清明節 The Qingming Festival

 The Qingming (Pure Brightness) FestivAl is one of the 24 solar terms in China, falling on April 4-6 each year. After the festival, the temperature will rise up and rainfall increase. It is the high time for spring plowing and sowing. In the past, the Qingming Festival was called “Arbor Day”, but since 1979, “Arbor Day” was settled on March 12 according to the Gregorian calendar.

清明節是我國24節氣之一，在每年農曆的4月4-6之間。清明過後，氣溫逐漸上升，雨水也增多，這是春耕播種的好時機。在過去，清明節也被稱作植樹節，後來從1979年後，植樹節被定在公曆的5月12日。

But the Qingming Festival is not only a solar term to guide farm work, it is more a festival of commemoration. It sees a combination of sadness and happiness. This is the most important day of sacrifice. Both the Han and minority ethnic groups at this time offer sacrifices to their ancestors and sweep the tombs of the diseased. On each Qingming Festival, all cemeteries are crowded with people who come to sweep tombs and offer sacrifices, but the customs have been greatly simplified today. After slightly sweeping the tombs, people offer food, flowers, then burn incense and ghost money. In short, it’s a time to cherish the memory of our ancestors and show our respect to them. Also, it’s a time for family gathering. 

清明節不僅是指引人們開始農活的節氣，也是舉行祭祀最重要的節日，紀念悲傷和喜悅的日子。漢族和少數民族為祖先奉上祭品，為逝者掃墓。清明這天，墓園都是來祭祖掃墓的人，只是祭奠形式都有所簡化。清掃墓地後，人們會奉上食物，鮮花，然後燒香燒紙錢。總之，清明是懷念與死去的家人的記憶，表示尊重的一天。同樣，也是家人團聚的一天。