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Tomb-Sweeping Day is one of the twenty-four solar terms in the lunar calendar, which is at the turn of mid-spring and late spring, that is, after the winter solstice 108. The traditional Tomb-Sweeping Day of the Han nationality in China began in the Zhou Dynasty and has a history of more than 2,500 years. "Almanac": "On the fifteenth day after the vernal equinox, the bucket refers to Ding, which is used for Qingming, when everything is clean and bright, and when it is covered, everything is clean and bright, hence the name." As soon as Qingming comes, the temperature rises, which is a good time for spring ploughing and sowing, so there is a saying that "before and after Qingming, we plant melons and beans". Tomb-Sweeping Day is a festival to worship ancestors, and the traditional activity is to sweep graves. On May 20th, 2006, this folk festival was approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.

The origin of festivals

Tomb-Sweeping Day is a traditional folk festival in China, and it is one of the eight important festivals (Shangyuan, Qingming, Long Summer, Dragon Boat Festival, Central Plains, Mid-Autumn Festival, Winter Solstice and New Year's Eve). Generally speaking, it is around April 5th of the Gregorian calendar, and the festival cycle is very long. There are two sayings:/kloc-8 days before 0/0 and 10 days before 0/0.

It is said that the origin of Tomb-Sweeping Day began with the supplement of "basic sacrifices" by ancient emperors. Later, people followed suit, and it became a fixed custom of the Chinese nation to worship ancestors and sweep graves on this day.

To talk about Tomb-Sweeping Day, we need to start with a festival that has been lost now-Cold Food Festival.

The Cold Food Festival, also known as Hot Food Festival, No Smoking Festival and Cold Food Festival, is only one or two days away from the winter solstice 105, that is, from Tomb-Sweeping Day. The main festival custom of this festival is to ban fire, cook without fire, and only eat prepared hot food and cold food, hence the name.

It is said that the origin of Tomb-Sweeping Day began with the "grave-sweeping" ceremony of ancient emperors and generals. Later, people followed suit, and it became a fixed custom of the Chinese nation to worship ancestors and sweep graves on this day.

The name "Tomb-Sweeping Day" also comes from "Tomb-Sweeping Day" in the twenty-four solar terms of the China lunar calendar. 108 The day after beginning of winter is Qi's Tomb-Sweeping Day. Tomb-Sweeping Day gas * * * has 15 days. As it is Tomb-Sweeping Day, the time is after the vernal equinox. At this time, winter has gone, spring is full, the weather is sunny, the fields are bright and clean, and the vitality of nature is everywhere. It is an appropriate word to call this period "Qingming".

One revolution of the earth is 360 degrees of the yellow meridian, and when the earth reaches zero degrees of the yellow meridian, it is designated as the vernal equinox, and then there is a solar term every time it runs 15 degrees, and there are 24 solar terms in * * *. Therefore, the dates of solar terms in the solar calendar are fixed, and there will be two-day differences in leap years. The lunar calendar is a yin-yang calendar that reflects phenological changes and guides agricultural time. It also combines the lunar calendar, that is, the cycle of the lunar phase is 29.5 days (the time interval from one full moon to the next). Because calculating the specific time of solar terms in the lunar calendar requires accurate astronomical knowledge and mathematical knowledge, the occurrence time of each solar term in the previous almanac was promulgated by the state (for example, beginning of spring was accurate to year, month, day, minute and second), and the rules for calculating different times were different, so the local chronicles of the Qing Dynasty used a long space and many graphic formulas to illustrate the calculation method at that time. Generally speaking, the law of setting solar terms in the lunar calendar only determines that the first month is a solar term and the middle of the month is a neutral one. The interval between two solar terms is 15 days, which is the only basis for people to calculate. Solar term song is also the necessary knowledge for ordinary people to master solar terms. A slightly more complicated calculation is that the winter solstice of the previous year (when the sun is the least in a year) is cold food after 105, and Qingming is after 106; Now it's much simpler to calculate according to the solar calendar. April 5 or 4 (depending on February or 29 of that year) will do. Astronomically speaking, on April 5 or 6, when the apparent sun (that is, the position of the sun on the ecliptic) reaches 15 degrees.

In the concept of the ancients, 108 is a large number representing perfection, auspiciousness, antiquity and profundity. It is of profound significance to put Qingming Festival on the 108 day from winter to the future. Qingming gets its name not only because everything grows cleanly at this time, but also because the sun in this period is also a fresh sun, and the sun flowing between heaven and earth in this period is also a fresh sun.

