So, as a participant represents Malaysia, I would like to contribute Chinese traditional Grave Clothes.
Yes, it might sound creepy and you might feel so pantang, but, here's my explanation on it.
Grave Clothes is a set of costume that elderly sew by themselves and wear it a night before they get married to pray the 'sky god' (天公). After that, they will keep it so they can wear it on too when they die one day.
Why do they wear it?
During ancient times, Chinese were very poor. They lived in kampung and had nothing they would be proud of. Therefore, they would sew a set of very nice and beautiful Grave Clothes with all the manik-manik on it for themselves so they can wear it a night before they get married and also to another place (heaven) when they die. The grave clothes will be limited edition as they design it themselves which will be 1 and only 1 in the world.
When will they sew it?
It depends on his/her date of birth and the eight characters of a horoscope (生辰八字), then keep it in the wardrobe and no one is allowed to cincai-cincai take it out except when they die. It is kind of pantang larang. Next, if they are still alive the next few years, they can take it out and wash it but only on the May 5th of the lunar calendar (農曆五月初五) because they believe the water on that day is the purest throughout the year.
Why am I contributing it?
It is because in today generation, we do not practice this culture anymore. Most of us prefer to wear nicely when we die and being put in the coffin (no offence) and also to wear the amat branded wedding dress especially from Vera Wang when we are married. Second, not much people really know how to make the traditional grave clothes anymore. Even some Chinese shops provide Grave Clothes, but they would be the same just in different colors. #girlswon'twearthesame
Simplest Grave Clothes
WOW! I totally did not know this information ~ thank you for enlightening me :)
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