清明节相关知识介绍学习（中英双语）

清明节（Qingming Festival），又称踏青节、行清节或祭祖节，是中国四大传统节日之一，通常在公历4月4日至6日之间。它既是自然节气（二十四节气中的第五个），也是融合祭祖与踏青习俗的重要节日。

起源与历史

清明节源自2500多年前的周代，最初与寒食节（纪念忠臣介子推）和上巳节（踏春祈福）融合。唐代起，扫墓成为核心习俗，宋元时期逐渐取代寒食节，形成今日兼具哀思与欢庆的独特文化。

传统习俗

1. 扫墓祭祖：清理墓地、献花焚香、供奉食物，表达对祖先的感恩与追思。现代提倡环保祭扫，如鲜花替代纸钱或网络祭奠。

2. 踏青郊游：清明正值春光明媚，人们放风筝、荡秋千、插柳枝，寓意驱邪迎祥。

3. 特色饮食：江南的青团（Qingtuan，艾草糯米团）、北方的馓子（油炸面食）是节日标志性美食。

文化意义

清明节体现了中国人“慎终追远”的孝道文化，同时传递生命更迭的哲学——在缅怀过去中珍视当下。2016年，它被列入联合国非物质文化遗产名录。

Introduction toQingming Festival

The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Dayor Pure Brightness Festival, is one of China's four major traditional holidays,falling between April 4th and 6th. It combines the solar term (the 5th of the24 solar terms) with rituals honoring ancestors and celebrating spring.

Origin &History

Dating back over 2,500 years to the Zhou Dynasty,Qingming merged with the Cold Food Festival (honoring Jie Zitui) and theShangsi Festival (spring outings). By the Tang Dynasty, tomb-sweeping becamecentral, and Qingming eventually replaced the Cold Food Festival, blendingremembrance with renewal.

Traditions

1. Tomb Sweeping: Families clean gravesites, offerchrysanthemums, and burn incense to pay respects. Eco-friendly alternativeslike online memorials are now encouraged.https://www.clgoppt.com/

2. Spring Activities: Flying kites (to "release badluck"), swinging on swings, and wearing willow branches symbolize vitalityand protection.

3. Food Culture: Iconic dishes include Qingtuan (greenrice cakes with mugwort) in Jiangnan and Sanzi (fried dough twists) in northernChina.

CulturalSignificance

Qingming reflects Confucian filial piety while embracinglife’s cyclical nature—balancing sorrow with joy.Recognized by UNESCO in 2016, it underscores harmony between humanity andnature.