The origin of Tomb-Sweeping Day

Tomb-Sweeping Day, also known as the March Festival in ancient times, has a history of more than 2,500 years. Among the 24 solar terms, only Qingming and the winter solstice are both solar terms and festivals, and the influence of Qingming is relatively greater and wider. Because the 24 solar terms reflect the changes of temperature, rainfall and phenology throughout the year, ancient working people used them to arrange agricultural activities. On April 5th of Gregorian calendar, Tomb-Sweeping Day is one of the 24 solar terms. Tomb-Sweeping Day is one of the important traditional folk festivals in China, and was listed in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. As soon as Qingming arrives, the temperature rises, which is a good season for spring ploughing and sowing. Therefore, there is an agricultural proverb "Before and after Qingming, plant melons and beans" and "Planting trees is not Qingming". Because the days of Qingming and cold food are close, cold food is the day when people ban fire to sweep graves. Gradually, cold food and Qingming become one, and cold food has become another name of Qingming and a custom of Qingming period. Tomb-Sweeping Day doesn't move fireworks, but only eats cold food.