寒食節的由來，最普遍的說法為紀念介子推。相傳春秋時期晉公子重耳為避開內亂，與一些隨臣一起離開晉國，流亡十九年，歷盡艱辛。一次，重耳的資糧被偷，他餓得昏了過去，介子推割下自己大腿上的肉做熟了給他吃，讓他得以恢復精神，保住了性命。事後，當重耳明白緣由之後，很感動。後來重耳回到晉國，當了晉侯（晉文公，春秋五霸之一），回憶起舊事，想封賞介子推，而介子推已經和母親到山西的綿山隱居。晉文公派軍士上綿山搜索，遍尋不到，便下令放火燒山，三面點火，留一方不放火，想以此逼出介子推，但最後發現介子推與其母被燒死。重耳十分後悔，便規定每年此時不得生火，一切吃冷食，稱為寒食節，以紀念介子推。直到今天，山西省介休市當地居民仍然對此深有記憶，實際節日這三天已沒有吃寒食的活動，但晚飯仍然有不生火做飯的習俗，一般晚飯會喝開水，而不是平時喝的各種麵湯。
中國最早的春祭在寒食節，後來改為在清明節，現在華北部分地區仍然在寒食節掃墓祭祖。韓國方面，仍然保留在寒食節進行春祭的傳統。雖然無法知道寒食節在甚麼時候被清明節取代，但從唐代多首與寒食節有關的詩來看，至少在唐朝時，中原人仍然有紀念寒食節的習慣-
The Cold Food Festival or Hanshi Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated for three consecutive days starting the day before the Qingming Festival in the Chinese Calendar, which falls on April 5 by the Gregorian calendar, except in leap years (the 105th day after dongzhi). It is celebrated in China as well as the nearby nations of Korea and Vietnam. At this time of year, the sky becomes clearer and buds sprout in the field. Farmers sow various seeds and supply water to their rice paddies.
The Cold Food Festival or is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated for three consecutive days starting the day before the Qingming Festival in the Chinese Calendar, which falls on the 105th day after dongzhi (April 5 by the Gregorian calendar, except in leap years). It is celebrated in China as well as the nearby nations of Korea and Vietnam. At this time of year, the sky becomes clearer and buds sprout in the field. Farmers sow various seeds and supply water to their rice paddies.
Legend about Cold Food Festival
Legend has it that Chong'er, a prince of Jin, endured many hardships while he fled around the warring states. Once, in order to help the prince who was tormented by hunger, Jiè Zhītuī cut off the flesh from his thigh and offered it to the prince for sustenance.
Later, when Chong'er became Duke Wen of Jin , he ordered a search for Jie Zhitui who had gone into hiding in the remote mountains with his mother. Jie Zhitui had no political ambitions and felt ashamed to work with his hypocritical fellows, hence refused invitation of the Duke. Chong'er ordered the mountains to be burned down in order to force Zhitui out of hiding. Unfortunately Zhitui did not give in and the fire ended up killing Zhitui and his mother.
Filled with remorse, Chong'er ordered that each year during these three days the setting of fire is forbidden – all food was to be consumed cold. Therefore the Festival is thus named. In Jiexiu City of the Shanxi Province, where Zhitui died, locals still remember this tradition clearly. But even for them the tradition of eating cold food is no longer actually practiced.
