The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Clear and bright, which begins on the day of Qingming Festival, starts on April 5 this year.
Qingming is the most important day of sacrifice in China; it is a day to pay respects to the ancestors. Traditional Qingming Festival in China began more than 2,500 years ago in Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-256BC).
Cold food festival is an ancient Chinese festival. On this day, only cold dishes are served (making fire is prohibited) and tombs are visited. This coincides with customs of Qingming Festival, and sometimes the terms are used interchangeably.
Playing on swings is an old custom of Qingming. It is also a favored leisure activity for children. The young can have fun on swings and nurture a courageous mind at the same time.
Ju refers to a type of ball, and cuju, which means to kick the ball, was a popular game to play on Qingming in ancient China. Legend has it that cuju was invented by Huangdi, a deity, to train his soldiers.
It is said that many dead spirits visit the world of men on Qingming. Willow branches are believed to be auspicious by Buddhist beliefs, so it is custom to wear or decorate the house with willow branches to scare away the spirits.
