The Legend of Cold Food Festival: The Origin and Development of Cold Food Festival
It originated in the Spring and Autumn Period when Jie Zhitui was burned to death on Mianshan Mountain in Jiexiu. Duke Wen of Jin ordered a ban on fire and eating cold food on the anniversary of Jie Zhitui's death as a way to mourn him. By the Tang Dynasty, it had become a nationwide statutory holiday, making it one of the earliest formed traditional festivals in China.