Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival that falls on April 4 or 5 each year, based on the Chinese lunar calendar. It is a time for honoring ancestors and departed loved ones.
**Origins of Qingming Festival:**
The origin of Qingming Festival dates back to the Warring States period (475-221 BC). The festival has its roots in the ancient practice of sweeping tombs and cleaning graves, which was believed to be an act of respect for the deceased. According to legend, it was during the reign of the Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259-210 BC) that the Qingming Festival was established as an official state holiday.
**Customs and Practices of Qingming Festival:**
1. **Tomb Sweeping:** The most significant activity during Qingming Festival is tomb sweeping. Families visit the graves of their ancestors to clean the tombs, offer food, drinks, and paper money as offerings, and burn incense and paper offerings to symbolize giving the departed a better life.
2. **Wearing of Greenery:** During Qingming Festival, people often wear greenery, such as willow branches or green leaves, to ward off evil spirits and to symbolize growth and rebirth.
3. **Paying Respects at Ancestral Homes:** It is customary for families to gather at their ancestral homes to pay their respects. They may also organize a meal or gathering in honor of their ancestors.
4. **Eating Qingming Zongzi:** Zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings, are often associated with Qingming Festival. These dumplings are traditionally made from glutinous rice, wrapped in bamboo leaves, and filled with ingredients such as red bean paste, lotus seed paste, or meat.
5. **Flying Kites:** Another popular Qingming Festival activity is flying kites. It is believed that flying kites helps to release the spirits of the departed and bring good luck.
6. **Folding Paper Money:** Families may fold paper money or other symbolic items and burn them to ensure that the ancestors receive the offerings in the afterlife.
The Qingming Festival is a time for reflection, remembrance, and renewal. It serves as a reminder of the importance of family, heritage, and the connection between the living and the departed.
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