清明節(jié)，又叫踏青節(jié)，正是春光明媚草木吐綠的時節(jié)，也正是人們春游的好時候，所以古人有清明踏青，并開展一系列體育活動的的習(xí)俗。直到今天，清明節(jié)祭拜祖先，悼念已逝的親人的習(xí)俗仍很盛行。

今天，小編就帶大家一起閱讀一篇關(guān)于清明習(xí)俗的英語(論壇)文章。在閱讀的過程中一起學(xué)習(xí)關(guān)于清明節(jié)的地道表達(dá)。

Celebrated two weeks after the vernal equinox(24節(jié)氣之一的春分), Tomb Sweeping Dayis one of the few traditional Chinese holidays that follows the lunarcalendar(lunar calendar，意為農(nóng)歷、陰歷)--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

古代的清明節(jié)

In ancient times, people celebrated Qing Ming Jie with dancing, singing,picnics, and kite flying. Colored boiledeggs(原來古代中國的清明節(jié)和西方復(fù)活節(jié)一樣有彩蛋……小編只能感嘆歷史驚人的相似了……) 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

慶祝春天的清明

With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to thehonor past ancestors. Following folk religion(folk religion，民間習(xí)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(注意紙錢的官方說法?。簊pirit 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

風(fēng)箏

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.