The Origin and Customs of Tomb-Sweeping Day Qi
First, the origin of Tomb-Sweeping Day Qi
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.
Originally, the Cold Food Festival and Tomb-Sweeping Day were two different festivals. In the Tang Dynasty, the day of sweeping graves was designated as the Cold Food Festival. The correct date of the Cold Food Festival is from winter to the future 105, around Tomb-Sweeping Day. Because the two dates are similar, Tomb-Sweeping Day and Cold Food merged into one day.
Second, the customs of Tomb-Sweeping Day Qi
1, sweeping the grave
The most important custom in Tomb-Sweeping Day is to pay homage to ancestors and express their reverence and thoughts. During the Qingming Festival, it rained a lot, and pedestrians on the road wanted to kill their souls, which also represented the sad mood of the family to pay homage to their ancestors.
Step 2 go for an outing
Tomb-Sweeping Day is behind the vernal equinox and solar terms. At this time, the weather is getting warmer and the spring is full. At this time, people are leaving their homes one after another to enjoy all the beauty endowed by nature.
Step 3 eat green balls
Eating green meatballs in Tomb-Sweeping Day is a custom in Jiangnan area. Generally, green balls are steamed with wormwood and glutinous rice flour, with stuffing such as bean paste in the middle, and can also be wrapped with floss and sauce meat according to personal preference.
Matters needing attention in Tomb-Sweeping Day's grave sweeping.
1. Tomb-Sweeping Day can't pat the soil when sweeping the grave.
Grave-sweeping usually requires re-adding soil, and adding soil here is more particular. Generally, adding soil is to dig out the soil around or far away. Remember not to dig directly in front and behind. The older generation thinks that digging from behind will ruin the good fortune of future generations, and digging from the past will ruin the future, so they can only dig far away. Another thing to note is that after adding soil, you can't pat the grave with a shovel, which is equivalent to patting the head of your ancestors.
2, sacrifice can not laugh, loudly.
Tomb sweeping in Qingming is a solemn and serious matter. The deceased has passed away. It is a sign of disrespect for ancestors to laugh and play when sweeping graves. It may disturb or anger ancestors, which is why it is best not to let children go to the grave.
You can't visit relatives and friends after sweeping the grave.
Tomb-Sweeping Day's main activities are not only sightseeing, but also offering sacrifices to sweep graves and remembering ancestors, so many vagrants will go home one after another after sweeping graves and get together with relatives and friends they haven't seen for a long time. However, unlike other festivals, Tomb-Sweeping Day attaches more importance to it. There used to be a rule that you couldn't visit relatives and friends after sweeping the grave.