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The Qingming Festival or Ching Ming Festival meaning Clear and Bright Festival,
is a traditional Chinese festival on the 104th day after the winter solstice.
Its name denotes a time for people to go outside and enjoy the greenery of springtime ,
and also to tend to the graves of departed ones.
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Where :
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Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan
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When :
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Qingming festival is celebrated on 104th day after the winter solstice (or the 15th day from the Spring Equinox),
usually occurring around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar (see Chinese calendar).
Every leap year, Qing Ming is on April 4. Astronomically, it is also a solar term . In solar terms,
the Qingming festival is on the 1st day of the 5th solar term, which is also named Qingming.
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More Details :
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Qingming is a statutory public holiday in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
It has long been a public holiday in the latter three jurisdictions, but became a public holiday
in mainland China in 2008 for the first time since 1949.
The transcription of the term Qingming may appear in a number of different forms, some of which are:
- Qingming
- Qing Ming Jie
- Qing Ming Jie
- Ching Ming
- Ching Ming Chieh
For the Chinese, it is a day to remember and honor one's ancestors at grave sites.
Young and old pray before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, wine,
chopsticks, (joss) paper accessories, and/or libation to the ancestors. The rites are
very important to most Chinese and especially farmers. Some people carry willow branches
with them on Qingming, or put willow branches on their gates and/or front doors.
They think that willow branches help ward off the evil ghosts that wander on Qingming.
Also on Qingming, people go on family outings, start the spring plowing, sing, dance,
and Qingming is a time where young couples start courting. Another popular thing to
do is fly kites (in shapes of animals, or characters from Chinese opera).
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Images :
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Burning paper gifts for the departed.
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References :
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Wikipedia : Qingming Festival
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See the days on which Qingming Festival is celebrated :
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Related Holidays :
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