A Pure Brightness Qingming Festival

Qingming Festival, also known as Pure Brightness Festival, which falls on either April 4th or 5th of the solar calendar (one of the Chinese Twenty-four Solar Terms). From that day temperatures begin to rise and rainfall increases, indicating that it is crucial time for plowing and sowing in the spring. Qingming Festival therefore has a close relationship with agriculture. However, it is not only a seasonal symbol; it is also a festival of paying respect of the dead, a spring outing, and other activities.

Because it reinforces the ethic of filial piety, Qingming is a major Chinese festival. Qingming Festival is a time of many different activities, among which the main ones are tomb sweeping, taking a spring outing, and flying kites. Some other lost customs like wearing willow branches on the head and riding on swings have added infinite joy in past days. The festival is a combination of sadness and happiness. Tomb sweeping is regarded as the most important custom in the Qingming Festival from which the name of Tomb-sweeping day is got.

Cleaning the tomb and paying respect to the dead person with offerings are the two important parts of remembering the past relatives. Weeds around the tomb are cleared away and fresh soil is added to show care of the dead. The dead person’s favorite food and wine are taken to sacrifice to them, along with paper resembling money. This is all burned in the hoped that the deceased are not lacking food and money. Kowtow before the tablets set up for the dead are made.

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Today, with cremation taking over from burying, the custom has been extremely simplified in cities.

Only flowers are presented to the dead relatives and revolutionary martyrs. No matter how respect is shown, good prayers for the deceased are expressed. Not only it is a day for commemorating the dead, it is also a festival for people to enjoy themselves. During March, everything in nature takes on a new look, as trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly. Nature unfolds her beauty in shapes, colors sounds, dynamic pictures, stills, scents, obscure mists and clouds.

It is a fine time to go out and to appreciate the beautiful scenes of nature during the festival. This custom can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and followed by each dynasty later till today. So visitors can be seen everywhere during the month of the festival. Spring outings not only add joy to life but also promote a healthy body and mind. Flying kites is an activity favored by many people during the Qingming Festival. Kites are not only flown during the day time but also in the evening. Little lanterns are tied to the kite or to the string that holds the kite.

And when the kite is flying in the sky, the lanterns look like twinkling stars that add unique scenery to the sky during the night. What makes flying kites during this festival special is that people cut the string while the kite is in the sky to let it fly free. It is said this brings good luck and that diseases can be eliminated by doing this. All in all, the Qingming Festival is an occasion of unique characteristics, integrating sorrowful tears to the dead with the continuous laughter from the spring outing.