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The People's Chinese Dictionary

Date April 5th

Way of celebration Visiting the deceased at his tomb. Flying a kite.

Origin

The Qingming (Pure Brightness) Festival is one of the 24 seasonal division points in China, falling on April 4-6 each year. After the festival, the temperature will rise up and rainfall increases. It is the peak time for spring ploughing and sowing. But the Qingming Festival is not only a seasonal point to guide farm work - it is also a festival of commemoration. The Qingming Festival is about a combination of happiness and sadness coming together.

Other

This is the most important day of sacrifice. Both the Han and minority ethnic groups at this time offer sacrifices to their ancestors and sweep the tombs of the deceased. Also, food is not cooked on this day, with only cold food being served. The Hanshi (Cold Food) Festival was originally one day before the Qingming Festival, but as our ancestors often extended the day to the Qingming, the days were later combined. On each Qingming Festival, all cemeteries are crowded with people who have come to sweep tombs and offer sacrifices. Traffic on the way to the cemeteries becomes extremely jammed. However, the customs involved today are greatly simplified to what they once were. After slightly sweeping the tombs, people offer food, flowers and favourite items to the dead, then burn incense and paper money and bow before the memorial tablet. In contrast to the sadness of the tomb sweepers, people also enjoy the hope of spring on this day. The Qingming Festival is a time when the sun shines brightly, the trees and grass become green and nature is again lively. Since ancient times, people have followed the custom of spring outings. At this time tourists are everywhere. People also love to fly kites during the Qingming Festival, although kite flying is not limited to the Qingming Festival. Its uniqueness lies in that people fly kites not during the day, but also at night. A string of little lanterns tied onto the kite or the thread look like shining stars, and are therefore known as "god's lanterns." The Qingming Festival is also a time to plant trees, for the survival rate of saplings is high and trees grow fast during the spring and summer months. In the past, the Qingming Festival was called "Arbor Day". But since 1979, "Arbor Day" has been celebrated on March 12 according to the Gregorian calendar; hence the two festivals are now separate.

Vocabulary

清明节