The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on April 4 or 5 each year according to the Gregorian calendar. It is a time for honoring the ancestors and showing respect to the departed. Here is an English introduction to the origins and customs of the Qingming Festival:

**Origins of Qingming Festival:**
The Qingming Festival has its roots in ancient China, with its origins dating back to the Spring and Autumn period (771-476 BC). It was initially a day for agricultural rituals, as it marked the beginning of spring and the time to plant crops. Over time, the festival evolved to become a day for honoring the spirits of ancestors.
According to legend, the Qingming Festival was established during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) when Emperor Xuanzong decreed that the day should be dedicated to tomb-sweeping and ancestor worship. The festival is believed to be in memory of the Emperor's mother, who was buried in a remote area and whose tomb was not properly maintained.
**Customs of Qingming Festival:**
1. **Tomb-Sweeping:** The most important custom of the Qingming Festival is tomb-sweeping, where families visit the graves of their ancestors to clean the tombs, pay their respects, and offer food, tea, and paper offerings.
2. **Ancestor Worship:** Families also set up altars at home to honor their ancestors. They burn incense, offer paper money, and sometimes perform rituals such as bowing or lighting candles.
3. **Planting Trees:** It is customary to plant willow trees on Qingming Day, as willow trees are considered to be auspicious and are believed to protect the spirits of the ancestors.
4. **Folding Paper Cranes:** Some people fold paper cranes and release them into the sky as a symbol of releasing their ancestors' souls to the heavens.
5. **Eating Qingming Zongzi:** In some regions, people eat Qingming Zongzi, a type of sticky rice dumpling, which is said to have originated from the practice of offering food to the spirits.
6. **Wearing Greenery:** It is traditional to wear greenery, such as willow branches, on one's head or in one's hair to ward off evil spirits and to bring good luck.
7. **Fishing:** In some areas, people go fishing on Qingming Day, as it is believed to bring good fortune.
The Qingming Festival is a time for reflection and remembrance, and it is celebrated with great reverence across China and in Chinese communities around the world.
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