What is the origin of Tomb-Sweeping Day?

Tomb-Sweeping Day was developed from the Cold Food Festival. According to legend, the Cold Food Festival was established in the Spring and Autumn Period to commemorate the Jiexiu, a loyal minister of the State of Jin. The Cold Food Festival emphasizes the prohibition of fire and cold food. It is a festival that spread in the north in the early days. Later, in the process of development, customs such as hiking, sweeping sacrifices and cuju were added.

After the Tang Dynasty, the Cold Food Festival gradually disappeared until the Song and Yuan Dynasties, when Tomb-Sweeping Day took its place. It also incorporates the custom of the Cold Food Festival. Combining these two ancient festivals, Tomb-Sweeping Day has formed an important festival focusing on ancestor worship and grave sweeping, advocating cold food and outing.

Tomb-Sweeping Day's customs are rich and interesting. In addition to paying attention to the prohibition of fire to sweep graves, there are a series of customs and sports activities such as jogging, swinging, cuju, playing polo and inserting willows. According to legend, this is because Tomb-Sweeping Day wants to ban cold food and fire. In order to prevent the harm of cold food and cold meal to people, we all take part in some sports activities to exercise.

Therefore, this festival is a distinctive festival, with both sad tears to sweep graves and laughter for an outing.