清明节

　　清明，是中国的二十四节气之一，也是中国一个古老的传统节日。清明节在农历三月(公历4月5日左右)，此时正是春光明媚，空气洁净的季节，因此，这个节日叫做“清明节”。

　　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。

　　—— 唐 杜牧《清明》

　　清明节人们有扫墓祭祖和踏青插柳的习俗。 中国人有敬老的传统，对去世的先人更是缅怀和崇敬。因此，每到清明节这天，家家户户都要到郊外去祭扫祖先的坟墓。人们为坟墓除去杂草，添加新土，在坟前点上香，摆上食物和纸钱，表示对祖先的思念和敬意。这叫上坟，也叫扫墓。

　　清明时节，山野小草发芽，河边柳树长叶，到处一片新绿，正是户外游玩的好时候。古人有到郊外散步的习俗，这叫“踏青”；还要折根柳枝戴在头上，叫“插柳”。据说插柳可以驱除鬼怪和灾难，所以，人们纷纷插戴柳枝，祈求平安幸福。

　　现在，殡葬方式有了很大改变。实行火葬，废止土葬后，田野里的坟墓越来越少了。但是，清明节祭祖、踏青是中国人的传统习俗，每到这一天，人们还是会用各种各样的方式来怀念自己的祖先，也会到郊外呼吸新鲜空气，观赏蓝天、绿树、小草和鲜花。

　　The Pure Brightness Day

　　Pure Brightness Day, one of the 24 Seasonal Division Points, is also an ancient traditional festival in China. It falls in the third lunar month or around April 5th in the solar calendar, when the spring scene is radiant and enchanting and the air is clean -- hence, its name.

　　As the rain falls thick and fast on Pure Brightness Day,

　　Men and women sadly move along the way.

　　May I ask where I can find a pub?

　　The shepherd boy pointed to the distant Apricot Village.

　　--Tang Dynasty Du Mu's Pure Brightness

　　On this day, people have the custom to sweep a grave, offer sacrifices to ancestors, take an outing in the countryside and wear a willow twig on the head.

　　The Chinese have the tradition to respect the aged, and cherish the memory of their forefathers and respect them. Thus, when the day comes, every family will go to the countryside to hold a memorial ceremony at their ancestors?tombs. People get rid of any weeds growing around the tomb, add new earth, burn incense and offer food and paper coins to show their remembrance and respect for their ancestors. This is called "visiting a grave" or "sweeping a grave".

　　At this time, the grasses in the countryside are burgeoning, willows along rivers have put forth new buds; it is fresh green everywhere, a good time for an outing. In ancient times, people used to wear a willow twig in their hair at this time because it was supposed to be able to drive away ghosts and disasters. Thus, people wear willow twigs to pray for safety and happiness.

　　Nowadays, great changes have taken place in regard to funerals and interment. Since cremation began to be carried out and burial was abolished, there are less and less graves in the fields. But it remains a custom for the Chinese to offer sacrifices to their ancestors and go for a walk in the countryside, remembering their forefathers, breathing fresh air and appreciating the blue sky, green trees, grass and flowers.