清明節(jié)習(xí)俗：踏青節(jié)（雙語(yǔ)）
每年的公歷四月五日前后為清明節(jié)，是二十四節(jié)氣之一。今年的清明節(jié)是4月4日。在二十四個(gè)節(jié)氣中，既是節(jié)氣又是節(jié)日的只有清明。清明節(jié)是我國(guó)傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日，也是最重要的祭祀節(jié)日。按照舊的習(xí)俗，祭祀（掃墓）時(shí)，人們要攜帶酒食果品、紙錢(qián)等物品到墓地，將食物供祭在親人墓前，再將紙錢(qián)焚化，為墳?zāi)古嗌闲峦?，折幾枝嫩綠的新枝插在墳上，然后叩頭行禮祭拜，最后吃掉酒食回家。
Qing Ming Jiein Ancient Times
An old man takes one last look before leaving the City Cemetery at Biandanshan of Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province.www.24e
In ancient times, people celebrated Qing Ming Jie with dancing, singing, picnics, and kite flying. Colored boiled eggs would be broken to symbolize the opening of life. In the capital, the Emperor would plant trees on the palace grounds to celebrate the renewing nature of spring. In the villages, young men and women would court each other.
The Tomb Sweeping Day as Celebrated Today
With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to the honor past ancestors. Following folk religion, the Chinese believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors looked after the family. Sacrifices of food and spirit money could keep them happy, and the family would prosper through good harvests and more children.www.24en.com
Today, Chinese visit their family graves to tend to any underbrush that has grown. Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set out offerings of food and spirit money. Unlike the sacrifices at a family's home altar, the offerings at the tomb usually consist of dry, bland food. One theory is that since any number of ghosts rome around a grave area, the less appealing food will be consumed by the ancestors, and not be plundered by strangers.
Honoring Ancestors Kites
Besides the traditions of honoring the dead, people also often fly kits on Tomb Sweeping Day. Kites can come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors. Designs could include frogs, dragonflies, butterflies, crabs, bats, and storks.
每年的公歷四月五日前后為清明節(jié)，是二十四節(jié)氣之一。今年的清明節(jié)是4月4日。在二十四個(gè)節(jié)氣中，既是節(jié)氣又是節(jié)日的只有清明。清明節(jié)是我國(guó)傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日，也是最重要的祭祀節(jié)日。按照舊的習(xí)俗，祭祀（掃墓）時(shí)，人們要攜帶酒食果品、紙錢(qián)等物品到墓地，將食物供祭在親人墓前，再將紙錢(qián)焚化，為墳?zāi)古嗌闲峦?，折幾枝嫩綠的新枝插在墳上，然后叩頭行禮祭拜，最后吃掉酒食回家。
Qing Ming Jiein Ancient Times
An old man takes one last look before leaving the City Cemetery at Biandanshan of Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province.www.24e
In ancient times, people celebrated Qing Ming Jie with dancing, singing, picnics, and kite flying. Colored boiled eggs would be broken to symbolize the opening of life. In the capital, the Emperor would plant trees on the palace grounds to celebrate the renewing nature of spring. In the villages, young men and women would court each other.
The Tomb Sweeping Day as Celebrated Today
With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to the honor past ancestors. Following folk religion, the Chinese believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors looked after the family. Sacrifices of food and spirit money could keep them happy, and the family would prosper through good harvests and more children.www.24en.com
Today, Chinese visit their family graves to tend to any underbrush that has grown. Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set out offerings of food and spirit money. Unlike the sacrifices at a family's home altar, the offerings at the tomb usually consist of dry, bland food. One theory is that since any number of ghosts rome around a grave area, the less appealing food will be consumed by the ancestors, and not be plundered by strangers.
Honoring Ancestors Kites
Besides the traditions of honoring the dead, people also often fly kits on Tomb Sweeping Day. Kites can come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors. Designs could include frogs, dragonflies, butterflies, crabs, bats, and storks.