Title: The Customs, Origins, and Legends of Qingming Festival
The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on April 4 or 5 of the Gregorian calendar each year. It is a time for remembrance and paying tribute to ancestors. Here's an overview of its customs, origins, and legends in English:
**Origins:**
The Qingming Festival has a long history that dates back to the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC). The holiday is rooted in the ancient Chinese belief in ancestor worship and filial piety. It was originally celebrated on the 15th day of the third lunar month, which corresponds to April 4 or 5 in the Gregorian calendar. Over time, the date shifted due to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in modern times.
**Customs:**
1. **Tomb Sweeping:** The most important custom of the Qingming Festival is tomb sweeping, where family members visit their ancestors' graves to clean and tidy the tombs, offer food, drinks, incense, and paper money to show respect and gratitude.
2. **Memorial Rites:** In addition to tomb sweeping, families often hold memorial rites at home, where they burn paper offerings to represent the material things they believe their ancestors would need in the afterlife.
3. **Wearing Green:** It is traditional for people to wear greenery on their clothes and hats. Greenery, like willow branches, is believed to ward off evil spirits and diseases.
4. **Eating Qingming Foods:** Certain foods are traditionally eaten during the Qingming Festival, such as cold dishes, dumplings, and zongzi (sticky rice dumplings). These foods are often consumed at family gatherings and during tomb sweeping.
5. **Folk Games:** Traditional games and activities, such as dragon and lion dances, playing the double-reed instrument suona, and flying kites, are also part of the Qingming Festival's customs.
**Legends:**
1. **The Legend of King Mu:** One of the earliest legends associated with the Qingming Festival involves King Mu, a legendary ruler of ancient China. According to the tale, King Mu traveled to the underworld and brought back a magical herb called the Qingming herb, which was used to save his dying mother.
2. **The Story of the Green Dragon:** In one version of the Qingming Festival's origins, the green dragon is said to be the son of a deity who had fallen from grace. To atone for his sins, he swept the ground on behalf of the gods, leading to the creation of the Qingming Festival.
3. **The Love Story of Qiu Ju and Pan Du:** Another popular legend involves a couple named Qiu Ju and Pan Du, whose love for each other was so strong that it could transcend the mortal realm. The story tells of how they were separated after Qiu Ju's death, but her spirit continued to visit Pan Du during the Qingming Festival, leading to the development of the festival's customs.
The Qingming Festival is not only a time to honor ancestors but also a chance for people to appreciate the beauty of spring, as it often coincides with the blooming of flowers and lush greenery. It is a time for reflection, family, and the continuation of cultural traditions.
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