![\"Tomb](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2017\/04\/Pingyao-003.jpg\")
<\/a>Paper money used during Tomb Sweeping Festival.<\/p><\/div>\n
Tomb Sweeping Day is celebrated on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, and the Chinese name can literally be translated as the “Pure Brightness Festival<\/strong>” (\u6e05\u660e\u8282 – q\u012bng m\u00edng ji\u00e9). As with most holidays in China, there is an interesting legend associated with the Tomb Sweeping Festival. It goes back to an ancient holiday known as the\u00a0Cold Food Festival<\/strong>\u00a0(\u5bd2\u98df\u8282 \u2013 h\u00e1n sh\u00ed ji\u00e9), which honored a nobleman named Jie Zhitui who died in an unfortunate fire set by the prince Chong’er. He was simply trying to get Jie out of the forest in order to repay him for his great service. A few days were dedicated to honor him, during which time fire was banned. Because of the history, it’s still a tradition to eat\u00a0cold food<\/strong> (\u51b7\u98df – l\u011bng sh\u00ed).<\/p>\nThe main activity around Tomb Sweeping Day is ancestor worship<\/strong> (\u796d\u7956 – j\u00ec z\u01d4). On this day, people will make many offerings<\/strong> (\u796d\u54c1 – j\u00ec p\u01d0n) to their deceased ancestors. For example, people will burn incense<\/strong> (\u70e7\u9999 – sh\u0101o xi\u0101ng) or paper money<\/strong> (\u7eb8\u94b1 – zh\u01d0 qi\u00e1n). However, the burning of paper money has been banned in many cities due to the pollution it causes. Instead, people use chrysanthemums<\/strong> (\u83ca\u82b1 – j\u00fa hu\u0101) because of their flame-like petals.<\/p>\nOn Qing Ming, families will visit a cemetery<\/strong> (\u5893\u5730 – m\u00f9 d\u00ec) to find the tombs<\/strong> (\u575f\u5893 – f\u00e9n m\u00f9) of their ancestors. They will then sweep the tomb<\/strong> (\u626b\u5893 – s\u01ceo m\u00f9) and leave some offerings such as flowers, cigarettes, food, and even paper iPhones. The belief is that these things can all be used in the afterlife. It’s important to keep the spirits of deceased ancestors happy, as it’s believed that they continue to look after the family from the great beyond.<\/p>\nThanks to its timing at the start of spring, the Tomb Sweeping Festival is also all about getting outside for a spring outing<\/strong> (\u8e0f\u9752 – t\u00e0 q\u012bng). The most popular activity to enjoy at the start of spring is flying a kite<\/strong> (\u653e\u98ce\u7b5d – f\u00e0ng f\u0113ng zh\u0113ng). Of course, there’s a special snack to be eaten on these outings – qingtuan<\/strong><\/em> (\u9752\u56e2 – q\u012bng tu\u00e1n) – a green dumpling made of glutinous rice. Learn more about Tomb Sweeping Day in this short video and read on for the vocabulary list:<\/p>\n