What are the customs and traditions in Tomb-Sweeping Day?

Tomb-Sweeping Day's customs and traditions include grave-sweeping, outing, cuju, inserting willows and flying kites.

1, sweeping the grave

In the history of China, it was forbidden to eat cold food and burn fire to worship ancestors, and it became a custom to worship ancestors and sweep graves in Tomb-Sweeping Day. In today's society, people still have the custom of sweeping graves to worship ancestors around Tomb-Sweeping Day: weeding, offering sacrifices, praying on graves, burning paper money, or simply putting a bunch of flowers in memory of ancestors.

Step 2 go for an outing

During the Qingming Festival, spring returns to the earth, and nature is full of vitality, which is a good time to go for an outing. Our people have long formed the habit of the Qing Dynasty. Legend has it that there were definite activities in the early days. The inner meaning of Qingming is to adapt to seasonal solar terms. In the spring of March, everything was born with anger. When people go out to the wilderness, they actively cater to time and promote the circulation of the body in the body. Good health.

3. Cuju

Cuju, the predecessor of football, is made of leather and stuffed with wool. According to legend, Cuju existed before the Shang Dynasty, and it flowed into the people during the Warring States Period. In the Han Dynasty, it was even used to practice martial arts in the military and was included in art books. 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".

Step 4 insert willow

Tomb-Sweeping Day is the time when willows sprout and smoke is green. There are folk customs of folding willow, piercing willow and inserting willow. When people go out for an outing, they break off some wicker branches, which can be played with in their hands, woven into hats and worn on their heads, or taken home and inserted on the lintels and eaves. 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.

5. Fly a kite

Flying kites is a popular custom in Tomb-Sweeping Day. In ancient times, flying kites was not only a recreational activity, but also an act of witchcraft: they thought flying kites could 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.