April 5th every year is Tomb-Sweeping Day, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day and March Festival. It is not only one of the 24 solar terms, but also a traditional festival. Tomb-Sweeping Day started in the Zhou Dynasty and has a history of more than 2,500 years. It is said that this is a festival in Jin Wengong to commemorate meson push.
On this day in Tomb-Sweeping Day, everyone will remember the martyrs, pay homage to their ancestors, and pin their thoughts on their deceased relatives, so as to find out what they have done badly, improve themselves better, realize the value of life, and set an example for future generations.
There are many customs in Tomb-Sweeping Day, such as sweeping graves, hiking, inserting willows, playing games, tug of war, planting trees, flying kites, bowing, swinging, and prohibiting cold food. Grave-sweeping is the most important custom in Tomb-Sweeping Day, and most people attach great importance to sweeping graves for their ancestors.
However, sweeping graves is also exquisite. There are new graves and old graves. New graves generally refer to cemeteries that have been buried for less than three years, and there are requirements for the time of sweeping graves. The first year is an auspicious day before Tomb-Sweeping Day 10, and the second year is the day of Tomb-Sweeping Day, and the grave is buried for three years. The time for sweeping graves should be one day after Tomb-Sweeping Day 10. The time for sweeping graves is usually from morning to noon. Then put some new soil on the grave, clean the weeds on the grave or insert some new green branches on the grave, and then burn incense. Generally, three incense sticks and two candles are used to put gifts such as fruit, wine and food brought in the past in front of the tombstone. You can also take some flowers to the grave. Chrysanthemums, white and yellow, are generally chosen as flowers, and going to the grave is also very common at present. In addition, tulips and carnations can also be used for sacrifice. Then burn paper money, kowtow, and finally set off firecrackers. Besides, we should burn some paper money around to offer sacrifices to local mountain gods.
If the burial time of the grave is more than three years, the time to go to the grave is one of the first ten days in Tomb-Sweeping Day, and the day to go to the grave is before sunrise, that is, 5 o'clock. Rumor has it that it is still dark at this time, so old people dare to come to eat tributes. Generally speaking, the grave sweeping in Tomb-Sweeping Day needs to be completed before 3 pm that day, and it is better to sweep the grave from 5 am to 7 am, which is a better time to go to the grave.
Some people live in cities, but because of the distance or other reasons, they can't go to the grave in person. They can choose to burn paper money at intersections or riverside places to bow down to their ancestors, in this way to express their thoughts on the dead.
The above is the origin, significance and customs of Tomb-Sweeping Day. I hope it can help you.