The brief April 4-6 Qingming Festival holiday will come soon.

Qingming Festival, also known as Pure Brightness Festival or Tomb-sweeping Day, is either April 4th or the 5th every year. It is one of the Chinese Twenty-four Solar Terms. It is also an important traditional Chinese festival. Beginning with this day, the weather warms and rainfall increases. It is a crucial time for plowing and sowing. It is a seasonal symbol and also a day of paying respects to the deceased, a spring outing, and other activities.

Traditional Customs 

Qingming Festival is a time for many different activities. The primary ones are tomb sweeping, taking a spring outing, and flying kites.

Tomb Sweeping 

Tomb sweeping is regarded as the most important custom of the Qingming Festival from which its name “Tomb-sweeping Day” comes. Cleaning the tombs of and paying respect to the deceased with offerings are the two important parts of remembering relatives who have passed away. Weeds are cleared away from the tombs and fresh soil is added to show care of the dead. Favorite foods and wines of the dead are offered as an offering, along with faux paper money. These offerings are burned in the hope that the deceased will not lack food and money. Kowtows before the tablets set up for the dead are made. 

Modernly, tomb-sweeping customs are much simplified and briefer. People clean the tombs and pay respect to the dead with flowers. Regardless of how respect is shown, good prayers for the deceased are expressed.

With this year’s holiday, new measures are being rolled out to limit tomb-sweeping crowds. They include appointment services and “Cloud” tomb-sweeping. People are encouraged to be more low-carbon and environmental-friendly, such as paying respect with flowers instead of fireworks and firecrackers, joss sticks and candles, and superstitious worship articles. In addition, innovative services are promoted, including collective tomb-sweeping, online tomb-sweeping, and tomb-sweeping by proxy.

Spring Outing 

It is a day for commemorating the dead and also for the living to enjoy themselves. During March, nature takes on a new look, as trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly. It is a fine time to go out and to appreciate the beautiful scenes of nature. This custom can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) and has been followed by each dynasty since. Visitors can be seen everywhere during the month of the festival. Spring outings add joy to life and promote a healthy body and mind.

Flying Kites 

Kite flying is favored by many people during Qingming. Kites are flown during the day and also in the evening. Little lanterns are tied to the kite or to the string that holds the kite. When a kite is flying, the lanterns look like twinkling stars and add unique scenery to the sky during the night. What makes flying kites during this day special is that people cut the string while the kite is in the sky to let it fly free. It is said this brings good luck and that diseases can be eliminated by doing this.

All in all, Qingming Festival is a very special festival for its balance of sorrow for the dead, and cheerfulness in spring outings.

Source based on Hunan Wenming and travel china guide