Why is Qingming Festival also called "Tomb Sweeping Festival"? Why do we sweep tombs during Qingming Festival?

Why is Qingming Festival also called "Tomb Sweeping Festival"? Why do we sweep tombs during Qingming Festival?
Introduction: We all know that Qingming is not only one of the 24 solar terms, but also one of the traditional folk cultures. When talking about Qingming, many people will think of tomb sweeping and ancestor worship. So why is Qingming Festival also called "Tomb Sweeping Festival" and why do we sweep tombs during Qingming Festival? Let’s follow the editor to find out. Various good days have appeared in the third month of the lunar calendar, and there are options for getting married or having children. People who work hard in March will reap the wonderful fruits of autumn.

Why is Qingming Festival also called "Tomb Sweeping Festival"?

The origin of Qingming Festival is said to have started from the "tomb sacrifice" ceremony of ancient emperors and generals. Later, the people also followed suit and worshiped their ancestors and swept tombs on this day. It has been passed down from generation to generation and has become a fixed custom of the Chinese nation.
Qingming Festival, also known as the outing festival, is held at the turn of mid-spring and late spring, which is the 108th day after the winter solstice. It is a traditional Chinese festival and one of the most important festivals for worshipping ancestors. It is a day for worshipping ancestors and sweeping tombs. The traditional Qingming Festival of the Chinese nation began around the Zhou Dynasty and has a history of more than 2,500 years. Qingming was originally just the name of a solar term. It became a festival to commemorate ancestors and was related to the Cold Food Festival. Duke Wen of Jin designated the day after Cold Food Festival as Qingming Festival. In most areas of Shanxi, the Cold Food Festival is celebrated the day before Qingming Festival; in Yushe County and other places, the Cold Food Festival is celebrated two days before Qingming Festival; Yanqu County also celebrates the day before Qingming Festival as Cold Food Festival, and the two days before as Minor Cold Food Festival. Qingming Festival is one of China's important "Eight Annual Festivals". It is usually around April 5th of the Gregorian calendar. The festival period is very long. There are two sayings: 8 days before and 10 days after the 10th day of the 10th day, and 10 days before and 10 days after the 10th day of the 10th day. These nearly 20 days are all Qingming Festival. Qingming Festival originally refers to the fifteenth day after the spring equinox. In 1935, the government of the Republic of China designated April 5 as a national holiday Qingming Festival, also known as the National Tomb-Sweeping Festival.

Why do we sweep tombs on Qingming Festival?

Qingming Festival has now become an important festival for people to visit graves and remember their ancestors. When did tomb-sweeping festival begin? Folklorists have explained this. The general view is that the custom of tomb sweeping on Qingming Festival is a continuation of the tradition of Cold Food Festival. "Before the Tang Dynasty, tomb sweeping was done during the Cold Food Festival. The confusion between Qingming Festival and Cold Food Festival probably started in the Tang Dynasty. The confusion between tomb sweeping on Cold Food Festival and tomb sweeping on Qingming Festival probably started only in the Tang Dynasty."
Summary: Through the above article, we know why Qingming Festival is also called "Tomb Sweeping Festival" and the reason for tomb sweeping on Qingming Festival. I hope that everyone can have a deeper understanding of Qingming Festival. I also hope that traditional folk culture like this can be better developed and inherited!

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