Ethnicity

According to legend, after Dayu's flood control, people used the language of "Qingming" to celebrate that the flood had been eliminated and the world was at peace. At this time, spring blossoms, everything recovers, and the sky is clear and bright, which is a good season for spring outing. Going for an outing began as early as the Tang Dynasty and has become a habit throughout the ages. In addition to enjoying the beautiful lakes, mountains and spring scenery, we also carry out various entertainment activities to increase the interest of life.

Grave-sweeping is very popular in Tomb-Sweeping Day. In fact, sweeping graves is the content of Tomb-Sweeping Day's Cold Food Festival the day before. It is said that cold food originated in Jin Wengong to mourn Jiexiu. During the twenty years of Emperor Xuanzong's reign, he ordered the world to "eat cold food in the ground". Because cold food is associated with Qingming, it gradually spread to sweeping graves in Qingming. During the Qingming period, sweeping graves is more popular. In ancient times, children often flew kites when sweeping graves. Some kites are equipped with bamboo flutes, which can make a sound when the wind blows, just like the sound of kites. It is said that this is the reason why kites get their names.

Tomb-Sweeping Day was very common in the Northern Song Dynasty, and now Zhang Zeduan's <> depicts the characters on both sides of the Bianliang River in Tokyo during Huizong's Qingming period in the Northern Song Dynasty.

Since 2008, China has recognized Tomb-Sweeping Day as a legal holiday with one day off. It was changed to three days in 2009. Has continued to this day.

Festival custom

Tomb-Sweeping Day's customs are rich and interesting. Besides banning fires and sweeping graves, Tomb-Sweeping Day also has hiking, swinging and sweeping graves.

Kicking cuju, playing polo, inserting willows and a series of folk sports activities. According to legend, this is because it is forbidden to eat cold food during the Cold Food Festival. In order to prevent the harm of cold food and cold meal to people, everyone comes to participate in some sports activities to exercise. In Tomb-Sweeping Day, people avoid injections and washing clothes, and women in most areas avoid walking. Before evening, a gray line should be spread in front of the gate, which is said to prevent ghosts from entering the house. Therefore, this festival is a unique festival, which has both sad and sour tears for sweeping graves and laughter for an outing.

play on the swing

This is the custom of ancient Tomb-Sweeping Day in China. Swing, that is, lift the rope, move. It has a very long history. It was originally called Qian Qiu, but later it was changed into a swing to avoid taboos. In ancient times, swings were made of branches and tied with ribbons. Later, it gradually developed into two ropes, a pedal swing. Swing can not only improve health, but also cultivate courage, which is deeply loved by people, especially children.

play football

Bow is a rubber ball, the skin of which is made of leather, and the ball is stuffed with wool. Cuju is kicking the ball with your feet. This is a popular game in ancient Tomb-Sweeping Day. According to legend, it was invented by the Yellow Emperor with the original purpose of training warriors. Playing polo is also the Qingming Riverside Map of Dragon Boat Festival.

One. Polo is riding a horse and hitting with a stick. In ancient times, it was called bowing. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, there is a saying in Cao Zhiming's name that "there is a sentence in a row". In Chang 'an in the Tang Dynasty, there was a wide stadium, and emperors such as Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and Jing Zong all liked polo. Ma Qiutu, in the tomb of Prince Zhang Huai, depicts the prosperity of polo in the Tang Dynasty: more than 20 horses galloped at high speed and their ponytails were tied up. Players are wearing shawls, boots and sticks, hitting each other one by one. Analysis of Golden Branches records the traditional custom of polo as a festival in Liao country, and polo is played on Dragon Boat Festival and Double Ninth Festival. Li Shizhi also recorded that Jin people hit the ball during the Dragon Boat Festival. In the Song Dynasty, there was a "Ball Play Music" dance team. In the Ming Dynasty, polo was still popular. According to the general examination of continued literature, Ming Chengzu hit the ball and shot the willow many times in Dongyuan. In the Ming Dynasty's "Music Map of Xuanzong", there are scenes of Xuanzong enjoying polo. At that time, Wang Zhi, an official, wrote a poem about watching the game in the afternoon: "Jade is like a golden horse, carved with seven treasures." When you fly, you will be shocked and feel the stars. The incitement page has become three wins, and joy is the first. Qingyun follows the footsteps and winds in the eastern end of the temple. "In front of the Baiyun Temple in Beijing, there are also rules for the masses to ride horses and hit the ball. There were polo in the Temple of Heaven in Qing Dynasty, and polo didn't disappear until the middle of Qing Dynasty. In recent years, antique polo has appeared in Xi 'an, which makes this ancient sport reappear on the land of China after many years of disappearance.

