What are the theme activities of Qingming Festival?

1. Outing

The Chinese nation has had the custom of outing during the Qingming Festival since ancient times. In ancient times, outings were called exploring spring, seeking spring, etc. They were spring outings, also called "outing in spring." Generally refers to walking in the countryside in early spring. Outing, a seasonal folk activity, has a long history in our country. Its source is the spring-welcoming custom of ancient farming sacrifices. This spring-welcoming custom of farming sacrifices has a profound impact on later generations.

The Qingming Festival has two connotations: solar term and festival. The time and meteorological and phenological characteristics of the Qingming Festival provide important conditions for the formation of the custom of Qingming outing. During the Qingming Festival, spring returns to the earth, and nature presents a vibrant scene everywhere. It is a great time for outings. People took advantage of it, and after sweeping the tombs, families of all ages had fun in the mountains and countryside.

2. Planting trees

Before and after the Qingming Festival, when the spring sun shines and the spring rain falls, the saplings planted have a high survival rate and fast growth. Therefore, there is the custom of planting trees during Qingming Festival. Some people also call Qingming Festival "Arbor Day". The custom of planting trees has been passed down to this day. The custom of planting trees during the Qingming Festival is said to have originated from the custom of wearing willows and planting willows during the Qingming Festival.

3. Kite flying

Kite is also called "paper kite" or "kite". Kite flying is 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.

4. Sweeping tombs and worshiping ancestors

Sweeping tombs during the Qingming Festival is a "tomb sacrifice", which is called "respecting the ancestors". Sacrificing ancestors is a way of remembering the ancestors. , its custom has a long history. The Qingming Festival mainly honors ancestors and expresses the filial piety of the worshipers and the longing for their ancestors. It is a cultural tradition of paying respect to ancestors and pursuing the future with caution.

5. Tug-of-war

Tug-of-war was called "Liangou" or "Gouqiang" in the early days, and it was called "tug-of-war" in the Tang Dynasty. It is said that it was invented in the late Spring and Autumn Period, became popular among the military, and later spread among the people. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, a large-scale tug-of-war competition was held during the Qingming Festival. From then on, the tug-of-war became part of the Qingming customs.