Traditional Customs And Habits Of The Qingming Festival
Apr 03, 2024
The traditional festival and sacrificial festival in China. It usually falls between April 4th and 6th in the Gregorian calendar each year.
This season is characterized by a decline in yin energy, vigorous vitality, bright spring scenery, and lush greenery, making it a great time for tomb ceremonies and outdoor outings. What do people usually do during Qingming Festival?
1,Tomb sweeping and ancestor worship
Sweeping graves and worshipping ancestors is the main custom of the Qingming Festival. Usually, one would go to the grave to remove weeds, place offerings, burn incense and paper money, or simply offer a bouquet of flowers to express nostalgia for their ancestors.
But now, due to the increasing prevalence of cremation, some people will directly go to the place where the ashes are placed to pay respects to their ancestors, replacing the custom of tomb sweeping.
2,Youth outing
Go for a walk in the country in spring, also known as spring outing, is a long-standing folk custom of Qingming Festival. During this period, everything is fresh and fresh, and the natural world is full of vitality and greenery, making it a great time to go on outings with family.
3, Eating Qingtuan
Qingtuan is a common traditional snack during the Qingming Festival, with a history of over 1000 years.
In ancient times, people used to make Qingtuan mainly for worship, but now it has become the most popular delicacy during the Qingming Festival. Eating Qingtuan on this day carries the beautiful meaning of a sweet and fortunate life.
4, Flying kites
Flying kites during the Qingming Festival is a common custom, loved by both children and adults. In the eyes of the ancients, flying kites was not only a recreational activity, but also a form of witchcraft: they believed that flying kites could release their own filth. So many people fly kites during the Qingming Festival, writing about disasters on paper, flying them high and then cutting the string to let the kite fly away with the wind, symbolizing the elimination of diseases and disasters, and bringing good luck to people.
5, Inserting and folding willows
It is said that the custom of inserting willows is to commemorate the ancestor of agriculture, Shennong. Willow sticks can survive by planting in the soil, and their vitality is very strong.
When people go hiking, they easily fold off a few willow branches, which can be played with in their hands or woven into hats to wear on their heads. They can also take them home and insert them on the lintel and eaves, symbolizing the prevention of epidemics.
6, Tree planting
Before and after the Qingming Festival, the spring sun shines brightly and spring rain falls. Planting saplings is the easiest way to survive and grow quickly. Therefore, China has had the habit of planting trees on the Qingming Festival since ancient times, and it has been passed down to this day.
While missing old friends, don't forget to cherish the present moment, pay attention to physical health, and spend more time with family and friends.
