Evergreen Cemetery
Explore the resting place of the people who built Santa Cruz County.
Welcome back Santa Cruz County! The MAH is now open every Friday and Saturday. Book your timed visit today >>
Friday, April 9, 2021,
10am - 12pm
Free - Volunteer Opportunity
The Qingming Festival, also called Tomb Sweeping Day or, literally, 'Pure Brightness' Festival in English, pays respect to ancestors and celebrates the warming weather of spring. It’s a time for honoring the past with a spirit of celebration that includes space for both reflection and renewal. Join MAH staff and the Evergreen Cemetery Committee, a team of dedicated volunteers, in honoring this celebration by cleaning tombstones and the cemetery grounds. Tools and gloves will be provided, but you're invited to bring your own if you prefer.
Unfortunately, hate against Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities has risen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we've seen an increase in violence this last year, this isn’t a new occurrence, especially in Santa Cruz County. The MAH stands against racism and will continue to share stories and preserve the history of many previously unspoken voices.
The Qingming Festival
The Qingming Festival is a traditional Chinese festival observed by the Han Chinese of mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and by the Chitty of Malaysia and Singapore. It falls on the first day of the fifth solar term of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. This year's celebration falls on April 4th, 2021. During Qingming, Chinese families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the gravesites, pray to their ancestors and make ritual offerings.
Explore the resting place of the people who built Santa Cruz County.
Be part of a creative crew working on projects that move art and history beyond the MAH.
Learn, create, and connect to the history of Santa Cruz County with downloadable lesson plans and virtual school tours from the MAH.