spring outing

Also called spring outing. It was called Tanchun and Xunchun in ancient times. Qingming in April, spring returns to the earth, and nature presents a vibrant scene everywhere, which is a good time for an outing. China folks have always maintained the habit of going for an outing in Tomb-Sweeping Day.

plant trees

Before and after Tomb-Sweeping Day, the spring was bright and the spring rain was falling, and the survival rate of planted seedlings was high and the growth was fast. Therefore, China has the habit of planting trees in Qingming since ancient times. Some people even call Tomb-Sweeping Day Arbor Day. The custom of planting trees has been passed down to this day. 1979, the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) stipulated March 12 every year as China Arbor Day. This is of great significance to mobilize people of all ethnic groups in China to actively carry out activities to green the motherland.

fly a kite

Flying kites is also the most popular activity in Tomb-Sweeping Day. During their stay in Tomb-Sweeping Day, people not only wore it during the day, but also at night. At night, a string of colored lanterns is hung under the kite or on the wind-stabilizing stay, like twinkling stars, which is called "magic lamp". Someone used to put kites in the blue sky, then cut the strings and let the breeze send them to the ends of the earth. It is said that this can eliminate diseases and disasters and bring good luck to yourself.

Pay tribute to the dead at their graves.

Sweeping graves on Qingming Festival is called "respecting thinking about time" for ancestors. Its customs have a long history. In the Ming Dynasty's "A Brief Introduction to the Scenery of the Imperial Capital", it was written: "On the Qingming Festival in March, men and women went to the grave to pay their respects, and the gold ingot was hung on the back of the sedan chair, and the road was full of embarrassment. Worshipers, mourners, weeping, weeding, adding soil to graves, burning ingots several times, and buying graves with paper money. If you can't see the paper money, it will be a lonely grave. After crying, don't go back, go to the fragrant tree, choose the garden, and sit down and get drunk. " In fact, grave-sweeping existed before the Qin Dynasty, but not necessarily during the Qingming period, but after the Qin Dynasty. It was not until the Tang Dynasty that it became popular. Qing thomas lee said, "On New Year's Eve, the Cold Food Festival and the First Frost Festival, you should offer sacrifices to sweep the graves. During the period, I will serve my bed with vegetarian food, use wine and tools for cutting vegetation, seal trees in the middle of the week, and break Cao Jing, so it is called sweeping the grave. " And spread to this day. Tomb-Sweeping Day's sweeping ceremony was supposed to be held in person, but because of the different economic conditions of each family, the way of sweeping was different. "Burning a bundle" is the main form of paying homage to ancestors. The so-called "baggage", also known as "parcel", refers to the postal parcel that Xiao sent from Shi Yang to the underworld. In the past, Nanzhi store sold the so-called "wrapped skin", that is, a big bag was pasted with white paper. There are two forms: one is a woodcut version with Sanskrit transliteration of "Death Mantra" printed around it, and a lotus tablet printed in the middle to write down the name of the deceased in the area code, such as "The late Zhang Fujun was afraid of the boss in Yunshan", which is both a package and a tablet. The other is plain foreskin, which does not print any patterns. Just put a blue sign in the middle and write down the name of the deceased. Also used as a master card. There are many kinds of money in the bag.

Chuanliuzhi

It is said that the custom of inserting willows is also to commemorate Shennong, the ancestor of farming, who taught the people to cultivate crops. In some places, people are clear.

The children put willow branches under the eaves to forecast the weather. There is an old saying that "the willow branches are green and the rain is raining;" The saying that there is another village. During the period of Huang Chao, it was stipulated that "Qingming lasts for a period, and Liu Dai is the number". After the failure of the uprising, the custom of wearing willow was gradually eliminated, and only willow was popular. Willow has a strong vitality, as the saying goes: "If you plant flowers with your heart, you will plant willows without your heart. "Wicker lives when it is planted in the soil, and it lives where it is planted. When it is planted year after year, it becomes gloomy everywhere. There is another saying in Tomb-Sweeping Day: It turns out that China people regard Tomb-Sweeping Day, July 30th and the first day of October as the three major ghost festivals, which are the time for ghosts to haunt and ask for help. In order to prevent the harassment and persecution of ghosts, people put willows and put them on. Willow has the function of ward off evil spirits in people's minds. Influenced by Buddhism, people think that willows can exorcise ghosts and call them "ghost trees". Guanyin dipped willow branches in water to help all beings. Jia Sixie of the Northern Wei Dynasty said in the Book of Qi Yao Min: "Put a willow branch on the house, and a hundred ghosts will not enter the house. "Tomb-Sweeping Day is Halloween. When wicker sprouted, people naturally inserted willows to ward off evil spirits.

