**Title: The Customary Features and Origin of Qingming Festival**
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**Introduction:**
The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is one of the most important traditional festivals in China. It is celebrated annually to honor the ancestors and express gratitude for their sacrifices. This handout aims to provide a brief overview of the origin and customary features of this significant day.
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**Origin:**
The Qingming Festival has a long history, dating back to the Spring and Autumn period (771-476 BC). It was initially a farming ritual, as it marked the beginning of spring planting. Over time, it evolved into a day to pay respect to the deceased, particularly ancestors.
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**Customary Features:**
1. **Tomb-Sweeping:**
- Families visit the graves of their ancestors to clean the tombstones, offer food, and burn incense.
- They also pay their respects by bowing and kowtowing.
2. **Folding Paper Cranes:**
- People often make paper cranes, which are symbols of longevity and purity, to honor their ancestors and wish them well in the afterlife.
3. **Eating Qingming Zongzi:**
- Zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings, are traditionally eaten during the festival. They are said to prevent the spirit of the deceased from becoming hungry in the afterlife.
4. **Flying Kites:**
- Flying kites is a popular activity during the Qingming Festival, believed to help release the spirits of the deceased.
5. **Paying Respect to the Deceased:**
- Many people also visit temples or other sacred places to pay their respects to the souls of the departed.
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**Conclusion:**
The Qingming Festival is a time for reflection, gratitude, and remembrance. It is a celebration of life and death, where families come together to honor their ancestors and the cycle of life.
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