THE FESTIVAL OF THE SHINING PURITY With the arrival of spring is celebrated in China, the rebirth of life and the memory of ancestors

From today until Friday, falls into one of China’s most popular festivals of the country , the festival ‘s Shining Purity, more properly called Qingming Jie . According to tradition, these are the days when spring begins to show itself in all its splendor . The trees are full of flowers for some days and the days are warm and very sunny . From now on, the rains will become more frequent, therefore, this day marks the beginning of the agricultural season more prosperous . But it is not only why the Qingming Jie is a holiday so beloved and important part of Chinese tradition. This is also the week in which it pays homage to the ancestors , you can start a thorough cleaning of the house, and you can enjoy the newfound spring season by spending the day at the park or in the countryside . In contrast to the gloom that envelops our November 2 , here on the day of commemoration of the dead is made to coincide with that of the rebirth of life. I would like to thank and pay tribute to the lives their ancestors with a feast of colors and traditions that have their roots in a very far away. The origins of this festival date back to the sixth century BC. The story tells of a prince of what is known as the Spring and Autumn Period , which is saved by the sacrifice of one of its officials . At the time of his brave officer to recognize the merit of his own life , the prince forgets about it , so man , wounded pride retreats into the forest. The prince realizing his mistake him desperately trying , to start a fire in the forest to be able to flush him out . Unfortunately the official dies in that same fire. In memory of the horror caused by that fire this day is also said that the ” Cold Food ” because now all the Chinese houses nobody will light the fire , preparing banquets instead of cold dishes that also date back to ancient traditions . The custom , now only remained alive in the villages of the country, wants families to get together all around the grave of their loved ones after you have cleaned and tidied it offers its ghosts a veritable feast of rice, vegetables and meat. After littered the ground around this food , beautifully prepared , it gives impetus to another custom : to burn the paper silver : the money that the ancestors use to live comfortably in their second life. In the big cities , like here in Beijing at the cemetery instead bring flowers, especially white and yellow chrysanthemums . The Qingming jie , as we said , it is also the feast celebrating the return of Spring. So you take advantage of this day to meet everyone at the park or in the countryside . The kids playing ball in the park or fly kites , aided by the warm wind whipping strong this season, and the houses are decorated with blooming flowers . On every table can not miss symbolic foods such as egg, message creation par excellence, and the onion , which corresponds to the phonetic transcription of the word intelligence, which they offer as parents wish for their children.