On April 4, 2021, Qingming Festival (清明节) or Tomb-Sweeping Day is an important traditional holiday commonly celebrated in China and in a few other Asian countries. Also known as Chinese Memorial Day and Ancestors’ Day, families would take this day to pay respect to their ancestors by visiting the tombs, giving prayers, and offering food and, of course, sweep and clean the surrounding grounds.
Some other notable customs and activities commonly practiced on this day include spring outings, kite flying, and placing willow branches on gates. Willow branches are meant to scare off evil spirits according Buddhism beliefs.
Additionally, the QingMing Festival has basically been combined with another holiday, the Chinese Cold Food Festival. As you may have guessed, you’re not supposed to use fire to cook on this day, so people would prepare days before. Here is the full story behind the Cold Food Festival if you’re interested in learning more. It is also a day meant to welcome spring and the coming of warmer weather. Below are some pictures of food usually eaten on this holiday (top: sweet green rice balls, left: peach blossom porridge, right: Qingming cakes).