Liu She

Shooting willow is a game to practice archery. According to the records of the Ming Dynasty, pigeons were placed in gourds, then the gourds were hung high on willow trees, and the gourds and pigeons flew out with bows, and the victory or defeat was judged by the height of the flying pigeons.

gamecock

In ancient times, cockfighting competitions prevailed in Qingming, which began in Qingming and lasted until the summer solstice. The earliest record of cockfighting in China can be found in Zuo Zhuan. In the Tang dynasty, cockfighting became a common practice, not only among the people, but also the emperor. For example, Tang Xuanzong likes cockfighting best.

Canhuahui

Silkworm Flower Festival "Silkworm Flower Festival" is a unique folk culture in Silkworm Township. During the past period in Tomb-Sweeping Day, this folk activity was held in Wu Tong, Wuzhen, Chongfu and Zhouquan. Among them, Aśvaghoṣa Temple in Zhouquan and Double Temple in Qingshi are the most spectacular. Aśvaghoṣa Temple, located in the west of Zhouquan Town, is known locally as "the king of temples". Every year, there are many activities, such as welcoming the silkworm god, rocking the clippers, making trouble in Taiwan Pavilion, worshiping incense benches, boxing, playing dragon lanterns, lifting poles and singing operas. Some of these activities are carried out on shore, and most of them are carried out on ships, which is very characteristic of water towns.

Climatic characteristics

Qingming is a solar term representing phenology, which means sunny weather and lush vegetation. As the saying goes, "Qingming breaks snow, Grain Rain breaks frost." When the weather is clear, the climate in South China is warm and the spring is strong. However, before and after Tomb-Sweeping Day, cold air still invaded from time to time, even making the average daily temperature lower than 12℃ for more than three consecutive days, resulting in rotten seedlings of middle rice and dead seedlings of early rice. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid warm tail and cold head when sowing and transplanting rice. In the northwest plateau, livestock are weak under the influence of severe winter and insufficient forage, so it is necessary to guard against the harm of strong cooling weather after spring to old, weak and young livestock. "There are many rains during the Qingming Festival" is a portrayal of the spring rain in the south of the Yangtze River by Du Mu, a famous poet in the Tang Dynasty. But in some areas, this is not the case. In particular, the western part of South China is often in the spring drought period, and the rainfall in early April is generally only 10 to 20 mm, which is less than half of that in the south of the Yangtze River. Although there are many spring rains in eastern South China, the rainfall in early April is generally only 20 to 40 mm, so natural precipitation is not enough for agricultural production, so it must be replenished by storing water years ago. In addition, May-June is the month with the most hail in a year, so the prevention of hail disaster should be strengthened. During the Qingming period, the average daily temperature in most parts of the country has risen to above 12℃ except the northeast and northwest regions. From north to south to the inside and outside of the Great Wall, there are busy scenes of spring ploughing everywhere. "In the Qingming Festival, the wheat grows for three days", the wheat in the south of Huanghuai is about to start heading, the rape has blossomed, and the wheat in the northeast and northwest regions has also entered the jointing stage. In the later stage, we should pay close attention to fertilizer and water management and pest control. Dry farming in the north, early and middle rice in the south of the Yangtze River is in a suitable season for mass sowing, so we should seize the opportunity, seize the sunny day and sow early. Pear blossoms are getting clearer and clearer. At this time, when many kinds of fruit trees enter the flowering stage, attention should be paid to artificial pollination to improve the fruit setting rate. Early rice planting in South China should be cleaned up and fertilized in time. Corn, sorghum and cotton will also be planted everywhere. "Before tomorrow's tea, there will be two buds", and the new buds of tea trees will grow vigorously, so attention should be paid to pest control; Famous tea producing areas are mined one after another, and strict scientific mining is needed to ensure the yield and quality.

