清明節習俗英文簡介
清明節，又叫踏青節，正是春光明媚草木吐綠的時節，也正是人們春遊的好時候，所以古人有清明踏青，並開展一系列體育活動的的習俗。直到今天，清明節祭拜祖先，悼念已逝的親人的習俗仍很盛行。
今天，小編就帶大家一起閱讀一篇關於清明習俗的英語(論壇)文章。在閱讀的'過程中一起學習關於清明節的地道表達。
Celebrated two weeks after the vernal equinox(24節氣之一的春分), Tomb Sweeping Day is one of the few traditional Chinese holidays that follows the lunar calendar(lunar calendar，意為農曆、陰曆)--typically falling on April 4, 5, or 6. Its Chinese name "Qing Ming" literally means "Clear Brightness," hinting at its importance as a celebration of Spring. Similar to the spring festivals of other cultures, Tomb Sweeping Day celebrates the rebirth of nature, while marking the beginning of the planting season and other outdoor activities.
Qing Ming Jie in Ancient Times
古代的清明節
In ancient times, people celebrated Qing Ming Jie with dancing, singing, picnics, and kite flying. Colored boiled eggs(原來古代中國的清明節和西方復活節一樣有彩蛋……小編只能感嘆歷史驚人的相似了……) would be broken to symbolize the opening of life. In the capital, the Emperor would plant trees on the palace grounds to celebrate the renewing nature of spring. In the villages, young men and 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 the honor past ancestors. Following folk religion(folk religion，民間習俗、信仰), the Chinese believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors looked after the family. Sacrifices of food and spirit money could keep them happy, and the family would prosper through good harvests and more children.
Today, Chinese visit their family graves to tend to any underbrush that has grown. Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set out offerings of food and spirit money(注意紙錢的官方說法啊：spirit money). Unlike the sacrifices at a family's home altar, the offerings at the tomb usually consist of dry, bland food. One theory is that since any number of ghosts rome around a grave area, the less appealing food will be consumed by the ancestors, and not be plundered by strangers.
Honoring Ancestors
祭祖
Honoring ancestors begins with proper positioning of a gravesite and coffin. Experts in feng shui, or geomancy, determine the quality of land by the surrounding aspects of streams, rivers, trees, hills, and so forth. An area that faces south, with groves of pine trees creates the best flow of cosmic energy required to keep ancestors happy. Unfortunately, nowadays, with China's burgeoning population, public cemeteries have quickly surpplanted private gravesites. Family elders will visit the gravesite at least once a year to tend to the tombs.
While bland food is placed by the tombs on Qing Ming Jie, the Chinese regularly provide scrumptious offerings to their ancestors at altar tables in their homes. The food usually consists of chicken, eggs, or other dishes a deceased ancestor was fond of. Accompanied by rice, the dishes and eating utensils are carefully arranged so as to bring good luck. Sometimes, a family will put burning incense with the offering so as to expedite the transfer of nutritious elements to the ancestors. In some parts of China, the food is then eaten by the entire family.
Kites
風箏
Besides the traditions of honoring the dead, people also often fly kits on Tomb Sweeping Day. Kites can come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors. Designs could include frogs, dragonflies, butterflies, crabs, bats, and storks.
清明節的英文
清明節有以下幾種譯法
Tomb Sweeping Day
Qingming Festival
Pure Bright Festival
Clear Brightness Festival
例句：
The day after tomorrow is the Tomb-sweeping Day.
後天是清明節。
The Qingming Festival in spring is the occasion for visiting ancestral graves.
清明節是掃墓拜祭先人的日子。
The Qingming Festival is a statutory public holiday in mainland China.
清明節在中國大陸地區是法定節假日。