Qingming Festival spans history

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-04-2009 12:56

The Qingming Festival, or Tomb Sweeping Day, is also a time to celebrate the coming of Spring in China. Let's take a look at some of the history and traditions of this ancient festival.

The first Qingming Festival can be traced back 2,500 years  to the Zhou Dynasty.

Bowing to late ancestors at their graves, and laying out a selection of favorite foods are two of the rituals keenly observed by Chinese people, who visit cemeteries during the Qingming Festival.

The customs derive from a culture of ingrained filial piety in Chinese people. They believe that the spirits of their deceased ancestors will look after the family even when they are gone.

The Qingming Festival goes hand in hand with the Cold Food Festival, held the day before. The day marks the sad departure of Jie Zhitui, who was accidentally burned to death on a mountain when his lord took extreme measures to prevent him leading a life of seclusion. To commemorate this heart-wrenching tragedy, all fires must be put out, and cold food is served.