Every year on that particular day, we are like a group of stubborn drama spirits, knowing that those deceased relatives have become stars in the sky, but still neatly write down the information of the recipient and sender, and burn them to those graves that no longer exist. If nothing else, just to find a thought for yourself and tell yourself: Those who are still alive are still thinking about you!
Honestly, it sounds hilarious. We are a group of big living people, for the sake of those who have left, to make a decent appearance, burning paper and kowtowing, it is simply an absurd drama. But don't laugh, it's not that simple. Because we know in our hearts that these rituals are not for the dead, but for the living. It is like a mirror, allowing us to see our innermost thoughts and reluctance.
Back then, when I was a child, I always felt that it was a waste when I watched adults buy so much paper money. But now I understand that what they buy is not paper, it's time, it's memories, it's those good times spent with their loved ones. What they burn is not paper, it is longing, it is guilt, it is those unspeakable hearts.
To be honest, these ceremonies are pretty silly, but we're just stupidly sticking to them. Why? Because we know that there are some things that can only be experienced by experiencing them. It's like burning paper for your loved ones, watching the pieces of paper turn to ashes, and the past in your heart is like a movie replaying scene by scene. The bitterness and tiredness that could not be said to others were also released one by one with the burning of paper money.
Those who have experienced the difference between life and death understand that death is not the end, but forgetting. So, we need to remind ourselves with these seemingly ridiculous rituals: don't forget those who have been with us through life. Although they are gone, their love and memories will remain in our hearts forever.
Some say that these rituals are superstitious and absurd. But I would like to say that whether it is superstition or absurdity, as long as it can make us stop in our busy lives and feel the deep longing and reluctance, then it is meaningful. Because in this world, there are some things that cannot be explained by science, such as love, such as longing.
Finally, I want to say that whether it is burning paper or kowtowing, these are all a kind of sustenance and nostalgia for our deceased relatives. They allow us to find a little comfort in our sadness and a little warmth in our memories. So, let's continue this seemingly absurd but full of true ritual! Because only in this way can we truly feel the presence of those loved ones who have left us. Although they have left this world, their love and memories will always be with us.