Qingming Festival: Also known as the Qingqing Festival, March Festival, ancestor worship festival, derived from ancient ancestral beliefs and spring festival customs, it is one of the most important traditional festivals in China.
Was the ancient Qingming Festival holiday?
Qingming Festival became a national holiday from the Tang Dynasty onwards. In the Tang Dynasty, the Qingming Dynasty and the Cold Food Festival were linked together, and there was a 4-day holiday. In the Song Dynasty, it was increased to 7 days, and in the Yuan Dynasty it was changed to 3 days. Although the Ming and Qing dynasties did not take holidays, the folk suburban tomb sweeping and spring travel customs have long been formed and continue to this day.
What are the customs of the ancient Qingming Festival?
Before the Tang Dynasty, Qingming was just a solar term, used to guide agricultural activities. After the Tang Dynasty, it gradually became a traditional festival of sacrifice, walking on green and playing.
Sacrifice: The main activity of the Qingming festival, sacrifice is the sacrifice and remembrance of the living to the deceased, in the Qingming season, go to the tomb to sacrifice, express filial piety to the ancestors.
Stepping on the spring: Before and after the Qingming Dynasty, it is the time when the grass and trees are budding, so I am not afraid of trampling, so I have the habit of stepping on the green. In the pre-Qin dynasty, the Qingming Festival was a carnival of the whole people, and the scene was grand"out of its east gate, and there were women like clouds. ”
In the Song Dynasty, after the sacrifice, people sat on the ground in the suburbs, chanting poems, women picking flowers and willows, children could buy a lot of toys on this day, and they could also play along the banks of the Bian River.
Willow cutting: The Qingming ancients wanted to go out and fold a willow branch and insert it outside the front of the house, which is said to have the function of protecting the peace of one side.
Doubaicao: The custom is derived from the activity of stepping on the green, which is a very popular game during the ancient Qingming Festival.
Swing: It is a swing, which has been popular during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and is the most popular activity of the Qingming Festival, so the Qingming Festival was also called "Swing Festival" in ancient times.
Kite flying: Kite flying has the elegance of going to obscurity, which is also a popular entertainment item during the Qingming Festival.
Shooting Willow: During the Song and Jin Dynasties, three shots of willow in March were popular in the military camp, and the Yuan Dynasty was carried forward and the scene was even grander.
A pillar of incense, a cup of turbid wine, and a silent mourning and blessing for the deceased during the Qingming Festival. Time will make sadness fade slowly, but time will not let love disappear, may we cherish everything we have and move forward with gratitude.