I live in an ensuite with 8 Chinese people and one Portuguese girl named Laya, which has brought cultural differences.
As Chinese, we enjoy talking to Laya and exploring the differences in perspectives between countries.
Today, we talked about an interesting topic — where do people go after they pass away?
In China, we have a traditional festival called the Ghost Festival.
On this day, we remember our loved ones who have passed away by burning “paper money” and offering incense to them.
This is to make sure they have enough money in “heaven” to buy a house, clothes, and live a happy life.
It’s also a way for us to express our missing for them.
In Chinese belief, even after death, people still exist in some way.
While this may not align with science, it shows how much we care for our loved ones.
I thought every country had similar traditions, but Laya found this interesting and surprising. In Portugal, when someone passes away, people miss them and feel sad, but there are not traditional festivals to remember them. Laya said that she used to believe in science and thought that when someone dies, that’s the end, and there’s nothing more. But as she grew older, she wanted to believe that her loved ones go to another world and live happily. So, she completely agrees with the idea of the Chinese Ghost Festival.
I once heard that the true death is not when your body leaves this world, but when no one remembers you anymore.
That’s why, during the Ghost Festival and the Spring Festival, I write letters to my grandmother, telling her that we are doing well and expressing my longing for her, and I burn the letters along with the paper money.
I believe she can see it and knows that I am thinking of her!
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