What is it about?

Qing, Literally meaning "clear” and Ming means "bright", jie means “festival” . Qing ming jie is a time to remember and respect the dead and dearly departed. It is one of the traditional festival in China. It falls in early spring (April 4-6 each year), on the 106th day after the winter solstice.

During this special period ,the whole family leave home and sweep the graves of their forebears. in some area of China this festival can be extended 10 days before and after Qing Ming day. Some other parts can even last for a month.

Origin :

Qing Ming is popularly associated with Jie Zi Zhui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C. Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lord's life by serving a piece of his own leg. When the lord succeeded in becoming the ruler of a small principality, he invited his faithful follower to join him. However, Jie declined his invitation, preferring to lead a hermit's life with his mother in the mountains.

Believing that he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to set the forest on fire. To his consternation, Jie chose to remain where he was and was burnt to death. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all fires in every home to be put out on the anniversary of Jie's death. Thus began the "cold food feast", a day when no food could be cooked since no fire could be lit.

 How do people celebrate it? What do people do on this day?

Activities :

Sweeping tomb

Have an outing in spring

Tour

Fly kites

The Qing ming (Pure Brightness) Festival is one of the 24 seasonal division points in China, falling on April 4-6 each year. After the festival, the temperature will rise up and rainfall increases. It is the high time for spring plowing and sowing. But the Qing ming Festival is not only a seasonal point to guide farm work, it is more a festival of commemoration.  

The Qing ming Festival sees a combination of sadness and happiness.  

The Han shi (Cold Food) Festival was usually one day before the Qing ming Festival. As our ancestors often extended the day to the Qing ming, they were later combined On each Qing ming Festival, all cemeteries are crowded with people who came to sweep tombs and offer sacrifices.

After slightly sweeping the tombs, people offer food, flowers and favorites of the dead, then burn incense and paper money and bow before the memorial tablet.