Agree how dates will be counted before scheduling seventh-day observances and the first anniversary. The family decides the offerings, participants and venue; examples should not be treated as compulsory rules.
Decide whether the day of death counts as day one
Some families count the day of death as the first day; others count from the following day. Ask the family's elders and officiant to agree the method before notifying relatives.
The table illustrates counting the day of death as day one. It is a planning example, not a rule for every family. If lunar dates are used, especially across a leap month or year boundary, ask someone familiar with the family's customs to check the anniversary.
| Observance | Example calculation | Initial preparation | Confirm with the family |
|---|---|---|---|
| First seventh-day observance | Date of death plus 6 days: day 7. | Name, attendance list and simple offerings. | Who should gather and which rites are intended. |
| Second to sixth observances | Add 13, 20, 27, 34 and 41 days respectively. | Person responsible, venue and offerings for each. | Whether each is observed, combined or held on another date. |
| Seventh observance, or completion | Date of death plus 48 days: day 49. | Officiant's contact and family attendance. | Any additional rites or family arrangements. |
| Hundredth day | If observed, pencil in day 100 for confirmation. | Notify elders and keep time available. | Whether it is observed and how the date is counted. |
| First anniversary | Use the calendar anniversary as a reminder; check the lunar ceremony date separately. | Anniversary details and family contact list. | Solar or lunar calendar, leap months and date selection. |
All seventh-day calculations in the table use the same starting method. If counting begins the following day, recalculate the entire sequence. Customs differ by family and region; follow the family's elders.
First to final seventh-day observance: assign responsibility
Some families gather for every seventh day; others choose only the first and last. List days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 as possible dates, then ask the elders and officiant which will be observed.
For relatives travelling from farther away, include the venue, starting time and person bringing offerings. Clearly distinguish provisional dates from booked ceremonies.
- Nominate one person to keep the date of death and master schedule.
- Identify which observances will involve a gathering.
- Ask the officiant what chanting or offerings require.
- Have one contact communicate the confirmed place and arrival time.
The related Taoist funeral guide covers the wake-to-departure sequence; this guide concerns later commemorative dates.
First anniversary and lunar leap months
The first anniversary commemorates a year since the death, but families may use the solar calendar, lunar calendar or a separately selected date. Keep the calendar anniversary as a reminder and ask the elders to confirm the ceremony date, especially where a lunar leap month is involved.
A phone calendar can hold separate entries for the reminder and the family-confirmed gathering. If only the solar date is known, establish the lunar date before asking the officiant about offerings and venues.
- Keep both the solar and lunar dates of death.
- Ask how the family handles leap months.
- Wait for confirmation before booking meals or notifying distant relatives.
- Follow the elders' confirmed anniversary arrangements.
Family example and printable remembrance calendar
Ms Yip sends her father's date of death to the family group. Her uncle confirms that their family counts that day as day one. She lists the first through final observances provisionally, asks him to check the lunar anniversary, and only then notifies relatives living farther away.
Mark every entry as provisional or confirmed so that an example calculation is not mistaken for a religious requirement.
- Date of death and counting method: __________.
- First observance, day 7 and meeting place: __________.
- Second to sixth observances to be held: __________.
- Final observance, day 49 and officiant: __________.
- Hundredth day required and date awaiting confirmation: __________.
- Anniversary reminder and lunar date: __________.
- Family member confirming dates and contact notifying relatives: __________.
Frequently asked questions
Record the counting method, separate provisional and confirmed dates, and check lunar leap months. Ask the elders and officiant to decide any religious details or date changes.
Is the first observance always at the seventh midnight after death?
The example here counts the day of death as day one, making day 7 the date of death plus 6 days. There is no single midnight calculation used throughout Hong Kong; ask the family's elders which method applies.
Must every seventh day be observed?
No. The example calendar is not a compulsory checklist. Decide using family customs, the deceased's wishes and the officiant's advice.
Can a phone calendar calculate the hundredth day and anniversary?
It can provide reminders, but lunar dates, leap months and date-selection customs need separate confirmation. Record a calendar reminder and let the family confirm the gathering date.
What if the date changes after relatives have been notified?
Have the same contact send a clear update explaining the change and giving the current place and time. Ask older relatives and those with mobility needs to acknowledge it.
Related guides
- Taoist funerals: the wake, chanting, farewell and departure
- Attending a funeral: arrival times, clothing and practical etiquette
Contact Tim Fat Funeral
For help organising the next steps, contact Tim Fat Funeral on our 24-hour telephone 8209 9774 or WhatsApp 6238 4028. Share the family's wishes and confirmed arrangements so we can help coordinate the practical details. Religious rites should be agreed with the officiant; family and regional customs may differ.