Clear and Bright (qīng míng清明)
- Celebrated:
Introduction
In the Gregorian calendar,the Clear and Bright usually falls around April 4, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 15°. As its name suggests, it is a time for people to go outside and enjoy the greenery of spring. It is also a time when people sweep graves and commemorate their departed ones. Although the weather is quite warm around Clear and Bright, cold air still invades the reaches of the Huang River and causes damage to early rice plantings.
Customs
The Clear and Bright day has many customs in China, including forbidden fire, eating cold food, and sweeping graves. Clear and Bright is not just a day of remembering departed ones, it is also a day of celebrating the coming of spring by engaging in activities, such as outings, swinging, and kite flying.
