清明节又叫踏青节是我国重要的传统节日。从二十四节气上讲，它又是节气之一。它是唯一一个节日和节气并存的日子
1、ORIGIN（起源）
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.
谈到清明节，有点历史知识的人，都会联想到历史人物介子椎。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，跟随他的介子椎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，惟独介子椎拒绝接受封赏，他带了母亲隐居绵山。
Believing that he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to set the forest on fire. To his consternation, Jie chose to remain where he was and was burnt to death. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all fires in every home to be put out on the anniversary of Jie's death. Thus began the "cold food feast", a day when no food could be cooked since no fire could be lit.
晋文公无计可施，只好放火烧山，他想，介子椎孝顺母亲，一定会带着老母出来。谁知这场大火却把介子椎母子烧死了。为了纪念介子椎，晋文公下令每年的这一天，禁止生火，家家户户只能吃生冷的食物，这就是寒食节的来源。
The "cold food" festival occurs on the eve of Qing Ming and is often considered as part of the Qing Ming festival. As time passes, the Qing Ming festival replaced the "cold food" festival. Whatever practice is observed，the basic observation of Qing Ming is to remember one's elders by making a special effort to visit their graves, ashes or ancestral tablets. To make the visit even more meaningful, some time should be spent to remind the younger members of the family of the lives and contributions of their ancestors, and the story of Jie Zi Zhui who choose death over capitulation.
寒食节是在清明节的前一天，古人常把寒食节的活动延续到清明，久而久之，清明取代了寒食节。拜介子椎的习俗也变成了清明扫墓的习俗了。无论以何种形式纪念，为了使纪念祖先的仪式更有意义，我们应该让年轻一代的家庭成员了解先人过去的奋斗历史，当然，还要学习介子椎宁死不屈的气节。
2、“清明”用英文怎么讲
首先我们要清楚的是：作为节日的清明节、和作为节气的清明节，它们的英文说法是不同的。
作为节日的清明节：
一般翻译为"Tomb Sweeping festival"或者"Tomb-sweeping Day"，扫墓节或扫墓日。这个翻译着重强调了清明节的重要习俗“扫墓”。
另外再谈到作为节气的清明：
它被译为"Clear and Bright"，清洁和明亮。我们也不难发现，这种译法强调的是清明时节的气候状况，和其他节气的翻译出发点一致。
清明祭祖（worshiping ancestors）的传统可以追溯到古代，唐朝朝廷专门在此期间设定“节假日”以供子民祭祀先祖，该传统不断延续，在现代社会也有着举足轻重的影响。
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. The dead person's favorite food, wine and chopsticks are offered on their tombs, along with paper money.
扫墓和献上供品对逝者表示敬意，是两种纪念逝去亲友的重要习俗。为表示对逝者的关怀，墓边的杂草被清除并盖上新鲜的土壤。逝者最喜欢的食物、酒和筷子连同纸钱一起被供奉在墓边。
注：我们倡导文明祭扫，不要随意燃烧物品，以防引起火灾。
2）春游
清明时节除了祭祖，也是春游的好时光。有诗云：“梨花风起正清明，游人寻春半出城。”在温润的微风中，当循着草木的气息，外出寻找春天的足迹，强身健体又心情舒畅。
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).
清明正值草木复苏，百花齐放，阳光普照，万物焕发生机之时，正是欣赏自然之美的大好时机。这一习俗可以追溯到春秋战国时期。
3、寒食节
寒食节（Cold Food Festival）是中国传统节日，在清明节的前一天，这天禁止生火，只能吃冷的食物。唐代诗人沈佺期在《寒食》一诗中写道：“普天皆灭焰，匝地尽藏烟。”读罢顿觉清冷之气扑面而来。
相传寒食节是“春秋五霸”之一的晋文公为纪念忠臣介子推而设立的。
4、蹴鞠
蹴鞠是古人清明时喜爱的一种游戏。“鞠”是一种内部塞满毛发的皮球。从陆游诗中“蹴鞠场边万人看”的盛景，可见这一运动受欢迎的程度。
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.
相传蹴鞠是黄帝发明来训练战士的。后来，当人们不能在寒食节期间吃热食时，就利用蹴鞠来锻炼身体。
5、青团
清明吃青团在长江下游地区是非常流行的。软糯的外皮散发着艾草的清香，配上各色馅料，一口下去，满满的都是春天的气息。
People in the Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze River) region often eat this kind of green colored balls made from glutinous rice on Tomb Sweeping Day. The green color is from the juice of brome grass that is added in the rice.
江南地区的人们经常在清明节食用这种由糯米制成的绿色团子。由于糯米中混合雀麦草汁（也有使用艾草汁的），所以团子呈现出绿色。
6、放风筝 Flying Kites
Flying kites is also closely associated with the Qingming Festival. Kites can come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors. Designs could include dragonflies, butterflies, bats.
放风筝也是和清明节密切联系的一项活动。风筝可以做成各种形状、尺寸、颜色。样式的话包括蜻蜓、蝴蝶、蝙蝠等。
清明节里话《清明》，让我们再回顾一下这首诗的英文翻译吧。
《清明》
(唐)杜牧
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。
A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;
The mourner's heart is going to break on his way.
Where can a wineshop be found to drown his sad hours?
A cowherd points to a cot 'mid apricot flowers.
(许渊冲 译)
相关词汇：
在清明节特殊的日子里，大家可以学习哪些相关词汇呢？
day of sacrifice 祭祀节日
offer sacrifices to ancestors 祭祖/上供
condolence 哀悼之情
hell note/joss paper 纸钱
burn incense 焚香
tomb-sweeping 扫墓
tomb sweeper 扫墓的人
kite flying 放风筝
spring outing 踏青
willow branches inserted on each gate 门旁插柳
mourning ceremony 哀悼仪式
以上希望对大家有帮助
