The Cold Clothing Festival, like the Qingming Festival and the Ghost Festival, is a festival for sacrifice. However, the Cold Clothing Festival is more prevalent 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 dedicated to?
The Cold Clothing Festival is dedicated to Meng Jiangnu.
During the Qin Dynasty, there was a young girl named Meng Jiangnu. At that time, Qin Shihuang 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 rack to avoid being caught.
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 and night, longing for her husband's return. When he did not return, 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." Despite this, Meng Jiangnu did not waver and continued walking. She eventually collapsed at a resting place, but was saved by a fellow villager.
After resting for a while, Meng Jiangnu continued her journey and finally arrived at the Great Wall. She asked the workers if Wan Xiliang had been working with them to build the wall. The workers all said, "Wan Xiliang worked himself to death and was buried in the wall." When Meng Jiangnu heard this, she cried so much that a large section of the wall collapsed. She bit her middle finger, let it bleed, and used her blood to identify her husband's remains. After finding the bones, Meng Jiangnu kept vigil over Wan Xiliang's remains, crying and grieving.
When Qin Shihuang heard about this, he went with his men to find Meng Jiangnu. When he saw Meng Jiangnu, who was as beautiful as a fairy, he wanted to possess her. Meng Jiangnu made Qin Shihuang promise three things: first, to erect a monument and repair the tomb for her husband; second, to have the civil and military officials mourn for her husband; Qin Shihuang agreed to these two things. The third thing she asked for was to take a stroll by the sea for three days.
Qin Shihuang agreed, but while they were strolling by the sea, Meng Jiangnu jumped into the sea, causing a huge wave that almost swept Qin Shihuang away.
These 3 fruits are suitable for offering 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 common offerings on the altar. It is known as the "fruit of peace" and represents good wishes for peace. Choose three to five big, red apples and place them in the middle of the altar. It looks beautiful and adds a sense of solemnity. When selecting apples, make sure they are of similar size and color, and avoid mixing different apple varieties together.
2. Persimmon - symbolizes things going well. During the lunar month of October, persimmons ripen. The golden and round persimmons are festive and auspicious, symbolizing "everything going well". They are suitable for placing 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 damaging the digestive system. Even if it is a sweet persimmon, it is best not to eat too many. Try one or two for a taste, and if you like persimmons, you can buy some dried persimmons for regular consumption.
3. Grapes - symbolize a prosperous family. Grapes and pomegranates, which grow in clusters and have many seeds, have always symbolized "many children and blessings", representing a prosperous and thriving family. There are no specific requirements for the color or quantity of these fruits. Just place them on the altar for auspicious symbolism. However, in some places, it is considered unlucky to offer fruits with many seeds and in clusters, as it implies "many troubles". It depends on the local customs.
