About the origins, customs and deeds of the revolutionary martyrs of Qingming Festival

The origin of Qingming Festival

The origin of Qingming Festival is said to have begun with the ceremony of "tomb sacrifice" for emperors, generals and prime ministers in ancient times. Later, people also followed suit, worshiping ancestors and sweeping their tombs on this day. It has been followed through the ages and has become a fixed custom of the Chinese nation. Originally, the Cold Food Festival and the Qingming Festival were two different festivals. In the Tang Dynasty, the day of worshiping and sweeping tombs was designated as the Cold Food Festival. The correct day of the Cold Food Festival is one hundred and five days after the winter solstice, around the time of Tomb Sweeping Day. Since the two days are close, Tomb Sweeping Day and Cold Food Festival are combined into one day.

Customs of the Qingming Festival

1. Tomb-sweeping customs of the Qingming Festival

Sweeping the tombs of the Qingming Festival is called "respecting the ancestors". Its custom has a long history. Tomb-sweeping existed before the Qin Dynasty, but not necessarily during the Qingming Festival. Tomb-sweeping during the Qingming Festival was something after the Qin Dynasty. It did not become popular until the Tang Dynasty. "Qing Tong Li" says: "On the New Year's Day, during Cold Food and Frost's Descent Festivals, people pay homage to the tomb sweepers. During the period, they go to the tomb in plain clothes, equipped with wine and food and a tool for cutting grass and trees. They seal the trees and cut off the wattle grass, so it is called tomb sweeping." And it has been passed down to this day.

2. The custom of swinging during the Qingming Festival

This is the custom of the Qingming Festival in ancient China. Swing means moving by holding on to the leather rope. It has a very ancient history. It was first called Qianqiu, but later was changed to Swing to avoid taboos. In ancient times, swings were mostly made of tree branches and tied with colorful ribbons. Later, it gradually developed into a swing with two ropes and pedals. Swinging can not only improve health, but also cultivate bravery. It is still loved by people, especially children.

3. Cuju, a custom of Qingming Festival

Chuju is a kind of ball. The skin of the ball is made of leather and the inside of the ball is stuffed with hair. Cuju means kicking a ball with your feet. This is a game that people loved during the Qingming Festival in ancient times. According to legend, it was invented by the Yellow Emperor, and its original purpose was to train warriors. Playing polo is also one of the Dragon Boat Festival dramas. Polo is played by riding on a horse and holding a stick. It was called Juju in ancient times. "Xu Wen Tong Kao Le Kao" records that Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty went to Dongyuan to hit balls and shoot willows several times.

4. The custom of Qingming Festival is outing

It is also called spring outing. In ancient times, it was called Tanchun, Xunchun, etc. On the Qingming Festival in April, spring returns to the earth, and the natural world presents a vibrant scene everywhere. It is a great time for outings. Chinese people have long maintained the habit of going outing during the Qingming Festival.

5. The custom of planting trees during the Qingming Festival

Before and after the Qingming Festival, the spring sun shines and the spring rain falls. The survival rate of planted saplings is high and they grow quickly. Therefore, since ancient times, our country has had the habit of planting trees during the Qingming Festival. Some people also call Qingming Festival "Arbor Day". The custom of planting trees has been passed down to this day. In 1979, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress stipulated that March 12th every year would be my country's Arbor Day. This is of great significance in mobilizing people of all ethnic groups across the country to actively carry out activities to green the motherland.

6. Qingming Festival Customs: Kite Flying

Kite flying is also a favorite activity during the Qingming Festival. During the Qingming Festival, people not only play during the day but also at night. At night, a string of small colorful lanterns are hung under the kite or on the wind-stabilizing wire, like twinkling stars, and are called "magic lanterns." In the past, some people would cut the strings after flying kites into the blue sky and let the breeze carry them to the ends of the earth. It is said that this can eliminate diseases and disasters and bring good luck to themselves.

7. The custom of planting willows during the Qingming Festival

It is said that the custom of planting willows is also to commemorate the founder of farming, Shennong, who "taught the people how to farm". In some places, people put willow branches under the eaves to predict the weather. There is an old proverb that "willow branches are green when it rains; when willow branches are dry, the sky is sunny."

There are 25 ethnic groups in China celebrating Qingming Festival. Although customs vary from place to place, the basic themes are tomb-sweeping, ancestor worship and outings.

The deeds of the Qingming Festival revolutionary martyrs

Dong Cunrui: Sacrificing his life to blow up the bunker

Birthday: October 15, 1929 Memorial Day: May 25, 1948

In the northern suburbs of Longhua County, Hebei Province, lies the heroic soul of Dong Cunrui, a model Communist Party member and a nationally famous fighting hero. Among the green pines and cypresses, stands a majestic monument, on which is engraved the inscription of Commander-in-Chief Zhu De: "Sacrifice yourself for the country and live forever!"

On May 25, 1948, our army attacked Longxing. The battle for Huacheng begins. Dong Cunrui's company was tasked with attacking Longhua Middle School, the focus of the defenders' defense. He served as the leader of the demolition team. The company was suddenly blocked by fierce firepower from a hidden bridge-shaped bunker. The troops were blocked in the open area, and the second and fourth squads failed to blast the bunker twice.

Dong Cunrui stepped forward, resolutely picked up the explosive bag and rushed to the bunker. Since the bridge-type bunker is more than tall from the ground, explosive charges cannot be placed on the bridge abutments at both ends. At the critical moment, he resolutely held up the explosive pack with his left hand, lit the fuse with his right hand, and shouted: "For New China, charge!" The bunker was blown up, and Dong Cunrui opened a way forward for the troops with his own life. , at this time, he was only 19 years old.