Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is one of the most important traditional festivals in China, usually falling on April 4th or 5th according to the lunar calendar. It commemorates the spirits of ancestors and deceased family members. Here is an introduction to the customs of the Qingming Festival in English:
1. **Tomb-Sweeping**: The most significant activity during the Qingming Festival is tomb-sweeping. Families gather to pay their respects to their ancestors by cleaning the graves, removing weeds, and placing offerings such as paper money, incense, food, and flowers.
2. **Offerings**: Offering food and drinks to the spirits of the deceased is a traditional practice. People usually prepare a variety of dishes and set them on the gravesides, hoping to share their blessings with their ancestors.
3. **Paying Respect**: Families often bow and kowtow to the tombstones, showing their respect and gratitude to their ancestors. They may also recite prayers or read the names of their deceased relatives aloud.
4. **Eating Qingming Tuo (Tomb-Sweeping Cake)**: Qingming Tuo is a special type of cake that is traditionally eaten during the festival. It is made from sticky rice and filled with sweet bean paste or red bean paste.
5. **Flying Kites**: Another popular custom is flying kites. According to legend, flying kites helps release the souls of the deceased, allowing them to return to heaven.
6. **Treading on Green Grass**: It is believed that treading on green grass can bring good luck and health. Some people may go for a walk in the countryside or plant green plants around their homes during the Qingming Festival.
7. **Visiting Ancestors' Homes**: Families often visit the homes of their deceased ancestors to clean and maintain the houses. This is to show that the family still remembers and respects them.
8. **Wearing Greenery**: It is considered auspicious to wear greenery, such as bamboo leaves or willow branches, during the Qingming Festival. This practice is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune.
9. **Celebrating Spring**: The Qingming Festival also marks the beginning of spring. People often engage in outdoor activities, such as planting trees, hiking, and enjoying the blooming flowers.
The Qingming Festival is a time for Chinese people to honor their ancestors and celebrate the beauty of spring. Through various customs and traditions, families come together to remember and cherish the lives of their loved ones.
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