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Qingming Festival
- Updated:
- Aug 31, 2009;
- by:
- China Highlights;
- Clicks:
- 78;
Qingming, meaning clear and bright, is one of the 24 solar terms in China. The 24 solar terms represent the climate changes in a year. Peasants arrange their farming activities accordingly. Qingming usually occurs in early April of each year.
Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day) is an annual tradition when people go to their ancestral gravesites to honor their departed loved ones. Celebrated by Han and other nationalities, it is called Saomu (to sweep the grave).
According to custom, people bring wine, food, fruits and zhiqian (paper made to resemble money and burned as an offering to the dead) to the sites. The food, fruits and wine are placed before the graves and then zhiqian is burned. The gravesites are cleaned and new soil and plants are added. The food is then eaten at the conclusion of this event.
Qingming Festival is also a good time to celebrate the arrival of spring when everything is green and new. It brings people outdoors to enjoy sports and the nice weather.
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