Qingming Festival: A festival where tradition and modernity interweave

As one of China's traditional festivals, Qingming Festival carries profound cultural connotations and rich customs and traditions. Between April 4 and 6 of the Gregorian calendar every year, it commemorates ancestors and gets close to nature in its unique way, becoming an important node in people's lives.

The Qingming Festival has a long history and originated from the ancient Cold Food Festival and Shangsi Festival. It is said that the Cold Food Festival is to commemorate Jie Zitui, a loyal minister of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period. In order to force Jie Zitui to go out of the mountain, Duke Wen of Jin set fire to the mountain. Jie Zitui refused to go out and eventually died hugging a tree. In order to commemorate him, Duke Wen of Jin ordered a ban on fire and cold food on the day of Jie Zitui's death to express his grief. Shangsi Festival was the most important festival in the ancient "purification and bathing" activities. People went to the waterside to bathe together, which was called "purification". Since then, it has gradually evolved into a festival for spring outings in the suburbs. As time went on, the customs of these two festivals gradually merged with Qingming, forming the Qingming Festival we are familiar with today.

One of the most important customs of Qingming Festival is tomb sweeping and ancestor worship. On this day, people will go to the cemetery or the place where the ashes are placed, carefully clean the weeds around the cemetery, and trim the flowers, plants and trees around the tomb to express their respect and miss for their ancestors. Afterwards, they will place flowers, fruits, wine and food and other offerings, burn paper and incense, kowtow devoutly, report the current life situation to the ancestors, and pray for the ancestors to protect the family's safety and smoothness. This kind of tomb sweeping activity is not only a remembrance of the ancestors, but also a gathering of family affection, so that future generations can remember the kindness of their ancestors and pass on the family's spirit.

Outing is also an indispensable custom of Qingming Festival. When spring returns to the earth and all things revive, nature presents a vibrant scene. In addition to tomb sweeping, people will go out of their homes, walk into nature, and enjoy the beauty of spring. Or stroll in the fields and feel the revival of the earth; or be among the green mountains and green waters and breathe fresh air; or visit historical and cultural monuments, while feeling the beauty of nature, appreciate the profound historical and cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. Outing can not only relax people's body and mind, relieve the pressure of work and life, but also cultivate the emotion of loving life and nature in the process of getting close to nature.

In addition to tomb sweeping and outing, Qingming Festival also has customs such as flying kites and planting willows. Flying kites means letting go of bad luck and troubles, bringing good luck and auspiciousness; planting willows symbolizes the yearning for a better life and the expectation of good luck.

With the development and changes of the times, the customs of Qingming Festival are also constantly keeping pace with the times. Nowadays, online sacrifices have gradually become a new fashion. Many people offer flowers and leave messages to their ancestors through online platforms to express their grief; some places have also carried out Qingming Cultural Festival and Qingming Public Welfare Activities, which organically combine traditional culture with modern civilization, making Qingming Festival more meaningful in the era.

As a traditional festival of the Chinese nation, Qingming Festival still exudes unique charm in modern society. It is not only an important moment for people to remember their ancestors and inherit family traditions, but also a good opportunity to get close to nature and enjoy life. In the process of inheriting traditional customs, we should constantly give them new connotations and vitality, so that this ancient festival can shine with new brilliance in modern society.

https://www.togloss.com/