Qingming not only shared the function of worshipping ancestors and sweeping graves from cold food, but also put some games and entertainment that originally belonged to the Cold Food Festival in its own name, such as cuju and swing, which became Qingming entertainment at this time.
The historical origin of Tomb-Sweeping Day;
Although Qingming came out late, it has a long history and is the synthesis and sublimation of traditional spring customs. China has always attached great importance to ancestor worship, but in ancient times, there was no custom of grave-sweeping, and the sacrifice was held in the ancestral temple. It was not until the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period that the atmosphere of tomb sacrifice became stronger.
But at this time, this custom seems to be limited to people with a certain social status. It was not until the Tang Dynasty that the custom of offering sacrifices to tombs spread to the whole society. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty once fixed the custom of sweeping graves on the Cold Food Festival before Qingming Festival by decree. Because of the connection between cold food and Tomb-Sweeping Day, cold food was called Qingming in the Tang Dynasty.