What is the tradition of ancient Tomb-Sweeping Day?

In ancient times, which traditional custom was Tomb-Sweeping Day?

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.

Qingming is the fifth of the 24 solar terms and the beginning of the calendar. The time is around the first day of the third month of the lunar calendar (April 4-6 of the Gregorian calendar), also known as the "March Festival" or "Travel Festival".

Five other traditional customs in Tomb-Sweeping Day:

1, sweeping graves to worship ancestors

As one of the traditional festivals, the most important forms in Tomb-Sweeping Day are ancestor worship and grave sweeping. Throughout the ages, we China people have the habit of sweeping graves in Tomb-Sweeping Day. Wanderers in foreign countries always return to their hometown to pay homage to their ancestors before Tomb-Sweeping Day.

When offering sacrifices to sweep the grave, it is generally to uproot the weeds in front of the grave, add some new soil, then place offerings and burn incense as a souvenir, or burn some paper money, or hang some notes on the branches and hold simple sacrificial ceremonies, such as kowtowing and bowing. Tell the ancestors about the big events and small feelings that happened at home in the past year, and then how to properly handle them so that they don't have to worry about their ancestors and so on. To show their concern.

Step 2 fly a kite

There is such an artistic conception in the poems of Gao Ding, a poet in the Qing Dynasty, "The grass grows in February and the willows on the embankment are drunk with spring smoke." The children came back from school early and were busy flying kites in the east wind. " Flying kites is also one of people's favorite activities in Tomb-Sweeping Day. Kites were called "paper kites" in ancient times. The ancients thought that the Qingming wind was very suitable for flying kites.

They think flying kites can release their bad breath. Therefore, when flying kites in Tomb-Sweeping Day, many people will write all the disasters they know on paper kites. When the kite flies high, they cut the kite string and let the kite float away with the wind, symbolizing that their illness and dirty air have been taken away by the kite.

Step 3 plant trees

Before and after Tomb-Sweeping Day, the spring was bright and the spring rain was falling, and the survival rate of planted seedlings was high and the growth was fast. So there is a habit of planting trees in Tomb-Sweeping Day, and some people call Tomb-Sweeping Day Arbor Day. The custom of planting trees has been passed down to this day. The custom of planting trees in Tomb-Sweeping Day is said to be related to ancestor worship, because most graves are in the wild and often covered with weeds. Sometimes it takes a long time to worship ancestors and find graves. So someone planted evergreen pine and cypress on the grave, which would be more conspicuous. Later it was gradually imitated by people and became a custom.

4. Cuju

Bow is a rubber ball, the skin of which is made of leather, and the ball is stuffed with wool. Cuju is kicking the ball with your feet. This is a favorite game of ancient Tomb-Sweeping Day, and it can also strengthen the body. Cuju, the predecessor of football, is made of leather and stuffed with wool. ?

Cuju was the most prosperous in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and there were often scenes of "the ball never sets" and "the foot never leaves the ball, and the foot never leaves the ball, and the Huating watched the battle and thousands of people watched it". "Song Taizu Cuju Map" depicts the scene at that time, and also shows the popularity of Cuju activities at that time.

Step 5 go for an outing

Go for an outing, also known as spring outing, spring seeking and outing. Just stepping on the grass, playing in the country and watching the spring scenery. Qingming in April, spring returns to the earth, and nature presents a vibrant scene everywhere, which is a good time for an outing. People in our country have always maintained the habit of going for an outing in Qingming. Tomb-Sweeping Day is a good time to go for an outing, so it has become an important part of Tomb-Sweeping Day customs.

Qingming outing is extremely common in Shandong. The children in Linqu and Tengzhou went for an outing and flew kites outside the village early in the morning. Some whistles are made of wicker, and they are beautiful. In some places, children lift their faces and exhale, which is said to be to vent internal fire.