As a very important traditional Chinese festival, Qing Ming Jie is also one of the 24 solar terms. As a festival, Qing Ming Jie is usually called Tomb Sweeping Festival or Tombing Sweeping Day in English. Meanwhile, as one of the 24 solar terms, Qing Ming is usually called Pure Brightness or Clear and Bright in English. Now Qing Ming is coming. Today, let’s learn something about it. 

       清明节是我国重要的传统节日。从二十四节气上讲，它又是节气之一。作为节日的清明节、和作为节气的清明节，它们的英文说法是不同的。作为节日的清明节一般翻译为“Tomb Sweeping festival”或者“Tomb-sweeping Day”，扫墓节或扫墓日。作为节气的话，“清”“明”二字皆为描述天气的词语，所以 “清明”的英语表达也可以为 Pure Brightness 或者Clear and Bright。清明节马上就要到了，今天来给大家分享一些有关清明节的知识。

1.Origin 起源 

       Qing Ming is popularly associated with Jie Zitui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C. When it comes to the Qingming Festival, those with some knowledge of history will associate it with the historical figure Jie Zitui. According to historical records, more than two thousand years ago during the Spring and Autumn period, the Duke of Jin, fled and lived a difficult life. Following him, Jie Zitui spared no effort in cutting a piece of meat from his own leg to satisfy his hunger.

       谈到清明节，有点历史知识的人，都会联想到历史人物介子推。据历史记载，在两千多年以前的春秋时代，晋国公子重耳逃亡在外，生活艰苦，跟随他的介子推不惜从自己的腿上割下一块肉让他充饥。后来，重耳回到晋国，作了国君（即晋文公，春秋五霸之一），大事封赏所有跟随他流亡在外的随从，惟独介子推拒绝接受封赏，他带了母亲隐居绵山。

       Believing that 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 where he was and was burnt to death. In commemoration of Jie Zitui, Duke Wen of Jin ordered that on this day of the year, it was prohibited to light fires, and every household could only eat raw and cold food, which is the source of Cold Food Festival.

      晋文公无计可施，只好放火烧山，他想，介子推孝顺母亲，一定会带着老母出来。谁知这场大火却把介子推母子烧死了。为了纪念介子推，晋文公下令每年的这一天，禁止生火，家家户户只能吃生冷的食物，这就是寒食节的来源。

       The  Cold Food Festival occurs on the eve of Qing Ming and is often considered as part of the Qing Ming festival. As time passes, the Qing Ming festival replaced the  cold food  festival. The custom of worshipping Jie Zitui has also become a custom of sweeping tombs during the Qingming Festival. Regardless of the form of commemoration, in order to make the ceremony of commemorating ancestors more meaningful, we should let the younger generation of family members understand the struggle history of their ancestors in the past, and of course, also learn the spirit of Jie Zitui who would rather die than surrender.

       寒食节是在清明节的前一天，古人常把寒食节的活动延续到清明，久而久之，清明取代了寒食节。拜介子推的习俗也变成了清明扫墓的习俗了。无论以何种形式纪念，为了使纪念祖先的仪式更有意义，我们应该让年轻一代的家庭成员了解先人过去的奋斗历史，当然，还要学习介子推宁死不屈的气节。

2. Custom 习俗 

       The major custom in Qingming Festival is tomb sweeping. On this day, people visit their family graves to remove any underbrush that has grown. They would uproot weeds near the gravesites, wipe the tombstones and decorate the tombstones with fresh flowers. And then they will set out offerings of food and paper money.

        清明节的主要习俗是扫墓。在这一天，人们都会前往他们的家族墓地进行拜祭。他们会铲除墓地周围的杂草，擦拭墓碑，以及用鲜花装饰墓碑。然后，放置贡品和烧纸钱。

tip：倡导文明祭扫，不要随意燃烧物品，以防引起火灾。

        Not only it is a day for commemorating the dead, is it also a festival for people to enjoy themselves. During March, everything in nature takes on a new look, as trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly. It is a fine time to go out and to appreciate the beautiful scenes of nature during the festival. Spring outings not only add joy to life but also promote a healthy body and mind.

        清明节不仅仅是一个纪念故人的节日，人们也可以在这一天进行娱乐活动。在4月份，大自然焕然一新，树木变绿，花朵绽放，阳光普照。节日期间，大家可以好好地去感受一下自然的魅力。春游不仅能给生活带来愉悦，同时也可以促进身体和心灵的健康。

3.Food 食俗 

       Green rice ball: People in the Jiangnan region often eat this kind of green colored balls made from glutinous rice called Green Rice Ball on Tomb Sweeping Day. 

        Cudweed herb rolls: The best time to pick fresh cudweed herb is around Tomb Sweeping Day. The herb is often added in veggie rolls or dumplings and consumed on the day. In South China, people add the wild plant also in steamed buns. 

       青团：江南地区的人们经常在清明节食用这种由糯米制成的绿色团子，称作青团。

       清明果：清明节前后，是采摘新鲜鼠曲草（清明草）的最佳时机。当天，人们会在蔬菜卷或饺子里加入鼠曲草当作馅料。在华南地区，人们还将这种野菜加在馒头里面。

4. Famous poetry 古诗词

清明

              [唐]杜牧

清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂。

借问酒家何处有？牧童遥指杏花村。

The ceaseless drizzles drip all the dismal day,

So broken-hearted fares the traveler on the way.

When asked where could be found a tavern bower,

A cowboy points to yonder village of the apricot flower.

                       （文/关倩倩，图/关倩倩，编辑/苏秀娟，审核/王俊华）