清明是什么节日？
清明节是中国的传统节日之一。每年农历四月初四或初五，人们会迎来这个重要的节日。清明节的重要性不仅体现在人们对祖先的祭拜，也是人们表达对逝去亲人的哀思和悼念的时刻。
清明节起源于古代中国的祭祀习俗，最早可以追溯到周朝时期。古人认为，清明时节，大地回春，百花盛开，正是祭祀祖先和神灵的好时机。因此，人们会扫墓祭奠祖先，并且在墓前烧纸钱、献上食物和酒水，以表达对祖先的敬意和思念之情。
在清明节，人们还会踏青郊外。踏青是一种寻找宜人景点，享受大自然美景的活动。人们会结伴出游，登山、野餐、放风筝等活动也成为节日的一部分。这是因为清明时节正值春季，天气宜人，大自然的万物都苏醒了，所以人们乐于外出踏青，感受春天的气息。
此外，清明节还有一个重要的习俗，那就是插柳。人们会在清明前后剪下柳枝，插在门前或墙上，以祈求平安和吉祥，也寓意着新的一年里万象更新。
以下是一张与清明节相关的图片，图片上有一位家庭成员在扫墓祭拜祖先的场景。这张图片展现了人们对祖先的尊敬和怀念之情，也体现了人们对传统文化的珍视和传承。
总而言之，清明节是中国传统文化中非常重要的节日，它既是祭祀祖先的时刻，也是表达对已逝亲人的哀思和悼念的日子。人们通过扫墓、祭拜祖先、踏青等活动，表达对祖先的敬意，同时也追忆和缅怀逝去的亲人。这个节日不仅让人们继承和传承传统文化，也提醒人们珍惜眼前的亲人和生活。
Qing Ming is a time to remember the dead and the dearly departed. More important, it is a period to honour and to pay respect to one's deceased ancestors and family members. Because it reinforces the ethic of filial piety, Qing Ming is a major Chinese festival.
Literally meaning "clear" (Qing) and "bright" (Ming), this Chinese festival falls in early spring, on the 106th day after the winter solstice. It is a "spring" festival, and it is an occasion for the whole family to leave the home and to sweep the graves of their forebears. Chinese being practical people this sweeping of the graves is given an extended period, that is, 10 days before and after Qing Ming day. Among some dialect groups a whole month is allocated.
ORIGIN
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.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.
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.
