The Qingming Festival is popularly associated with Jie Zitui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C. Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lord's life by serving a piece of his own leg. When the lord succeeded in becoming the ruler of a small principality, he invited his faithful follower to join him. However, Jie declined, preferring a hermit's life with his mother in the mountains.
Believing he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to set the forest on fire. To his consternation, Jie chose to remain and was burnt to death. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all household fires to be extinguished on the anniversary of Jie's death. Thus began the "Cold Food Feast," a day when no food could be cooked as no fire could be lit.
The "Cold Food" festival occurs on the eve of Qingming and is often considered part of it. Over time, the Qingming Festival replaced the "Cold Food" festival.
Whatever specific practices are observed, the core observance of Qingming is to honor one's elders by making a special effort to visit their graves, ashes, or ancestral tablets. To make the visit more meaningful, time should be spent informing the younger generation about their ancestors' struggles and contributions, and the story of Jie Zitui, who chose death over capitulation.