Why is Qingming Festival a sunny season?

Why do people go outing during the Qingming Festival? During the Qingming Festival, in addition to visiting graves, we also have the custom of going out for an outing. Next, let’s take a look at the origin and significance of outing on Qingming Festival.

Why do people go outing during the Qingming Festival?

The Origin of Outing

The custom of outing in spring has a long history in China. Legend has it that it was formed as early as the pre-Qin period, while some say it began in the Wei and Jin dynasties. According to the "Old Book of Tang", "In the second month of the second year of Dali, I went to Kunming Lake for an outing." In the Song Dynasty, the custom of outing became popular. The genre painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival by the Song Dynasty painter Zhang Zeduan vividly depicts the lively scene during the Qingming Festival centered in Bianliang. It can be seen that the custom of spring outings has long been popular.

The significance of outing

In addition to being a festival for worshipping ancestors, Qingming Festival is also known as an outing festival, which takes place between April 4 and 6 every year. This is a beautiful time when the sun is shining and the grass is sprouting. Since ancient times, people have been going out for an outing in the suburbs together during the Qingming Festival. The Chinese nation's ancestor worship activities are often carried out in the suburbs. People combine tomb sweeping with outings to cultivate their sentiments and promote physical and mental health.

Other customs and activities during Qingming Festival

Swing

Swinging is a very interesting custom of Qingming Festival. It has a very ancient history. It was originally called Qianqiu, but later it was changed to swing to avoid taboos. It is said that swinging on a swing can not only improve health but also cultivate courage. It is still loved by people, especially children.

Planting trees

Since ancient times, my country has had the custom of planting trees during Qingming Festival. Around the Qingming Festival, the spring sun shines and the spring rain falls, and the survival rate of trees planted at this time is high. In 1979, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress designated March 12 of each year as my country's Arbor Day.

cockfighting

In ancient times, cockfighting was popular during the Qingming Festival. It started from the Qingming Festival and lasted until the summer solstice. The earliest record of cockfighting in China can be found in Zuo Zhuan. In the Tang Dynasty, cockfighting became popular. Not only ordinary people fought cockfights, but even the emperor participated in cockfighting. For example, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang loved cockfighting the most.

Eat Qingtuan

In the Jiangnan area, there is a custom of eating green dumplings during the Qingming Festival, which has been passed down from generation to generation. Qingtuan is a traditional snack during the Qingming Festival and is also an offering used for tomb sweeping and ancestor worship. It is also said that eating Qingtuan during the Qingming Festival is related to the sacrifice to Dayu, because the Qingming Festival is the time when winter wheat turns green, and people dye glutinous rice flour green to show that they remember Dayu's kindness in controlling floods.