Why does Tomb-Sweeping Day want to insert willows?

The custom of inserting willow is related to avoiding epidemic. The Tang people thought that wearing willow branches when offering sacrifices by the river could drive away the harm of poisonous insects. After the Song and Yuan Dynasties, people often planted willows in front of their homes to avoid pests. This is because the climate gets warmer in spring, and all kinds of germs begin to multiply. In the case of poor medical conditions, people can only hope to avoid epidemics. Willow branches planted under the eaves can also predict the weather. As the old saying goes: "Willow branches are green and rainy; The wicker is dead and the weather is fine. "

Extended data:

Tomb-Sweeping Day, also known as the Walking Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day Festival, March Festival and Ancestor Festival, is a grand traditional Chinese New Year, which belongs to the traditional cultural festivals of pursuing the future with caution, worshiping ancestors and promoting filial piety.

There are many customs in Tomb-Sweeping Day. Due to different regional cultures, there are also differences in content or details among different parts of the country. Although customs vary from place to place, sweeping graves, offering sacrifices to ancestors and hiking are the same basic customs. Tomb-Sweeping Day is not only a solemn festival to pay homage to ancestors, but also a happy festival for people to get close to nature, travel and enjoy the fun of spring.

The weather in Tomb-Sweeping Day is usually around April 5th in Gregorian calendar. Tomb-Sweeping Day in Tomb-Sweeping Day is very long, 8 days before 10, and 10 after 10. These nearly 20 days belong to the Tomb-Sweeping Day period. Tomb-Sweeping Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival are also called the four traditional festivals in China. From 65438 to 0935, the government of the Republic of China designated April 5th as a national statutory holiday in Tomb-Sweeping Day, also known as the National Tomb Sweeping Festival. In 2006, Tomb-Sweeping Day was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.