What are the customs in Tomb-Sweeping Day?

Tomb-Sweeping Day is a traditional festival in China, and both southerners and northerners attach great importance to it. It is a symbol to commemorate ancestors and family inheritance. I sorted out some customs in Tomb-Sweeping Day. Let's have a look.

1, swing

This is the custom of ancient Tomb-Sweeping Day in China. Swing, that is, lift the rope, move. It has a very long history. It was originally called Qian Qiu, but later it was changed into a swing to avoid taboos. In ancient times, swings were made of branches and tied with ribbons. Later, it gradually developed into two ropes, a pedal swing. Playing swing can not only improve health, but also cultivate courage, which is deeply loved by people, especially children.

Step 2 go for an outing

At the time of Qingming, it is spring that returns to the earth. People took advantage of the opportunity of sweeping graves, and the whole family, old and young, enjoyed themselves in Shan Ye. After returning home, they broke some branches and put them on their heads, feeling very happy. During their stay in Tomb-Sweeping Day, some people go hiking in the suburbs to express their stagnant mood since the severe winter, and go to nature to enjoy and appreciate the vibrant spring scenery. This kind of outing is also called spring outing, which was called spring exploration and spring hunting in ancient times. It means stepping on the grass, playing in the country and watching the spring.

Step 3 plant trees

Before and after Tomb-Sweeping Day, the spring is bright, the spring is bright, and the spring rain is falling. The planted seedlings have high survival rate and fast growth. Therefore, China has the habit of planting trees in Qingming since ancient times. Some people even call Tomb-Sweeping Day Arbor Day. The custom of planting trees has been passed down to this day. 1979, the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) stipulated March 12 every year as China's Arbor Day. This is of great significance to mobilize people of all ethnic groups in China to actively carry out activities to green the motherland.

Step 4 fly a kite

It is also Tomb-Sweeping Day's favorite activity. During their stay in Tomb-Sweeping Day, people not only wore it during the day, but also at night. At night, a string of colored lanterns is hung under the kite or on the wind-stabilizing stay, like twinkling stars, which is called "magic lamp". Someone used to put kites in the blue sky, then cut the strings and let the breeze send them to the ends of the earth. It is said that this can eliminate diseases and disasters and bring good luck to yourself.

Step 5 sweep the grave

Grave-sweeping is the most important custom in Tomb-Sweeping Day. It was after Qin Dynasty that Tomb-Sweeping Day visited the grave, which became popular in the Tang Dynasty and has been passed down ever since. Tomb-Sweeping Day's grave-sweeping, which is called "respecting the time" for his ancestors, is the biggest grave-sweeping day in China. When sweeping graves, people usually bring wine, food, fruit, paper money and other items to the cemetery, offer food to the graves of their loved ones, and cultivate and repair the graves.

Of course, there are many ancient traditions, as well as the familiar ancient football: cuju; In addition, there used to be traditional customs such as cockfighting, shooting willows and pulling hooks, but now they are not very popular, so I won't introduce them one by one.