二十四节气：清明

The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Clear and Bright (Chinese: 清明), the 5th solar term, starts this year on Apr 4 and ends on Apr 18.中国传统二十四节气的第五个节气是清明，今年清明从4月4日开始，4月18日结束。

Of all the 24 solar terms, Clear and Bright is the only one whose first day is also a traditional Chinese festival, Qingming Festival or Tomb-Sweeping Day. The words "clear" and "bright" describe the weather during this period. Temperatures begin to rise and rainfall increases, making it a crucial time for plowing and sowing in the spring.在二十四节气中，只有清明节气的第一天也是中国的传统节日——清明节。“清”和“明”是对这一时期天气的描述。气温开始回升，降雨增多，是春耕春播的关键时期。

Here are 8 things you may not know about Clear and Bright.一起来了解关于清明的8个小知识。

White and yellow chrysanthemums are usually presented as tribute to the dead in China. [Photo/Xinhua]

Worshiping Ancestors 祭拜祖先

Clear and Bright is a period in which Chinese people honor nature and the ancestors of the Chinese nation. The worship of nature and ancestors can be traced to ancient times, and still matters a lot in modern society.清明节是中国人崇尚自然和中华民族祖先的节日。对自然和祖先的崇拜可以追溯到古代，在现代社会仍然非常重要。

Cleaning the tombs and paying respect to the dead with offerings are the two important practices to remember late relatives. Weeds around the tomb are cleared away and fresh soil is added to show care for the dead.扫墓和用祭品祭奠逝者是缅怀先人的两个重要习俗。清理坟墓周围的杂草、添土，以表示对逝者的关怀。

The dead person's favorite food, wine and chopsticks are offered on their tombs, along with paper money. These sacrifices are all burned in the hope that the deceased will not lack food and money in the afterlife.逝者生前最爱吃的食物、酒和筷子以及纸钱都会被供奉在墓前。焚烧这些祭品是希望逝者在去世后（的世界）不会缺食少钱。

[Photo/Xinhua]

Willow Branches 插柳

Legend has it that Clear and Bright is one of three periods during the year in which ghosts come closest to the world of living men. Buddhists believe that willow branches will drive away unwelcome ghosts and evil spirits. Therefore, willow branches are also known as "ghost terror wood".传说清明节是一年中鬼魂最接近人间的三个节气之一。佛家认为，柳枝可以驱赶不受欢迎的鬼魂和邪灵。因此，柳枝又被称为“鬼怖木”。

Folk proverbs also dictate customs. One proverb states that if a young lady does not wear a willow branch during the Clear and Bright period, she will soon turn old. Another says: "If one does not wear a willow, he will become a yellow dog after he dies and is reincarnated."民间谚语也体现出节日习俗。比如，“清明不插柳，红颜变皓首”、“清明不插柳，死后变黄狗”。

A tourist enjoys cherry blossoms at Yuyuantan Park in Beijing, capital of China, March 27, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Spring Outings 踏青

Not only is it a period for commemorating the dead, it is also time for people to go out and enjoy nature.春天不仅是纪念逝者的季节，也是人们外出享受大自然的季节。

As trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly, everything returns to life. It is a fine time to appreciate the beauty of nature. This custom can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476BC) and Warring States Period (475 – 221BC).树木吐绿，百花盛开，阳光明媚，万物复苏。这是一个欣赏自然之美的好时节。这一习俗可以追溯到春秋战国时期。

Strolling outside in spring adds joy to life and promotes a healthy body and mind.春天到户外漫步，能给生活增添乐趣，有益身心健康。

[Photo/Xinhua]

Flying Kites 放风筝

Flying kites is an activity favored by many Chinese during Tomb-Sweeping Day. Kites are not only flown during the day time but also in the evening. Little lanterns are tied to the kite or to the kite string. And when the kites are flying in the sky, the lanterns look like twinkling stars at night. What makes flying kites during this day special is that people cut the string while the kite is in the sky to let it fly free. It is said this brings good luck and that diseases can be chased away by doing this.清明节期间，放风筝是许多中国人喜爱的活动。白天和晚上都有人放风筝。风筝或线绳上会系上小灯笼。当风筝在天空中飞翔时，灯笼就像夜晚闪烁的星星。这一天放风筝的特别之处在于，人们会在风筝升空时剪断风筝线，让风筝自由飞翔。据说这样做能带来好运，赶走疾病。

[File photo]

Cold Food Festival 寒食节

The Cold Food Festival or Hanshi Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated for one day before Tomb-Sweeping Day. On that day, making fire is taboo and only cold food is available.寒食节是清明节前一天的中国传统节日。这一天忌讳生火，只能吃冷食。

Students play Cuju game in Zibo, Shandong province, April 2, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

Cuju 蹴鞠

Cuju is an interesting game played during this period. Ju is a ball made of leather with hairs plugged in it. Legend has it that the Yellow Emperor first invented it for training warriors. Later, Cu Ju was used by people to build up their bodies when they were unable to eat hot food during the Cold Food Festival.清明时期一项有趣的运动是踢蹴鞠。蹴鞠是一种用皮革做成的球，里面塞有羽毛。传说黄帝最早发明蹴鞠是为了训练战士。后来，人们在寒食节吃不上热食时，就用蹴鞠来强身健体。

[Photo/Xinhua]

Eating Eggs 吃鸡蛋

In many parts of China, eating eggs during Tomb-Sweeping Day is as important as eating moon cakes at Mid-Autumn Festival. The Chinese folk belief is that eating an egg on Tomb-Sweeping Day will bring good health all year. In China, this custom has lasted for thousands of years.在许多地方，清明节吃鸡蛋与中秋节吃月饼一样重要。民间认为，在清明节吃一个鸡蛋会带来一年的健康。在中国，这一习俗已经延续了数千年。

The origin of eating eggs dates back to "Shangsi Jie" (a traditional Chinese festival). In ancient times, women who want to have babies after marriage often colored boiled eggs with different colors and put them into the river, and people living in the lower reaches of the river picked the eggs up and ate them. It was said that the more eggs were eaten, the greater the chance the woman will get pregnant. Today, people believe that eating eggs on Tomb-Sweeping Day will bring success.吃鸡蛋的起源可以追溯到（中国传统节日）“上巳节”。在古代，想要孩子的已婚女性常常把煮熟的鸡蛋染上不同的颜色，然后投入河中，住在河下游的人就把鸡蛋捡起来吃掉。据说吃的鸡蛋越多，女性怀孕的几率就越大。如今，人们相信在清明节吃鸡蛋会带来成功。

Clear and Bright. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Feasting on Qingtuan 吃青团

In the lower reaches of the Yangtze River region, qingtuan or green cake is very popular snack on Tomb-Sweeping Day. Qingtuan is a kind of round green cake. In order to make the cakes, people mash barnyard grass to squeeze juice from it and mix the flour and juice to a paste. Then they inject black bean filling into the paste and steam them. Pretty and delicate, Qingtuan have a mellow taste and special flavor. Qingtuan are also sacrificed to ancestors on Tomb-Sweeping Day.在长江下游地区，青团或青饼是清明节非常受欢迎的小吃。青团是一种圆形的、绿色的饼团。制作时，人们将稗草捣碎榨汁，然后将面粉和汁液搅拌成糊状。包上豆沙馅后蒸熟。青团外观漂亮精致，口感醇厚，风味独特。也作为清明节祭品。

英文来源：中国日报网

编辑：董静

审核：万月英 陈丹妮

来源：中国日报网