April 4th or 5th of the Gregorian calendar
公历4月4日或4月5日
one of the Chinese Twenty-four Solar Terms
中国二十四节气之一
From that date temperatures begin to rise and rainfall increases
从这一天起，气温开始升高，降雨量开始增多
the crucial time for plowing and sowing in the spring
春耕春播的重要时节
Origin 故事起源
来看看一位忠孝义士的故事：
It is said that the Qingming Festival was originally held to commemorate Jie Zitui, a loyal man who lived during the Spring and Autumn Period. Jie cut a piece of meat from his own leg in order to save his hungry lord who was forced to flee from his own country. Later, when the lord regained his position, he forgot about Jie Zitui’s sacrifice. However, after being reminded, he felt ashamed and decided to reward the loyal man, but Jie had hidden in a mountain with his mother. In order to find Jie, the lord ordered that the mountain be set on fire. Unfortunately, Jie was found dead with his mother. In order to commemorate the day of his death, the lord declared the date to be Hanshi (Cold Food) Festival — the day that only cold food can be eaten.
A year later, when the lord went to the mountain to commemorate Jie’s death, he found the burned willows had revived, so he gave instructions that the day after Hanshi Festival was to be Qingming Festival. Eventually, the two festivals were combined into one.
相传清明节最初是为了纪念春秋时期（公元前770-476年）的一位忠臣，介子推。晋国公子重耳*逃亡齐国。因咽不下野菜，介子推就从自己的腿上切下一块肉做成汤，说是麻雀汤让重耳吃下。重耳在秦国的帮助下，回到了晋国，平定了叛乱并当上国君，这就是历有名的晋文公。跟随他出逃的人都得到了封赏，而晋文公唯独忘了介子推。晋文公意识到自己的错误时，介子推和母亲已经隐居在山上，并拒绝出山。为了找到介子推，晋文公又中了*臣计策下令放火烧山，想逼出孝子介子推。火灭时却发现介子推和母亲一起被烧死。为了纪念他，晋文公下令忌日百姓不得焚火煮饭，只吃寒食，这一天就是寒食节。
第二年忌日次日，晋文公上山祭祀介子推，发现介子推死前抱着的柳树又复活了起来，于是他下令寒食节的次日为清明节。后来，这两个节日合而为一。
Traditional Customs
传统习俗
1
Tomb Sweeping 扫墓
cleaning the tomb
清扫坟墓
paying respect to the dead person with offerings（including a variety of food, fruits, drinks and flowers）
用祭品来纪念逝者
2
Spring Outing 春游，踏青
Not only is it a day for commemorating the dead, but it is also a time for people to enjoy themselves.
清明时分，不但怀念逝者，也正是享受生活的时节。
3
Flying Kites 放风筝
Flying kites is also closely associated with the Qingming Festival.
放风筝也是和清明节密切联系的一项活动。
Spring outings not only add joy to life but also promote a healthy mind and body.
清明节外出踏青等活动不仅给生活增添了欢乐，也促进了身心的健康。
清明节涉及的英文词汇有哪些?
👇👇👇
Cold Food Festival 寒食节
Day of sacrifice 祭祀节日
Condolence 哀悼之情
Hell note/Joss paper 纸钱
Mourning ceremony 哀悼仪式
Offer sacrifices to ancestors 祭祖/上供
Funeral supplies/products 殡葬用品
Funeral services 殡葬服务业
Mortician 殡仪业者
Burn incense 焚香
Tomb-sweeping 扫墓
Tomb sweeper 扫墓的人
Monument 纪念碑
Online funeral 网上葬礼
Online tribute 网上悼念
Cremation urn 骨灰盒
Inhumation 土葬
Cremation 火葬
Sea burial 海葬
Tree burial 树葬
Celestial burial *
Boat-coffin burial 船棺葬
National mourning 全国哀悼
National mourning day 全国哀悼日
Willow branches inserted on each gate 门旁插柳
Filial piety 孝顺；孝心
