Celebrate Qing Ming Festival at Salem Pioneer Cemetery April 4

The community is invited to attend Salem's 8th annual celebration of the Chinese Qing Ming Festival, also known as the Clear and Bright Festival, at Salem Pioneer Cemetery on April 4 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This traditional Chinese festival honors ancestors while welcoming the arrival of spring.

The Qing Ming Festival has deep historical roots in Salem. In 2018, a Chinese funerary table (shrine) was uncovered at Salem Pioneer Cemetery, revealing that the local Chinese community had been observing this festival as far back as the 1800s. During these early celebrations, graves were cleaned and decorated with flowers. Families burned symbolic items, such as money and clothing, to provide for their ancestors in the afterlife. Candles were lit, and food and flowers were placed on altars to honor the departed.

What to Expect at the Celebration
By attending this event, participants can learn about the rich heritage of Salem's Chinese community and their enduring cultural traditions. This celebration fosters understanding, respect and appreciation for the diverse history of Salem and its residents.

The April 4 event will feature:

• A proclamation by Salem Mayor Julie Hoy
• Traditional Chinese music and poetry performed by Willamette University students
• A presentation by Dr. Russell Low about Salem's Chinese community and the significance of Qing Ming traditions
• Qing Ming offerings, including the lighting of a burner for Joss paper and the placement of Joss sticks and flowers

Significance of the Qing Ming Festival
The Qing Ming Festival is an important cultural tradition that connects Salem's present-day community to its historical roots. It highlights the contributions of Chinese immigrants to the city's history and preserves the memory of their customs and practices.

Understanding Qing Ming Traditions
During Qing Ming, families traditionally clean the tombs of their ancestors and make offerings of tea, wine and food. Burning paper items, such as symbolic money, ensures that ancestors have the resources they need in the afterlife. These practices reflect the importance of honoring and caring for one's ancestors, a central value in Chinese funerary culture.

When Chinese immigrants began arriving in America in the 1850s, they maintained these traditions. Many hoped to have their remains returned to China after death. Typically, remains were buried for seven to 10 years before being exhumed and shipped back to China. However, some individuals, including women and children, remain buried in the Chinese section of Salem Pioneer Cemetery due to financial or logistical challenges faced by their families.

Reviving a Historic Tradition
The modern interpretation of the Qing Ming ceremony in Salem began in 2018, following the discovery of the funerary slab during archaeological excavations. This revival was made possible through collaboration between several organizations, including the City of Salem, Friends of the Pioneer Cemetery, Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, CCBA Portland, Willamette University, the Chinese Shrine Advisory Committee, Rick Hilts and City View Cemetery and Raymond Lin of the Hoy Yin Association.

Learn More
For more information about the Qing Ming Festival, visit the Annual Chinese Qing Ming Festival web page.

To learn more about a Chinese immigrant family and their struggles to establish roots in Salem during the 19^th Century Chinese Exclusionary period, attend Dr. Russell Low's talk 'A Willow Tree Becomes a Forest' at the Bush House Museum on April 3, 2026, from 6 - 8 p.m.