Local custom

There are 25 nationalities in China who have visited Tomb-Sweeping Day. Although the customs vary from place to place, the basic theme is to sweep the grave to worship the ancestors and go outing. Influenced by the Han culture, 24 ethnic minorities in China, such as Manchu, Hezhe, Zhuang, Oroqen, Dong, Tujia, Miao, Yao, Li, Shui, Jing and Qiang, also have the customs of Tomb-Sweeping Day.

In terms of diet in Tomb-Sweeping Day, different places have different holiday foods. Because of the combination of the Cold Food Festival and Tomb-Sweeping Day, some places still keep the habit of eating cold food in Tomb-Sweeping Day. Eat eggs and cold steamed bread in Shandong, eggs and cold sorghum rice in Laiyang, Zhaoyuan and Long Island. It is said that if not, there will be hail. Taian eats cold pancakes and rolls bitter vegetables. It is said that his eyes are bright. Jinzhong area still retains the habit of banning fire the day before Qingming.

Greater China

Hebei pays attention to "Qingming early, 11th (Lunar Ghost Festival) night" when burning paper money on graves in Hebei. A week before Qingming Festival, people began to sweep graves and burn paper. Few people in Tomb-Sweeping Day went to sweep graves. Southern Hebei chose to sweep graves at the Cold Food Festival the day before in Tomb-Sweeping Day. All the men and women in the city go out for an outing, see flowers, pick vegetables and make willows. There is a proverb that says, "Qingming does not wear willow, and the beautiful face becomes bright eyes." The main activities in Shanghai, Shanghai and Tomb-Sweeping Day are grave sweeping and hiking, and the number of tourists around Qingming Festival is nearly 10 million every year. Due to the reform and opening up, cemeteries have flourished, and related sites are mainly distributed in Suzhou and Jiaxing in other provinces. Therefore, the number of people going to the above areas is more than one million, which often causes traffic congestion in the province for several days before and after Qingming.

Mix Bromus inermis juice with glutinous rice to make the green juice and rice flour blend with each other, then wrap it with stuffing such as bean paste and jujube paste, and put it in a steamer with reed leaves as the bottom. Steamed balls are green in color and fragrant, which is the most distinctive seasonal food in Tomb-Sweeping Day. There are also some people in Shanghai, Tomb-Sweeping Day, who love to eat peach blossom porridge and fish with knives when sweeping graves and having family dinners. For Shanghainese, the Youth League is an indispensable offering for Tomb-Sweeping Day to worship his ancestors.

Wenzhou

In Wenzhou, it is a custom to eat cotton vegetable cakes. As the name implies, cotton vegetable cake is a cake made of cotton vegetables, and some people call it Qingming cake. Cotton dishes are translated according to Wenzhou dialect. It turned out that its scientific name was Qufu Grass, which only existed during the Qingming period. Making cotton vegetable cakes is very particular. First, you should go to the fields to pick cotton and vegetables. (Cotton vegetables are not grown by themselves. They will grow on their own every Qingming Festival. ) Then wash and dry. (Inverted mortar is a tool made of stone, which they used to pound rice cakes in the past) After mashing, add rice flour (usually 8 kilograms of white rice flour and 2 kilograms of glutinous rice flour) and appropriate amount of water. Just mix all the cotton and vegetables evenly into the rice flour. After pouring, prepare the stuffing inside, which is also a very important process. The most common ones here are fresh and tender bamboo shoots, tofu, pork and glutinous rice flour. After wrapping the sponge cake, you must put a grapefruit leaf under it. First, avoid sticking to the pot. Second, and most importantly, because after putting grapefruit, this sponge cake will have the fragrance of grapefruit and taste much better. Wrap it and steam it in a steamer for 25 minutes.

In many places, after the sacrificial ceremony is completed, food will be sacrificed. When people in southern Shanxi crossed Tomb-Sweeping Day, they used to steam big steamed buns with white flour, with walnuts, dates and beans in the middle, coiled into dragons outside, and an egg tied in the middle of the dragon's body, named "Zifu". It is necessary to steam a big "blessing" to symbolize family reunion and happiness. When going to the grave, the "Zifu" is usually dedicated to the ancestors and shared by the whole family after sweeping the grave. According to the old custom in Shanghai, steamed cakes for sacrifice should be put on wicker and dried and stored. When they come in the long summer, they will be fried and given to the children. It is said that eating it in summer won't make you sick.

