Each year has four seasons, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, each lasting three months, with two solar terms per month. Want to know more about the Qingming Festival? Do you want to know about the unique customs of Qingming in Shandong? What do people in Shandong eat during Qingming? Click on Huayi Network to learn more.
What are the customs of Qingming Festival in Shandong
1、Planting willows and trees
In the past, Jinan and other areas had the custom of planting willows at the door, and women and children wore willow branches or willow balls on their heads. It is said that this custom was to commemorate Shen Nong, later developing into a wish for longevity. Later, the custom of wearing willows gradually disappeared, but planting and cultivating willows became popular and spread, leading to tree planting during the Qingming Festival. Now, every year around Qingming, large-scale tree planting activities take place throughout Shandong.
2、Swinging
During the Qingming Festival, there is also the custom of swinging in Jinan, Qingdao, and other areas. There is a saying in the folk "Women's Qingming, Men's New Year." The higher the swing goes, the better the future life is expected to be. So, women would put aside their modesty and joyfully swing. During the process of swinging, men helping to push the swings could easily gain the favor of women, creating good opportunities for young men and women to interact.
3、Flying kites
Since ancient times, there has been the custom of flying kites in Qingdao around the Qingming Festival. In the past, some people would cut the string after sending their kites into the sky, letting the breeze carry them to the far corners of the earth, believing that this could remove illness and disasters, bringing good luck to themselves. 4、Fighting with eggs. In the northern part of Shandong, the custom of "fighting eggs" from the Southern and Northern Dynasties still remains. On this day, they use boiled hot eggs to hit each other; whoever's egg breaks first is considered the loser.
In the past, Jinan and other areas had the custom of planting willows at the door, and women and children wore willow branches or willow balls on their heads. It is said that this custom was to commemorate Shen Nong, later developing into a wish for longevity. Later, the custom of wearing willows gradually disappeared, but planting and cultivating willows became popular and spread, leading to tree planting during the Qingming Festival. Now, every year around Qingming, large-scale tree planting activities take place throughout Shandong.
2、Swinging
During the Qingming Festival, there is also the custom of swinging in Jinan, Qingdao, and other areas. There is a saying in the folk "Women's Qingming, Men's New Year." The higher the swing goes, the better the future life is expected to be. So, women would put aside their modesty and joyfully swing. During the process of swinging, men helping to push the swings could easily gain the favor of women, creating good opportunities for young men and women to interact.
3、Flying kites
Since ancient times, there has been the custom of flying kites in Qingdao around the Qingming Festival. In the past, some people would cut the string after sending their kites into the sky, letting the breeze carry them to the far corners of the earth, believing that this could remove illness and disasters, bringing good luck to themselves. 4、Fighting with eggs. In the northern part of Shandong, the custom of "fighting eggs" from the Southern and Northern Dynasties still remains. On this day, they use boiled hot eggs to hit each other; whoever's egg breaks first is considered the loser.
What do people in Shandong eat during Qingming Festival
1、Mianyan (Wheat Cakes). In the past, there was a custom in Qingdao to make "Mianyan" during the Qingming Festival. It is said that this was to commemorate Jie Zitui, and the wheat cakes were also called "Jietui Yan" by the people. In the past, women were not only skilled in making Mianyan, but also made various types of Mianyan with different shapes and expressions. There are many types of Mianyan, including single-headed, double-headed, flat-winged, and curved-winged ones. In addition, there is a special type called "big swallow carrying small swallow."
2、Single pancake. Every year during Qingming, there is also a custom in Qingdao to make single pancakes. A single pancake is a thin piece of dough, which is topped with scallions, boiled eggs, etc., and then rolled up to eat.
3、Cold pancake rolled with fresh bitter vegetables. In Taian, there is a custom of eating cold pancakes rolled with fresh bitter vegetables, which is said to help improve eyesight. 4、Eggs and cold sorghum rice. In Laiyang, Zhaoyuan, and Changdao, there is a custom of eating eggs and cold sorghum rice, which is said that otherwise, hailstorms may occur. 5、Buns. In Weihai, Qixia, and Huangxian, after the whole family holds a public ceremony at the ancestral graves, they all eat the leftover buns and dishes together, called "Fangshi" or "Bingshe."
2、Single pancake. Every year during Qingming, there is also a custom in Qingdao to make single pancakes. A single pancake is a thin piece of dough, which is topped with scallions, boiled eggs, etc., and then rolled up to eat.
3、Cold pancake rolled with fresh bitter vegetables. In Taian, there is a custom of eating cold pancakes rolled with fresh bitter vegetables, which is said to help improve eyesight. 4、Eggs and cold sorghum rice. In Laiyang, Zhaoyuan, and Changdao, there is a custom of eating eggs and cold sorghum rice, which is said that otherwise, hailstorms may occur. 5、Buns. In Weihai, Qixia, and Huangxian, after the whole family holds a public ceremony at the ancestral graves, they all eat the leftover buns and dishes together, called "Fangshi" or "Bingshe."
