nameless martyrs, but I knew they did not feel cold at all but warmed by human affection and fragrant incense sticks. My father taught me how to plant yellow flower bushes, he helped me teach him how to whitewash evenly and smoothly. My father also taught me to burn incense and talk with the martyrs. I told my father:

- But I don't know what to talk about, dad?

Dad patted my head, smiled gently and said:

- Tell me stories about class and school. Then promise me that you will be good and study well.

Gradually, every year, no matter how busy I am in making a living, no matter how far away I work all year, every year I remember to come back before the 27th of Tet to plant beautiful flower beds, to tell my grandparents and ancestors about what happened during the year to my family and clan. To sincerely invite my ancestors to prepare to come back to celebrate Tet with my family.

I really miss the image of people shaking hands and greeting each other when visiting graves together. In the joy of meeting again after a long year of busy work, they can recall past memories of a time of poverty, hardship, and shared hardship. And then when leaving, deep inside, there are eyes filled with mixed joy and sadness. They make an appointment to visit graves again next year…

Long ago, when I was a child, my father took me to visit the graves on his rickety bicycle, and we both felt very happy. Now, after nearly twenty years, my father has aged a lot, his hair has turned gray, his back has begun to bend, but every 27th of Tet, I take him there. Forever after, I will never forget that sacred emotion!

Ta Duc An