Huzhou

In Huzhou, Zhejiang, every family in Tomb-Sweeping Day makes zongzi, which can be used as a grave-sweeping sacrifice or as dry food for hiking. As the saying goes: "Qingming Zongzi is real." Before and after Qingming, snails were fat and strong. As the saying goes: "Qingming snail, a goose." Farmers have the habit of eating snails in Qingming. On this day, they use needles to pick out snail meat for cooking, which is called "picking green". After eating, throw the snail shell on the roof. It is said that the rolling acoustic energy emitted by roof tiles scares away mice, which is beneficial to sericulture after Qingming Festival. On this day in Tomb-Sweeping Day, there will be club wine. Have dinner with people from the same ancestral temple. People who don't have ancestral temples usually have dinner with the grandchildren of their great-grandfathers. The dishes of Shejiu are mainly fish, tofu and vegetables, as well as homemade sweet white wine. There is a saying in Heshan Town, Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province that "Tomb-Sweeping Day is like the New Year". Tomb-Sweeping Day evening, emphasizing family reunion for dinner. There are several traditional dishes on the table: fried snail, glutinous rice with lotus root slices, bean sprouts, Malantou and so on. These dishes are all related to sericulture. Throwing the leftover snail shells into the house, it is said that the sound can scare away the mice, and the caterpillars will get into the shells to nest and stop harassing the silkworms. Eating lotus root is to wish silkworm babies long and good silk. Eating sprouted beans is a lottery to win "money". Eating fresh vegetables like Malantou means taking the word "green" to match the "green" of "Qingming".

Fujian Province

Fujian Minnan doesn't necessarily only visit graves in Tomb-Sweeping Day. There are generally two dates for sweeping graves. The custom in Quanzhou is a few days before and after Tomb-Sweeping Day, while some people in Zhangzhou will choose to sweep their graves near Shangsi Festival on the third day of March, and Hakkas generally sweep their graves after the Spring Festival. The way is, after cleaning the grave environment (such as weeds and trees), worship the land god first, and then worship the ancestors. After the worship, press the "tomb paper" on the grave with a small stone, indicating that the grave has been repaired. Tomb-Sweeping Day usually didn't cook that day, but only ate cool cakes, which originated from the custom of Cold Food Festival.

Sichuan Province

Sacrificial ceremony of Water-splashing Festival in Dujiangyan, Sichuan, Tomb-Sweeping Day (Erwangmiao Temple Fair) for Li Bing and his son (Dujiangyan, Chengdu).

Shanxi

Tomb-Sweeping Day goes to the grave, and most places in the south of Shanxi don't burn incense or paper, so there are things like money hanging in front of the grave. There was a saying that "the river on Qingming Festival is white". The reason is that the Cold Food Festival is used to banning fire, and Tomb-Sweeping Day is during the Cold Food Festival. Most places in northern Shanxi have to burn all the money and other things on the grounds that they will not be transferred to their ancestors unless they are burned. Datong and other places are used to going to the grave during the day and burning money at home at night. In Hequ and other places in northwest Shanxi, it is an old custom to bring wine and vegetables to the grave and then eat and drink in front of the grave, which means drinking and eating with ancestors. In Wenxi and other places in the south of Shanxi, jujube cakes are used to roll in front of the grave when going to the grave. Legend has it that it is to tickle the dead old man. In Jinzhong Jiexiu and other places, when going to the grave, the offering is a cake shaped like a snake. When you get home, put the bread in the yard and dry it before eating. The old people pay attention to treating diseases, the source of which is that cold food is forbidden to fire.

After going to the grave in southern Shanxi, you should pull out some wheat seedlings and insert pine branches, cypress leaves or wicker on the door to ward off evil spirits. There are many willow cuttings in the north of Shanxi. Elsewhere, some wicker was inserted in the grave.

People in southern Shanxi want steamed buns with walnuts, red dates and beans, which are called Zifu. With the blessings of sons and grandchildren, they all bring the blessings of their ancestors. Every family should make bean jelly, cut it into thin slices and eat it with soup. Shovel withered grass and rub it on the kang mat, which is called driving scorpions away. In the southeast of Shanxi, people have willow branches and dead leaves on their heads. Women should stick gold ornaments (headdresses) on their temples. In northern Shanxi, it is customary to have black bean sprouts, which are eaten with corn bread and black bean sprouts stuffing. Northwest Shanxi pays attention to making cakes with millet flour, commonly known as "spreading Huang Er", and Luliang area will receive a female husband the day after Tomb-Sweeping Day, commonly known as "fresh fire".

