The Winter Solstice is a traditional festival in our country, but in some places, there is a custom of sweeping tombs during the Winter Solstice. This custom of sweeping tombs during the Winter Solstice in Fujian has been formed for a long time. So what are the origins and taboos of sweeping tombs during the Winter Solstice in Fujian? Next, let’s take a look at this issue of the Old Almanac!
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The origin of winter solstice tomb-sweeping in Fujian. Ancient people attached great importance to the winter solstice. There is a saying that "the winter solstice is as big as the new year". The ancients believed that the yang energy of the winter solstice is strong and the ruler is powerful, which is an opportunity for chaos to be restored. Celebration ceremonies have been held since the Han Dynasty, and reached their peak in the Song Dynasty. The day before the winter solstice is called Xiaozhi or Xiaodong, and the winter solstice is called Changzhi or Dadong. The day after the winter solstice is called the solstice. Worshiping ancestors during the winter solstice has been recorded as early as in Cui Shi's "Four People's Monthly Orders" of the Eastern Han Dynasty, which said that people should offer millet and sheep to Xuan Ming and Zu Ni. Records of worshiping ancestors during the Winter Solstice increased in the Song Dynasty. "Tokyo Menghualu" tells that the winter solstice is the most important festival in the capital. On this day, new clothes are worn, meals are prepared, and ancestors are worshiped. "Old Wulin Stories" says that the wontons are served first.
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In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, worshiping ancestors during the winter solstice was very popular. Jiajing's "Jiangyin County Chronicle" records: "On festival days, the portraits of ancestors are hung in the middle hall and memorials are held. The rituals are also based on New Year's Day." In the southern region where the clan system flourishes, ancestor worship is often carried out in ancestral halls. Jiajing Jiangxi's "Nankang County Chronicle" : "Winter Solstice worship comes before the temple, and the tomb is like the Qingming Festival." The custom of worshiping the ancestors during the Winter Solstice is popular in Fujian Province. For example, Wanli's "Jianyang County Chronicle" says: "It is the ceremony of worshiping the ancestors of the rich people in Japan." Fujian ancestor worship rituals are specially made. Rice dumplings. People in the Qing Dynasty generally worshiped their ancestors at home or tombs during the winter solstice, and in the south where clans gathered to live. Often, like Qingming and Zhongyuan, ancestors are worshiped in family temples.
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Taboos on tomb sweeping in the Winter Solstice 1. Dress plainly, women do not need to apply makeup and powder, family members bring incense, candles and offerings, and no killing is allowed in front of the tomb. If you want to offer flowers, chrysanthemums are suitable. You can peel off the petals and sprinkle them in front of the tombstone. 2. After visiting the cemetery, first clean up the weeds around the cemetery. Pay special attention to whether there are any stray trees on the grave. If there are trees, pull them out. Then observe whether there is any debris blocking the small bright hall in front of the grave, and whether the drainage ditch is blocked. . 3. Observe whether the tomb frame and tombstones are collapsed or cracked. If any abnormalities are found, please promptly ask a Feng Shui master to guide you and take measures to remedy the situation. 4. Offer the offerings, light incense candles and burn paper money. Generally, family members are required to bow three times to their ancestors and then read the memorial text to express the later generations' remembrance of the deceased. 5. Light firecrackers before leaving. Firecrackers can also be lit in designated areas in the cemetery area. 6. The whole family can have a dinner together after sweeping the tomb, mainly vegetarian food, and continue to eat wontons, dumplings, glutinous rice balls, red bean porridge and other customs. 7. Whether you are burning paper money or lighting firecrackers, you must pay attention to personal safety, pay attention to fire prevention, and leave only after the sparks have burned out.
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