清明节

清明节是中国传统节日之一，通常在每年4月4日或5日庆祝。 这个节日最初源于古代的祭祀活动，是祭祖和扫墓的时刻，也有踏青的传统。

Qingming Festival is one of the traditional festivals in China, usually celebrated on April 4th or 5th each year.

清明节的名字“清明”来源于二十四节气之一，意味着天气清爽、明净，适合外出活动，因此也是春天的一次重要的节令性节日。

This festival originally stems from ancient sacrificial activities, marking a time for ancestor worship and tomb sweeping, and it also carries the tradition of enjoying the spring outings.

清明节的起源可以追溯到2500多年前的春秋时期。

The name "Qingming" comes from one of the twenty-four solar terms, signifying clear and bright weather, suitable for outdoor activities; hence, it is also an important seasonal festival in spring.

当时，古人通过清明节的祭祀活动来祈求农田丰收，并祭拜祖先以示尊敬。

The origins of Qingming Festival can be traced back over 2,500 years to the Spring and Autumn period.

清明节原本是“寒食节”与“上巳节”的合并，寒食节的习俗是人们在这一天不生火做饭，只吃冷食，用来纪念古代晋国的忠臣介子推。

At that time, the ancients used the sacrificial activities of Qingming Festival to pray for a bountiful harvest and to pay respects to their ancestors.

传说介子推在国家动荡时选择隐居山林，直到他死于饥寒，百姓为了纪念他，便有了不生火做饭的习俗。

Qingming Festival originally resulted from the merging of the "Cold Food Festival" and the "Shangsi Festival." The custom of Cold Food Festival entails not lighting fires to cook on this day, only eating cold food, in memory of the loyal minister Jie Zitui from the ancient Jin State.

而随着时间的推移，清明节逐渐成为了祭祀祖先、扫墓、踏青的节日。

Legend has it that Jie Zitui chose to live in seclusion in the mountains during a time of national turmoil and died of hunger and cold. To commemorate him, people established the custom of not lighting fires to cook.

清明节的核心习俗是扫墓祭祖。

As time went by, Qingming Festival gradually evolved into a day for ancestral worship, tomb sweeping, and spring outings.

人们通常会前往祖先的墓地，清理墓碑上的杂草，敬献祭品，如鲜花、纸钱、食品等，以表达对已故亲人的思念和尊敬。

The core custom of Qingming Festival is tomb sweeping and ancestor worship.

这一传统习俗体现了中国人重视家族传承和祭祖的文化，借此寄托对先人的敬仰和怀念。

People usually go to the graves of their ancestors, clearing away weeds from the tombstones and offering sacrifices such as flowers, paper money, and food to express their remembrance and respect for their deceased relatives.

此外，清明节还常伴随着烧纸钱的习惯，纸钱在传统文化中象征着财富和对亡灵的供奉，希望他们在另一个世界也能安康。

This traditional custom reflects the Chinese cultural emphasis on family heritage and ancestor worship, serving as a way to convey admiration and nostalgia for the ancestors.

除扫墓外，清明节还有踏青的习惯。

In addition, Qingming Festival is often accompanied by the practice of burning paper money, which symbolizes wealth and offerings to the deceased, hoping they will enjoy good health in the afterlife.

由于清明节时天气温暖，春意盎然，适宜户外活动，因此很多人选择在这一天与家人、朋友一起到郊外踏青，欣赏大自然的美景。

Besides tomb sweeping, there is also the custom of spring outings during Qingming Festival.

这种活动不仅让人们亲近自然，还能增进亲朋之间的感情，寓意着生命的复苏和新生。

As the weather is warm and the spring scenery is vibrant during Qingming Festival, many people choose to go outdoors with their families and friends to enjoy the beauty of nature.

踏青的同时，很多地方的人们也会放风筝，象征着驱邪避灾，带来好运。

This activity not only brings people closer to nature but also enhances the bonds between friends and family, symbolizing the revival and renewal of life.

在一些地区，清明节还有寒食节的传统，这一天的食物往往是冷食，如凉菜、冷饭等，避免生火。

While enjoying the outing, many people in various regions also fly kites, symbolizing the warding off of evil and bringing good luck.

这个习俗最早是为了纪念晋国的忠臣介子推，后来成为清明节的一部分。

In some areas, the tradition of the Cold Food Festival is still observed during Qingming Festival, where the food is often cold dishes such as salads and cold rice, avoiding the lighting of fires.

现代社会中，虽然许多人可能因工作或其他原因无法回家扫墓，但随着技术的发展，线上祭祖、远程祭扫等新形式也得到了普及，使得传统习俗得以延续。

This custom was initially to commemorate Jie Zitui, later becoming part of Qingming Festival.

清明节不仅是一个祭祖和扫墓的日子，也象征着对生命的尊重与珍视，是每个中国人心中重要的节日。

In modern society, although many people may not be able to return home to sweep tombs due to work or other reasons, the advancement of technology has popularized new forms such as online ancestor worship and remote tomb sweeping, allowing traditional customs to continue.