What is the origin of Tomb-Sweeping Day?

The traditional Tomb-Sweeping Day in China began in the Zhou Dynasty and has a history of more than 2,500 years. Qingming is first and foremost a very important solar term. As soon as Qingming arrives, the temperature rises, which is a good time for spring ploughing and sowing. "

Later, as the days of Qingming and cold food approached, cold food was the day when people banned fire to sweep graves. Gradually, cold food and Qingming became one, and cold food became another name of Qingming and became a custom of Qingming. On Qingming Day, there are no fireworks, only cold food.

Local customs:

Tomb-Sweeping Day's customs are different in scale and manner in southern and northern China. There are also activities such as wearing willow branches, flying kites, collecting firewood, drawing eggs and swinging. The Han Dynasty called the Cold Food Festival a non-smoking festival, including the custom of forbidding fire and cold food and offering sacrifices to sweep graves.

In the Tang dynasty, people often extended the grave sweeping to Qingming. When people visit graves in Tomb-Sweeping Day, they are also accompanied by recreational activities. In the Song Dynasty, Qingming and cold food gradually merged into one. Qingming put the sacrificial customs in the Cold Food Festival under its name, and the festival customs of Shangsi Festival "Shangsi Spring Fun" were also incorporated into Tomb-Sweeping Day.

Qingming custom is also popular among Bai, Miao, Mongolian, Naxi and other ethnic minorities. Tomb-Sweeping Day is also an important festival for Vietnam, Korea and Ryukyu.