Shandong (province)

Zhaoyuan, Jimo, Linqu, Linqing and other places should add new soil to the grave when sweeping the grave in Qingming. It is said that this is to repair the house for ancestors to avoid leaking rain in summer. In Weihai, Qixia, Huangxian and other places, the whole people eat steamed bread and dishes after the ancestral graves, which is called "room food" or "water club". The custom of "cockfighting" in the Southern and Northern Dynasties has also been preserved in northern Shandong. On this day, children in Bin County support each other with boiled eggs. Whoever breaks the egg first loses. Qishan, Boshan and other places cook a pot of millet dry rice in Tomb-Sweeping Day to let the cows have a full meal, which is called "rice cow". There is a proverb: "If you scold thousands, a meal will be clear." .

Henan Province

Gongxian Qingming, son-in-law also offered sacrifices to the ancestral graves of Yue family. People offer sacrifices to young crops, ox king and Hongshan God. In Mengjin County, during the Qingming Festival, seedlings are being planted in the wheat field.

Shanxi province

Xingping county is clear that in-laws give each other paper money and worship each other's graves. Every household in Fuping County invited the famous mountain springs to source water in Tomb-Sweeping Day, and * * * gave gifts to a god. Preparing sacrifices and praying for a bumper harvest is called "swimming". After the Qingming Festival in Tongzhou County, willow branches are inserted into the door; And put paper money on the trunk, which is said to prevent insects and ants. Luochuan county steamed buns for food, and the buns were decorated in the shape of birds and snakes. It is said that meson was protected by birds and snakes when it was pushed to Mianshan, so it was kept as a souvenir.

Jiangsu Province

Taizhou farmers hold a boat race in Tomb-Sweeping Day, which is called "boat boat". Zhenjiang people use seven willow leaves to make tea, which is said to improve eyesight. The villagers near Lushan Mountain in Dantu County still retain the old customs of "looking at cotton" and "Mianshan".

Anhui province

Huizhou Prefecture makes wine in Qingming Taoxin Spring. In Guichi County, Tomb-Sweeping Day, women make cocoons to offer sacrifices to silkworms and pray for a good harvest. Jingxian County called Tomb-Sweeping Day the "Willow Festival". When the birthday is Qingming, it is called "wild ghost". Every family sticks a willow tree and hangs paper money on the grave tree.

Hunan

Changsha House is called "Memories of Time Past". Tomb-Sweeping Day, Yongzhou Prefecture, draws water in the early morning and remains unchanged for several months, which is especially good for brewing wine. Xintian county agricultural proverb: "Qingming, everything is done."

Sichuan Province

In Chongqing and Wanxian in the east of Sichuan, there was a custom of "going to the wild grave" in the old days. Before and after Tomb-Sweeping Day, three or two women went to the suburbs for a picnic with wine and vegetables. Men, whether they know each other or not, can join in the fun. In Shifang and other places, women dip shepherd's purse flowers in oil and throw them into the water, depending on the pattern of the water surface, which is called "oil divination". In Chengdu, fried rice balls are sold, decorated with colors and connected with lines, which are called "happy balls".

Guangxi

Tomb-Sweeping Day, a villager in Hengzhou, soaked willow leaves and snails in water to wash his eyes, which is said to brighten his eyes. After sweeping the grave in Xingren County, long banners made of white paper are hung on the head of the tomb, which is called "standard grave" or "hanging green". When sweeping graves in Kaiyang County, the chief priests on duty prepare wine and food as sacrifices. After the sacrifice, relatives and friends will hold a banquet nearby, which is called a "picnic"

Jiangxi

Qingming Festival in Xinjian County, taking spring cakes as an example. Tomb-sweeping in Yongfeng County lasts three days, and then seven days. In addition to sacrificial ceremonies, rice flour is also used as fruit, called cocoon fruit, or glutinous rice is pressed into cakes and poured with sugar juice, called rice fruit, which still has the legacy of cold food. In Anyi County, Tomb-Sweeping Day is only held by men, and women do not participate.

folklore

jie zitui

There is a legend about cold food:

According to legend, during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Jin Xiangong's concubine made a vicious plot against the prince in order to let her son inherit the throne, and Shen Sheng was forced to commit suicide. Shen Sheng's younger brother, Zhong Er, went into exile to escape the scourge. During his exile, Zhong Er suffered humiliation. Most of the courtiers who went out with him went out one after another. There are only a few loyal people left, who have been following him.

