What are the origins and customs of Tomb-Sweeping Day?

It is said that the origin of Tomb-Sweeping Day began with the "grave-sweeping" ceremony of ancient emperors and generals, and later people followed suit. On this day, ancestor worship was carried on from generation to generation, which became a fixed custom of the Chinese nation.

The traditional Tomb-Sweeping Day in China began in the Zhou Dynasty and has a history of more than 2,500 years. Tomb-Sweeping Day was originally a very important solar term. The temperature rises, which is a good season for spring ploughing and planting. Therefore, there are agricultural proverbs that "plant melons and beans before and after Qingming Festival" and "planting trees is not as good as Tomb-Sweeping Day". Later, as the days of Tomb-Sweeping Day and cold food approached, and cold food was the day when people were forbidden to burn graves, they gradually merged with Tomb-Sweeping Day.

Custom:

Tomb-Sweeping Day's customs are rich and interesting. In addition to paying attention to prohibiting fire and sweeping graves, there are a series of customs and sports activities, such as hiking, swinging, playing cuju, playing polo and inserting willows. It is said that this is because it is forbidden to eat cold food during the Cold Food Festival, and in order to prevent cold food and cold food from harming people's health, everyone comes to participate in some sports activities to exercise. People in Tomb-Sweeping Day avoid injections and washing clothes, and women in most areas avoid walking until evening.