Eating with the Dead

These are some Spring-time festivals around the world where food bridges life and the afterlife

Spring is a time of renewal, yet for many cultures around the world, it’s also a season to remember the departed. As the earth blooms, ancestral spirits are called back to the living world through vibrant rituals, communal feasts, and the sharing of food. These spring festivals offer a fascinating glimpse into the ways people across the globe celebrate life’s cyclical nature, where food becomes a sacred bridge connecting the living and the dead.

At the Chonghe Dong Cemetery during the Qingming Festival where a common practice is also to clean the graves (Rangan Datta under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)

Qingming Festival – China

A Feast for the Ancestors

In the heart of spring, China observes the Qingming Festival (also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day), when families gather to honour their ancestors. It's a time for reflection, respect, and remembrance. But it’s also a time for feasting. With offerings of food (steamed buns, tea, and fruit) families visit the graves of their loved ones, cleaning the tombstones and leaving behind carefully prepared meals. These food offerings serve not only as sustenance for the spirits but as a way to keep the bond between the living and the departed strong and present. Qingming reminds us that the connection to our ancestors is not just one of memory, but of shared nourishment, both spiritual and physical.

Once the rewrapping is done, women wait to carry is it back to the burial site (Hery Zo Rakotondramanana under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)

Famadihana – Madagascar

Turning Bones, Turning Hearts

In Madagascar, the dead never truly leave. During the springtime, families practice Famadihana (also known as the Turning of the Bones) an extraordinary tradition that involves exhuming the remains of deceased relatives, wrapping them in fresh shrouds and holding joyous celebrations in their honour. A feast is prepared, not just for the living but for the dead, ensuring that the spirits of their ancestors enjoy the same delicacies they once savoured. This ritual transforms mourning into a celebration, showing us that food can heal, honour and connect.

This festival is celebrated in Kathmandu Valley and also includes a pride parade (Nepal Tourism Board)

Gai Jatra – Nepal

A Festival of Cows, Dance and Delectables

When loss strikes a family, the people of Nepal celebrate Gai Jatra (also known as the Festival of Cows). Held during the spring, this unique festival allows families to express their grief while embracing joy. The cows, which are believed to guide the souls of the deceased to the afterlife, lead a procession through the streets, accompanied by music and dance. As the festivities unfold, traditional offerings such as sel roti (a deep-fried rice doughnut) and other sweets are shared. It symbolises the continuation of life, honouring those who came before, and the belief that the dead are always with us.

This festival is a fusion of ancestral beliefs and buddhist customs to honour ancestors (Daniel Beauchamp)

Obon – Japan

Welcoming Spirits Through a Feast of Light

In Japan, the Obon Festival is held in mid-August. Here, families prepare altars with incense, food, and offerings to invite their loved ones’ spirits back for a brief reunion. Everyone's kitchens become a sacred space, filled with the fragrances of food meant to please and nourish those who return from the afterlife. Dishes like soma-zuke (pickled fish) and melon (which are known to be favoured by ancestors) are prepared with care and devotion. There is a communal dance known as Bon Odori which forms a loop between the realms of the living and the dead, believed to blur the boundaries between the two.

This a traditional Korean food made from rice powder, called songpyeon (Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication)

Chuseok – Korea

Harvesting Gratitude, Honoring the Departed

Korea’s Chuseok festival happens in autumn and is akin to a Thanksgiving celebration. However, it initiates deep in the spring season, when seeds are sown and the harvest awaits. A family-centred occasion, it’s a time to honour ancestors with a special offering of food, known as jesa, placed on a ritual table. Traditional dishes like songpyeon (half-moon rice cakes) and jeon (savoury pancakes) are prepared and symbolise the sharing between the living and the dead. These foods also act as a symbol of reverence, ensuring the ancestors are well-fed in their next life.

Food offerings is a common Hindu ritual, even outside of festivals (Biswarup Ganguly under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license)

Pitru Paksha – India

A Time for Ancestral Offerings

In India, Pitru Paksha is a sacred 16-day period during which Hindus perform rituals for their deceased ancestors. This spring tradition involves preparing meals of rice, barley, and sesame, which are offered to the spirits as a means of ensuring they are at peace in the afterlife. This food, steeped in symbolism and devotion, is meant to nourish the departed on their journey. The offerings, placed on banana leaves or specially prepared plates, are also an offering of gratitude and respect. During this period, families come together, sharing stories of the departed, and reinforcing the idea that ancestors continue to guide and protect the living.