A well-known poem by Tang dynasty poet Du Mu tells of a scene in early April: "Rains fall heavily as Qingming comes, and pedestrians with lowered spirits go."
This scene takes place on Tomb Sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival. Tomb Sweeping Day is a traditional Chinese festival. It began in the Zhou Dynasty, over 2,500 years ago. Chinese people celebrate it to remember and honor their ancestors. This year, it falls on April 4th. Tomb Sweeping Day became a public holiday in the Chinese main land in 2008. People have one day off for that day.
On this day, families bring flowers, food and wine to the grave sites (墓地) of their ancestors. They place cakes, fruits in front of the grave and some may burn joss paper (纸钱) as money for the dead. After that, they sweep the tombs and cherish (怀念) the memories of their dead family members.
Tomb Sweeping Day gives us a chance to show respect to our ancestors and family members who have passed away and show that we miss them. This tradition shows that family values are an important part of Chinese culture.
Tomb Sweeping Day is also the beginning of the time for gardening and outdoor activities in China. Families often get together for a short trip or to fly kites at this time.
