Sending My Longing on Qingming | Qingming
Release time:
02 Apr,2024
During the Qingming season, rain falls in showers.
Travelers on the road feel their souls about to break.
Qingming Holiday Notice
According to the “Notice of the General Office of the State Council on the Arrangement of Certain Holidays in 2024,” and in light of our company’s actual circumstances: The Qingming holiday will be from April 4 to April 5, 2024, for a total of two days. Work will resume as usual on Saturday, April 6.
Holiday Precautions
1. Pay attention to weather changes; the weather during Qingming can be quite variable.
2. Open windows frequently to ensure good air circulation indoors.
3. Practice civilized tomb-sweeping and eco-friendly mourning.
Origin of the Qingming Festival
Qingming Festival , originating from ancestral beliefs and spring ritual customs of ancient times, it encompasses both natural and cultural dimensions; it is both a solar term and a traditional festival.
Tomb-sweeping and ancestor worship, along with spring outings in the countryside, are the two main ritual themes of the Qingming Festival. These two traditional customs have been passed down in China since ancient times and continue to be observed today.
Qingming Festival customs
As a festival, Qingming differs from a mere solar term. While solar terms mark changes in natural phenomena and the seasonal cycle, festivals embody spiritual beliefs, customs, and rituals. Ancestor veneration and sacrificial culture are key factors in the formation of the Qingming Festival; it serves as an important vehicle for passing down faith and family values. Qingming ancestor rites are a form of cultural expression and a vital means of honoring one’s forebears and strengthening social bonds.
Spring outing
In ancient times, the activity of enjoying the spring scenery was called “tanqing” or “xunchun,” referring to outings in the countryside during spring, also known as “treading the spring.” It generally involved strolling and picnicking in the suburbs in early spring. This seasonal folk custom has a long history in China, originating from the ancient agricultural rites celebrating the arrival of spring, which exerted a profound influence on later generations.
Tomb sweeping and ancestor worship
Tomb-sweeping during the Qingming Festival, known as “grave worship,” is an expression of reverence for one’s ancestors. Paying respects at their graves is a way to remember and honor them, and this custom has deep historical roots.
The Qingming sacrifice is primarily dedicated to ancestors, expressing the piety of the offerer and their longing for those who came before; it is a cultural tradition of honoring one’s ancestors and reverently remembering the past.
Planting willows
During the Qingming Festival, it is a traditional Chinese custom to plant willow branches. Another explanation for decorating with willows during this time is that they ward off evil spirits and dispel ghosts. In some parts of northern China, Qingming, the Ghost Festival, and the Cold Clothes Festival are collectively known as the “Three Great Ghost Festivals.” Influenced by the Buddhist image of Guanyin holding a willow branch dipped in water to save all beings, many people believe that willow twigs have the power to drive away evil spirits and protect against misfortune, referring to them as “ghost‑frightening wood.”
Eat qingtuan
During the Qingming Festival, it is customary in the Jiangnan region to eat qingtuan.
The green rice balls are a jade-green color, chewy and soft, with a fragrant aroma. They taste sweet but not cloying, rich yet not greasy. In the Jiangnan region, they are also an essential food for ancestor worship, which is why they hold such special significance in local folk traditions.
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