Introduction <p class="ql-block"> The Qing Ming Festival is also called Tomb-Sweeping Festival. It falls on April 4th or 5th. It is a time to remember the dead and the dearly departed. More important, it is a period to honour and to pay respect to one's deceased ancestors and family members. </p><p class="ql-block"> 清明节也叫扫墓节，在每年4月4号或5号，它是一个纪念祖先及已故亲人的日子。主要的纪念仪式是扫墓，扫墓是慎终追远、郭亲睦邻及行孝的具体表现。</p> <p class="ql-block"> Although there are Halloween, All Souls' Day, tomb Sweeping Day and so on in foreign countries, these festivals are not exactly the same as Chinese Tomb-sweeping Day. Therefore, I think it is meaningful to pass tomb-sweeping Day to foreign countries.</p><p class="ql-block"> 虽然国外有万圣节，万灵节，扫墓节等，但这些节日和中国的清明节并非完全相同。因此，我认为向国外传递清明节很有意义。</p> Origin <p class="ql-block"> Qing Ming is popularly associated with Jie Zi Zhui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C. Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lord's life by serving a piece of his own leg. When the lord succeeded in becoming the ruler of a small principality, he invited his faithful follower to join him. However, Jie declined his invitation, preferring to lead a hermit's life with his mother in the mountains.</p><p class="ql-block"> 谈到清明节，大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。</p> <p class="ql-block"> Literally meaning "clear"(qing) and"bright" (ming), this Chinese festival falls in early spring, on the106th day after the winter solstice. This sweeping of the graves is given an extendedperiod, that is, 10 days before and after the qing ming day. Among some dialect groups a whole month is allocated. </p><p class="ql-block"> 清明节是在仲春和暮春之交，也就是冬至后的106天。扫墓活动通常是在清明节的前十天或后十天。有些地域的人士的扫墓活动长达一个月。 </p> Customs <p class="ql-block"> But the Qingming Festival is not only a seasonal point to guide farm work, it is more a festival of commemoration. The Qingming Festival sees a combination of sadness and happiness。</p><p class="ql-block"> 但是，清明作为节日，与纯粹的节气又有所不同。这个节日中既有祭扫新坟生别死离的悲酸泪，又有踏青游玩的欢笑声，是一个富有特色的节日。</p> <p class="ql-block"> In my hometown, every Qingming Festival, the adults working outside will come back to sweep the tomb. When sweeping the tombs, people have to bring food, wine, fruits and other items to worship.</p><p class="ql-block"> 在我的家乡，每年清明节，在外上班的也大人都会回来扫墓。扫墓时，人们要携带酒食，果品等物品来祭拜。 </p> <p class="ql-block"> According to the old customs, when the grave, people should carry food and fruits, paper money and other items to the cemetery, food for offering in front of the tomb of loved ones, then the paper money incineration, for the tomb on the new soil, fold a few branches pale green new branches inserted in the grave, and then kowtow ritual worship, finally eat it and go home.</p><p class="ql-block"> 按照旧的习俗，扫墓时，人们要携带酒食果品、纸钱等物品到墓地，将食物供祭在亲人墓前，再将纸钱焚化，为坟墓培上新土，折几枝嫩绿的新枝插在坟上，然后叩头行礼祭拜，最后吃掉酒食回家。</p> <p class="ql-block"> People love to fly kites during the Qingming Festival. Kite flying is actually not limited to the Qingming Festival. Its uniqueness lies in that people fly kites not during the day, but also at night. Astring of little lanterns tied onto the kite or the thread look like shining stars, and therefore, are called "god'slanterns."</p><p class="ql-block"> 放风筝也是清明时节人们所喜爱的活动。每逢清明时节，人们不仅白天放，夜间也放。夜里在风筝下或风稳拉线上挂上一串串彩色的小灯笼，象闪烁的明星，被称为“神灯”。</p> <p class="ql-block"> The Qingming Festival is also a time to plant trees, for the survivalrate of saplings is high and trees grow fast later. In the past, the Qingming Festival was called "Arbor Day". </p><p class="ql-block"> 清明前后，春阳照临，春阳照临，春雨飞洒，种植树苗成活率高，成长快。因此，自古以来，我国就有清明植树的习惯。有人还把清明节叫作“植树节”。</p> Thanks