昨天聊了让人欢喜的愚人节（April Fool's Day），今天聊聊让人有种淡淡的忧伤的清明节（Tomb-sweeping Day）
1、Introduction: 总体介绍
The Chinese Qingming Festivalfalls on either April 4 or 5. Also known as Tomb Sweeping Festival, it is atime for families to remember and pay respects to the ancestors.
清明节也叫扫幕节，一般在每年的四月四号或四月五号。这天一家人纷纷纪念或缅怀先人。
2、Origin: 清明之源
The origin of the festival datesback to the spring and autumn period, 770 to 476 B.C. It was to honor JieZhi-Tui, a loyal follower of the Duke Wen of Jin state. Before he became theking, Jie cut a slice of meat from his own thigh to make soup for the starvingduke. A gratified Wen promised to reward Jie, but when he became king, heforgot about Jie. Jie, seeking no gain or reward, quietly left to live in aforest with his elderly mother.
清明节可以追溯到春秋时期，相传是为了纪念晋文公的忠臣介之推。在晋文公成为皇帝之前，一次逃亡途中，介之推曾割肉熬汤给他充饥。晋文公感激涕零，立誓报答。但是，晋文公成皇以后，却忘了介之推。介之推带着年迈的母亲默默归隐山林。
When Wen realized his mistake, hetried to persuade Jie to return to the court by setting fire to the forest. ButJie and his mother died in the fire. A saddened Wen declared that no firescould be lit on that day. Thus, people would only eat cold food, and thefestival was originally called Cold Food Day.
晋文公知道后，悔不当初，于是，想亲自请介之推回朝。但林海茫茫，要找到介之推谈何容易？于是，晋文公下令一把火烧了山林，逼介之推出来。大火烧了三天三夜，介之推硬是没有出来。大火熄灭以后才发现介之推及其年迈母亲已经葬身火海。晋文公悲痛交加，当场下令，那天不得生火。因此，人们只能吃冷冰冰的食物，这也是“寒食节”的由来。
During the Tang Dynasty, thefestival evolved into a tomb-sweeping event. By the time of the Song Dynasty,candles were also used. Today, Chinese families visit the tombs of theirancestors to pay respects. They sweep the tomb area and clear the weeds. Thenthey offer food, flowers, light candles, or burn incense and paper gifts fortheir ancestors. The one-day festival is also known as Clear Bright Festival orAncestor's Day.
在唐朝，“寒食节”慢慢演变成扫墓的活动。宋朝时，蜡烛也被使用了。到今天，已经演变成一家人来到先人坟墓前，缅怀和致敬先人。他们把坟墓周边打扫干净，清除杂草，给先人们供奉食品，献上鲜花，点燃蜡烛，焚烧纸钱。这为期一天的节日也叫清明节或祭祖节。
On Qingming, people go on familyoutings, start the spring plowing, sing, and dance. Qingming is also a timewhen young couples traditionally start courting. Another popular thing to do isto fly kites in the shapes of animals or characters from Chinese opera. Anothercommon practice is to carry flowers instead of burning paper, incense, orfirecrackers.
3、Food: 清明食物
The sweet green rice ball （Qingtuan in Chinese）is very popular in southern China. It is also a must offering at ancestral rituals in the south of the Yangtze River.
清明节在江南有吃青团（青粄）的习惯，它也是祭祀先人的必备食物。
Qingtuan is made from glutinous rice and stuffed with red bean paste. The squeezed wormwood or brome grass is used in the making of wrapper.
青团由糯米做成，馅心一般为红豆沙。糯米粉加上艾叶捣烂后挤压出的汁，拌匀揉和，就可以制作成青团了。
4、Celebrations:庆祝活动
In addition to ban fire,tomb-sweeping, there are other celebrations such as spring outing, swinging, Cuju, playing polo, Liu inserted and so on. Since the fire was banned, and in order to fight the coldness, people had to take part in lots of activities to buildup their body.
除了禁火、扫墓以外，清明活动还包括踏青、荡秋千、蹴鞠、打马球、插柳等。相传这是因为清明节要寒食禁火，为了防止寒食冷藏伤身，所以大家来参加一些体育活动，以锻炼身体。
Lots of warm-hearted people alsogo to the orphanage or the home for the elderly to help those who are in need. Theyspread their love to more people.
此外，许多爱心人士也在清明节去孤儿院或者敬老院等地方去帮助这些需要帮助的人，把对先人的这份爱传播给更多的人。
5、小结
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。
唐代杜牧的这首《清明》想必大家都耳熟能详，但是这首诗的英文版该如何表达呢？本文结尾处提供了著名翻译家吴钧陶的译文供大家参考，赏析。
It drizzles thick and fast on the Pure Brightness Day,
I travel with my heart lost in dismay.
Is there a public house somewhere, cowboy?
He points at Apricot Village faraway.
