The Cold Clothing Festival, Qingming Festival, and Ghost Festival are all memorial festivals, but the Cold Clothing Festival is more popular in the northern regions and less common in the south. According to folk customs, on this day people will sweep and burn offerings to commemorate their deceased loved ones, which is called "sending cold clothing". So who is the Cold Clothing Festival commemorating?
The Cold Clothing Festival commemorates Meng Jiangnu.
During the Qin Dynasty, there was a girl named Meng Jiangnu. At that time, Emperor Qin Shi Huang was capturing people everywhere to build the Great Wall. A man named Wan Xiliang was so scared that he ran home and hid under a melon trellis to avoid being captured.
When Meng Jiangnu saw that he was a fair-faced scholar, she hid him in her home and they got married on an auspicious day. However, just three days after their marriage, Wan Xiliang was captured.
Meng Jiangnu cried and waited day after day, but her husband never returned. She bid farewell to her parents and embarked on a journey to find her husband. She asked an old man, "How far is the Great Wall from here?" The old man replied, "The Great Wall is far away on the horizon." Meng Jiangnu didn't back down and continued walking until she fainted at a resting place. She was saved by a fellow villager.
After resting, Meng Jiangnu continued on her journey and finally arrived at the Great Wall. She asked the workers if Wan Xiliang had been among them building the Great Wall.
The workers all said, "Wan Xiliang died of exhaustion and was buried in the Great Wall." When Meng Jiangnu heard this, she cried so much that a large section of the Great Wall collapsed. She bit her middle finger and dripped blood to claim the body. After finding Wan Xiliang's bones, Meng Jiangnu stayed by his side, crying bitterly.
When Emperor Qin Shi Huang heard about this, he went with his men to find Meng Jiangnu. Upon seeing Meng Jiangnu's beauty, he wanted to possess her. Meng Jiangnu asked Emperor Qin Shi Huang to promise three things: first, to erect a monument and repair the tomb for her husband; second, to have all the civil and military officials cry for her husband; Emperor Qin Shi Huang agreed to these two requests. The third request was to wander by the sea for three days.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang agreed, but when they were walking by the sea, Meng Jiangnu jumped into the sea, causing a huge wave that nearly engulfed Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
These three fruits are suitable for placing on the altar:
1. Apple - Symbolizes peace and good fortune. Apple is one of the most popular fruits and is also one of the most commonly offered items on the altar. Apples have a positive connotation and represent peace. They are often referred to as "peace apples". Choose three to five bright red apples of the same size and color to place in the center of the altar. This not only looks good but also adds a sense of solemnity. When selecting apples, make sure they are of the same variety and avoid mixing different varieties together.
2. Persimmon - Symbolizes everything going smoothly. During the lunar month of October, persimmons ripen. Golden yellow and plump persimmons are auspicious and lucky, symbolizing "everything going smoothly". They are very suitable for placement on the altar. Note that fresh persimmons contain tannic acid, so if they taste astringent, do not eat them. Let them ripen for a few days before consuming to avoid damage to the digestive system. Even if they are sweet persimmons, it is best not to eat too many. Just taste one or two. If you like persimmons, you can buy some persimmon cakes to eat regularly.
3. Grapes - Symbolizes a prosperous family. Grapes and pomegranates, which come in clusters and have many seeds, have always symbolized "many children, many blessings", representing a prosperous and lively family. There are no specific requirements regarding the color or quantity of these fruits. Just place them on the altar to bring good luck. However, in some places, it is taboo to offer fruits with many seeds or in clusters on the altar, as they are associated with "many troubles". This depends on the local customs and may vary.
