Although after more than two thousand years of evolution, Qingming Festival has also developed different customs in various places, such as outdoor outing, swing, Cuju, polo, willow insertion and a series of customs and sports activities. But the theme of Tomb-sweeping and ancestor-sacrificing remains unchanged for thousands of years.
A legend about Cold Food Festival
Legend has it that in the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period. Li Ji, the concubine of Duke Xian of Jin, set up a poisonous plot to murder Prince Shen Sheng in order to inherit the throne by her son Xi Qi, and Shen Sheng was forced to commit suicide. Shen Sheng's younger brother Chong Er fled in exile to avoid persecution. Chong Er suffered a lot of humiliation in his exile days. When his future was uncertain, his followers abandoned him one after another, leaving only a few loyal people around him. One of them is called Jie Zitui. On the way to escape, hunger was unbearable. Once they could not find food. Chong Er was hungry and fainted. In order to save Chong Er, Jie Zitui cut a piece of meat from his leg and cooked it over a fire, then gave it to Chong Er to eat.
In front of Prince Wen of Jin, some people protest against an injustice for Jie Zitui. Prince Wen of Jin suddenly remembered the past and felt guilty. He immediately sent a messenger to invite Jie Zitui to go up to the court to be rewarded and appointed him an official. Nevertheless, Jie Zitui didn't come back after several errands. Prince Wen of Jin had to invite him personally. However, when Prince Wen of Jin came to Jie Zitui's home, the door was closed. Jie Zitui did not want to see him. He hid behind in Mianshan (southeast of Jiexiu County, Shanxi Province today) with his mother. Prince Wen of Jin let the army search Mianshan, but did not find it.Therefore, someone came up with the idea that it would be better to set fire to burn the mountains, ignite on three sides, and leave one side. When the fire started, Jie Zitui would push himself out. Prince Wen of Jin ordered the fire to burn the mountain. It lasted three days and three nights. After the fire was extinguished,Ji Zitui didn't come out. Up the hill found Jie Zitui with his mother were dead holding a burnt willow tree.
The next year, Prince Wen of Jin led his courtiers to mountaineer sacrifices to Jie Zitui, and found that the old willow tree burned last year had revived. Prince Wen of Jin Dynasty named the old willow tree "Qingming willow". And folded several wickers on the spot and put them on his head to show his nostalgia. Prince Wen of Jin ordered that this day be designated as Cold Food Festival. Since then, the Cold Food Festival has become a grand festival for the people of the whole country. When it comes to Cold Food Festival, people don't make a fire to cook,but only eat cold food. In the north, people only eat cold food such as jujube cake and wheat cake prepared beforehand.In the south, they mostly eat green dumplings and sticky rice candy lotus root.Every The Cold Food Festival, people wear wickers in circles on their heads and insert wicker branches in front of and behind houses to show their memory.
