Spring blossoms during Qingming Festival in China
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Qingming Festival 2025: Tomb Sweeping Guide

December 18, 20246 min read

Honor ancestors during Qingming Festival with tomb sweeping, offerings, and spring outings in this important Chinese tradition.

Qingming Festival: Honoring Ancestors

Qingming Festival (清明节), also called Tomb Sweeping Day, is a time to honor ancestors and enjoy the spring season. It falls 15 days after the Spring Equinox.

Qingming 2025

  • Date: April 4, 2025
  • Public holiday in China
  • UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
  • Traditional Observances

    Tomb Sweeping

    Families visit ancestral graves to:

  • Clean and repair tombs
  • Remove weeds and debris
  • Repaint inscriptions
  • Place fresh flowers
  • Offerings

  • Burning incense and joss paper
  • Offering food and drinks
  • Paper money and goods for the afterlife
  • Kowtowing to ancestors
  • Spring Outings (踏青)

    Qingming coincides with beautiful spring weather:

  • Countryside walks
  • Kite flying
  • Willow branch wearing
  • Picnics in nature
  • Traditional Foods

    Qingtuan (青团)

    Green rice balls made with:

  • Mugwort or barley grass juice
  • Sweet red bean filling
  • Sticky rice flour
  • Other Foods

  • Cold food (in memory of Jie Zitui)
  • Spring vegetables
  • Qingming snails
  • Modern Observances

  • Online memorial services
  • Digital tomb sweeping
  • Eco-friendly paper offerings
  • Family video calls
  • Plan your Qingming observance with VIPCalendar!

    Tags

    #Qingming#Tomb Sweeping#China#April#Ancestors

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