Tomb-sweeping Festival
Tomb-sweeping Festival is around 5th April annual,the original of this festival which related with JieZi Tui.
According to legend in Spring and Autumn Period,ChongEr exiled to frontier in order to avoid persecution.In a desolate place,he was tired and hungry even can’t stand.His retinue looked for a long time and can’t find anything to eat.When everyone was anxious,JieZi Tui found a place and cut a piece of meat from his own thigh to make a hot broth.After drinked,ChongEr gradually felt better.He shed tears when he knew the broth was from JieZi Tui’s thigh.
After 19 years,ChongEr became a emperor,that is Jin Weng Gong in history.When he was in power, He granted a reward to those who accompanyed him in exile.But especially forgot JieZi Tui.There were many people said it is injustice.They advised he to ask reward.But JieZi Tui hated those who seek meritorious.So he made up and went to Mian Mountain to have a peaceful life.
After heard of this news,Jin Weng Gong was shameful.He took people to invited JieZi Tui.However,JieZi Tui was not at home,but in Mian Mountanin.It was difficult to find him in such risky road with full of dense trees.There was a person thought a bad idea-to use fire fired this Mountain from three side.After fired,people found that carried the old mother of JieZi Tui already died,sit under the willow.When Jin Weng Gong saw him,he was cried heavily.When encoffined,Jin Weng Gong found a blood book from tree hole which written:”cut flesh for moranch to show loyalty,hopefully always justice”To memory JieZi Tui,Jin Weng Gong decided to set this day as “Cold Food Festival”
In the second year,Jin Weng Gong swept JieZi Tui’s tomb .Then he found willow was resurrection.So named as”QingMing Willow”Then Jin Weng Gong told everyone and set the day which after “Cold Food Festival” as a Tomb-sweeping Festival.
The custom of Tomb-sweeping Festival is not only banned fire,sweep tomb,but also outing,swing,kicking a football,playing polo,planting willow and so many sports activities.According to legend,in “Cold Food Festival”.people eat cold food to avoid fire.But eat too much cold food does harmful to body,so everyone takes part in some sports activities to streghten their body.In Tomb-sweeping FestivaL,people don’t use needle,wash clothes.Most of women don’t walk outside.Before evening,people will sprinkle a gray line in the front of door.It is said to prevent ghosts from entering the house.So it is a distinctive festival.It contains not only sad tears with sweeping tomb,but also laughter with outing relaxed.