The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is an important traditional Chinese festival celebrated on April 4 or 5 each year according to the Chinese lunar calendar. Here are some of its customs and traditions in English:
1. **Tomb-Sweeping**: Families visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects. They clean tombstones, offer food, tea, joss sticks, incense, and sometimes paper replicas of money and other goods as a symbol of showing gratitude and honoring the deceased.
2. **Furnishing the Ancestors' House**: It is believed that on Qingming Day, the spirits of ancestors return to their old homes. People decorate their ancestors' altars with offerings such as fruit, tea, and paper replicas of money.
3. **Planting Greenery**: It's customary to plant trees and grass on Qingming Day, as it is considered a time to promote growth and to honor the earth.
4. **Fasting and Abstinence**: In some regions, fasting and abstinence from meat are practiced in the days leading up to the festival, as a way to prepare for the ancestral reverence.
5. **Paying Tributes to Heroes**: In addition to honoring ancestors, Qingming is also a time to honor those who have made significant contributions to society, such as heroes and martyrs.
6. **Singing and Playing Paper Fans**: Traditional Qingming activities include singing and playing paper fans, which symbolize the breeze that carries the spirits of the ancestors back to the heavens.
7. **Eating Green Foods**: Eating green foods like green vegetables and tea is also a common practice. Green tea is particularly popular during the festival.
8. **Flying Kites**: In some areas, flying kites is a traditional activity. It is believed that the kites carry away the bad spirits and bring in good luck.
These customs may vary depending on the region in China and the families involved.
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