清明节，又叫踏青节，正是春光明媚草木吐绿的时节，也正是人们春游的好时候，所以古人有清明踏青，并开展一系列体育活动的的习俗。直到今天，清明节祭拜祖先，悼念已逝的亲人的习俗仍很盛行。
今天，小编就带大家一起阅读一篇关于清明习俗的英语(论坛)文章。在阅读的过程中一起学习关于清明节的地道表达。
Celebrated two weeks after the vernal equinox(24节气之一的春分), Tomb Sweeping Dayis one of the few traditional Chinese holidays that follows the lunarcalendar(lunar calendar，意为农历、阴历)--typically falling on April 4, 5, or 6. ItsChinese name "Qing Ming" literally means "Clear Brightness," hinting at itsimportance as a celebration of Spring. Similar to the spring festivals of othercultures, Tomb Sweeping Day celebrates the rebirth of nature, while marking thebeginning of the planting season and other outdoor activities.
Qing Ming Jie in Ancient Times
古代的清明节
In ancient times, people celebrated Qing Ming Jie with dancing, singing,picnics, and kite flying. Colored boiledeggs(原来古代中国的清明节和西方复活节一样有彩蛋……小编只能感叹历史惊人的相似了……) would be broken to symbolize theopening of life. In the capital, the Emperor would plant trees on the palacegrounds to celebrate the renewing nature of spring. In the villages, young menand women would court each other.
The Tomb Sweeping Day as Celebrated Today
庆祝春天的清明
With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to thehonor past ancestors. Following folk religion(folk religion，民间习俗、信仰), theChinese believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors looked after the family.Sacrifices of food and spirit money could keep them happy, and the family wouldprosper through good harvests and more children.
Today, Chinese visit their family graves to tend to any underbrush that hasgrown. Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set outofferings of food and spirit money(注意纸钱的官方说法啊：spirit money). Unlike thesacrifices at a family's home altar, the offerings at the tomb usually consistof dry, bland food. One theory is that since any number of ghosts rome around agrave area, the less appealing food will be consumed by the ancestors, and notbe plundered by strangers.
Honoring Ancestors
祭祖
Honoring ancestors begins with proper positioning of a gravesite andcoffin. Experts in feng shui, or geomancy, determine the quality of land by thesurrounding aspects of streams, rivers, trees, hills, and so forth. An area thatfaces south, with groves of pine trees creates the best flow of cosmic energyrequired to keep ancestors happy. Unfortunately, nowadays, with China'sburgeoning population, public cemeteries have quickly surpplanted privategravesites. Family elders will visit the gravesite at least once a year to tendto the tombs.
While bland food is placed by the tombs on Qing Ming Jie, the Chineseregularly provide scrumptious offerings to their ancestors at altar tables intheir homes. The food usually consists of chicken, eggs, or other dishes adeceased ancestor was fond of. Accompanied by rice, the dishes and eatingutensils are carefully arranged so as to bring good luck. Sometimes, a familywill put burning incense with the offering so as to expedite the transfer ofnutritious elements to the ancestors. In some parts of China, the food is theneaten by the entire family.
Kites
风筝
Besides the traditions of honoring the dead, people also often fly kits onTomb Sweeping Day. Kites can come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors.Designs could include frogs, dragonflies, butterflies, crabs, bats, andstorks.
