The Qingming (Pure Brightness) Festival is one of the 24 solar terms in China, (fall) on April 4-6 each year. After the festival, people begin spring plowing and sowing. The reason for this traditional practice is the temperature will rise up and rainfall increase a lot. In the past, the Qingming Festival was called "Arbor Day", but since 1979, "Arbor Day" (settle) on March 12 according to the Gregorian calendar.
But the Qingming Festival is not only a solar term to guide farm work, it is more a festival of commemoration(祭祀). It sees a (combine) of sadness and happiness. This is the most important day of honoring. Both the Han and minority ethnic groups at this time offer sacrifices(祭品) to their ancestors and sweep the tombs of dead. On each Qingming Festival, all graveyards are crowded with people come to sweep tombs and offer sacrifices, but the (custom) have been greatly simplified today. After (slight) sweeping the tombs, people offer food the shape of skulls, flowers, then burn incense and ghost money. In short, it is a time to cherish the memory of our ancestors and (show) our respect to them. Most importantly, it is a time for family gathering.
