Exactly a year has passed, today is my Pa's 1st Anniversary [according to Chinese Lunar Calendar] after his passing on 24th October 2011. Because this year is a lunar year with an extra month, the first year's memorial service has to be exactly after 12 months and not according to both calendars. The actual day next year will be on 28th of September [lunar calendar]. However, prayers will still be conducted on the actual date this year which corresponds to November 11th.
We called this occasion as 'Twee Ni' in Hokkien dialect. I supposed
the way the memorial service is carried out differs from areas, clans
and religious practices. Since we are from Penang, it is slightly
different from other states and even just across the Penang channel
[Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam]. Anyway, this is how we had the 'Twee
Ni' service [with the advice from the Taoist priest 'Sai Kong'] which
also include a service for third year's anniversary. This is the usual
practice in Penang whereby the 1st and 3rd anniversaries are
subsequently held on the same day [maybe to make it less troublesome]
with a change of offerings and prayers.
For today's service according to Taoist rites and rituals,
preparations has to be made according to advice from the Taoist priest
who conducted the funeral service.
We have to remind the Taoist priest about a month before the day and he will list down the must have items for the day such as: 13 bowls of dishes, 13 bowls of rice, 13 cups of tea/wine, 1 pair each of mohor chien and mee suah chien. Mi Koo, 3 types of fruits [apples/oranges/pineapple etc], kuih-kuih like glutinous rice kuih [blue colour if deceased was a male and yellow for a female], huat kuih, bee koh, ang ku and spring onion water etc. 2 sets of Seng Lay [roast duck/chicken/pork], whole roast pig is optional according to affordability of the family. Bit chien is needed if whole roast pig is offered. 2-3 bags of folded joss paper [kim and gin], 2 bags of ong seng chi, 2 paper boxes of some paper paraphenalia [1 each from the sons and daughters].
Relations can also prepare offering items such as fruits or 'seng lay'.
This altar which was set up for 1 year's prayers in the house on the funeral day will be dismantled and every removed, discarded or burnt. The rituals are carried out by the Taoist priest.
The correct placement of the tables of offerings is in front of the old ancestral tablet which will be replaced during the 3rd year's prayers. A new ancestral tablet was made before this day and will be placed on the main altar usually by the eldest son in the family.
The Taoist priest will be in yellow robe for the first year's prayers and the family members are gathered behind while the chants the prayers.
After the 1st year's prayers, the boxes of joss papers, paper paraphenalia items, all the leftover items from the temporary altar, my Pa's belongings, clothes are burnt before the offerings are removed and changed to prepare for 3rd year's prayers.
When these items are been burnt, the family members will walk in a circle following the priest. The eldest daughter with drip the spring onion water while moving in the circle.
The family members were told to wash their face and hands outside the house before entering the house.
THIRD ANNIVERSARY PRAYER SERVICE
After the first year's service, part of the items such as half of the cooked dishes , rice, seng lay, kuihs, fruits and candles were removed to be replaced by new ones. The items removed [such as the various kuihs] can be eaten immediately as the family were given some time to rest and prepare before the priest commence the 3rd year's prayers. Here are the setup for 3rd year's service.
With the placement of the new ancestral tablet, it signifies that my Pa are now united with our ancestors and this will be the main altar for ancestral worship in the family house. A feather duster is used by the priest to dust off parts of the hall and the family will have to conduct a minor spring cleaning especially in the hall. After which the 'Ang Chye' has to be put up at the front door for 3 days.
Ist Anniversary Prayers in Video
3rd Anniversary Prayers in Video
Prayer Services in Video
