Chinese language
The Tomb-Sweeping Day
The Tomb-Sweeping Day is April 4th in China. The customs this day are interesting and abundant. Besides fire prohibition and tomb sweeping at this day, Chinese people do much folk sports, such as swings, kite flying, tug-of-war, spring country walk, tree planting etc. Because it is said that Chinese people must have cold food and prohibit fire at Tomb-Sweeping Day, they joined some sports to strengthen body.
Folk customs of Tomb-Sweeping Day
Swing
It is a custom of Tomb-Sweeping Day in ancient China. Playing swing not only can strengthen body, but also can cultivate one’s brave spirit. So until now it is still popular with Chinese people, especially with Children.
Kite flying
It is also a custom of Tomb-Sweeping Day loved by Chinese people. At that day, Chinese people not only fly kites at day, but also at night. At night, they hang a string of small lanterns under kite, which seem like blinking stars in the night sky. In the past, some people cut off the pull wire after it fly high in the sky and the kite will fly with wind to anywhere, maybe the end of the earth. It is said that it could help get rid of disaster and bring good luck by free the kite.
It is also called Spring Travel, also called Seeking Spring in ancient time. Tomb-Sweeping Day is March in Chinese lunar month, when spring is just coming back and everything in nature is growing and thriving. It is good time to walk out and travel. So people reserve the custom that they go out of door to travel at Tomb-Sweeping Day to now.