The culture of Tomb-Sweeping Day
Tomb-Sweeping Day, also known as outing Festival, Xingqing Festival, March Festival and ancestor worship Festival, is held at the turn of mid spring and late spring. Tomb-Sweeping Day originated from the ancestors' beliefs and Spring Festival rites and customs in ancient times. It has both natural and humanistic connotations. It is not only a natural solar term, but also a traditional festival. Tomb sweeping and ancestor worship and outing are the two major etiquette and customs themes of Tomb-Sweeping Day. These two traditional etiquette and customs themes have been inherited in China since ancient times.
Tomb-Sweeping Day is an ancient festival of the Chinese nation. It is not only a solemn festival for tomb sweeping and ancestor worship, but also a happy festival for people to get close to nature, go outing and enjoy the fun of spring. Douzhi B (or taiyanghuang meridian up to 15 °) is the Qingming solar term, and the festival time is before and after April 5 of the Gregorian calendar. In this season, the vitality is exuberant, the Yin Qi is declining, and all things "spit out the old and accept the new". The Earth presents the image of spring and scenery. It is a good time for youth tours and tomb sacrifices in the suburbs. The Qingming ancestor worship Festival lasts for a long time. There are two versions: 10 days before, 8 days after and 10 days before and 10 days after. These nearly 20 days belong to the Qingming ancestor worship Festival.
Tomb-Sweeping Day is a traditional major Spring Festival. Tomb sweeping and ancestor remembrance have been a fine tradition of the Chinese nation since ancient times. It is not only conducive to carrying forward filial piety and family affection and awakening the common memory of the family, but also promote the cohesion and identity of family members and even the nation. Tomb-Sweeping Day integrates natural solar terms and humanistic customs. It is the unity of time, place and people. It fully reflects the thought of the ancestors of the Chinese nation in pursuing the harmonious unity of "heaven, earth and people", and paying attention to conforming to the appropriate time and place and following the laws of nature.