. One of them is called meson push. On one occasion, Zhong Er fainted from hunger. In order to save Zhong Er, Jiezitui cut a piece of meat from his thigh, cooked it with fire and gave it to Zhong Er. Nineteen years later, Zhong Er returned to China and became a monarch. This is Jin Wengong, one of the five famous tyrants in the Spring and Autumn Period.

After Jin Wengong came to power, in addition to meson push, he offered many rewards to courtiers who shared his joys and sorrows. Someone defended meson in front of Jin Wengong. Jin Wengong suddenly remembered the past and felt guilty. He immediately sent someone to ask meson to take the imperial court to be rewarded as an official. However, after several trips, the meson could not be pushed. Jin Wengong had to please. However, when Jin Wengong came to the meson pusher's house, he saw that the door was closed. Jiezitui didn't want to see him, and had already been hiding behind his mother in Mianshan (now southeast of Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province). Jin Wengong asked his body guard to search Mianshan, but he couldn't find it. So, someone had an idea, saying, it is better to let Yamakaji go, set fire on three sides, leave one side, burn it and the meson will come out. Jin Wengong ordered the promotion of Yamakaji. Unexpectedly, the fire burned for three days and nights. After the fire was put out, the meson was not pushed out after all. Looking up the mountain, the mother and son were holding a charred willow tree and were dead. Jin Wengong looked at meson push's body and cried for a while, then buried it, and found that meson push's back was blocked by a willow hole, and there seemed to be something in the hole. Take out a look, turned out to be a skirt, with a blood poem:

I hope your master is always clear.

It is better to be a ghost than to accompany you as an exhorter.

If your master has me in his heart, remember that I often reflect.

I have a clear conscience in Jiuquan, diligent and honest.

Jin Wengong hid the bloody book in his sleeve. Then meson tui and his mother were buried under the charred willow tree. To commemorate Jiexiu, Jin Wengong ordered Mianshan to be changed to Jiexiu Mountain, and an ancestral temple was built on the mountain, and the day when Yamakaji was released was designated as the Cold Food Festival, telling the whole country that it is forbidden to set off fireworks and firecrackers on this day every year and only eat cold food.

When he left, he cut a charred willow and made a pair of clogs in the palace. He looked at it every day and sighed, "What a pity." The "first step" is the name of ancient people's subordinates respecting each other between superiors or peers, which is said to come from it.

The following year, Jin Wengong led his ministers to go hiking in plain clothes to show their respect and condolences. Walking to the grave, I saw the dead old willow tree resurrected, with thousands of green branches dancing in the wind. Jin Wengong looked at the resurrected old willow tree and seemed to see the meson push. He walked up to him respectfully, lovingly pinched off a branch, braided it into a circle and put it on his head. After the sacrifice, Jin Wengong named the revived old willow "Qingming Willow" and named it Tomb-Sweeping Day.

Later, Jin Wengong often took a bloody book with him as a souvenir, urging himself to take power. He is diligent and honest, and strives to govern the country well.

Since then, the people of Jin have been able to live and work in peace and contentment, and they are very nostalgic for Jietui, who has made outstanding contributions and is not looking for wealth. On the day of his death, it is forbidden to set off fireworks in memory of him. It is also made of flour and jujube paste into the shape of a swallow, strung with willow branches and inserted above the door to summon his soul. This thing is called "pushing swallows" (also called intermediary pushing). Since then, cold food and Qingming have become grand festivals for the people of the whole country. Whenever there is cold food, people don't make a fire to cook, but only eat cold food. In the north, people only eat cold food prepared in advance, such as jujube cakes and wheat cakes. In the south, there are mostly green balls and glutinous rice and sugar lotus roots. Every time I go to Tomb-Sweeping Day, people put wicker in a circle and put wicker branches in front of the house to show their memory.

Liu Dai cha Liu

The custom of planting trees in Tomb-Sweeping Day originated from Tomb-Sweeping Day. What makes ordinary wicker have such extraordinary value? There are three kinds of legends. The oldest legend is to commemorate Shennong, the ancestor of farming, and later developed the meaning of praying for longevity. Later legends are all related to meson push. It is said that when Jin Wengong led the minister to climb a mountain to pay homage to Jiexiu, he found that the old willow tree on which Jiexiu once lived came back from the dead and gave it the title of "Qingming Willow". Later, it was said that Emperor Taizong gave the minister a willow circle as a blessing to drive away the epidemic. These three statements have one thing in common, that is, they all believe that willow branches are spiritual and can ward off evil spirits.