
Customs of Qingming Festival
Qingming festival falls on or about April 5 of the Gregorian calendar. It is one of the 24 solar terms. This year's tomb-sweeping day falls on April 4. In the 24 solar terms, both the solar term and festival only qingming. Tomb-sweeping day is our traditional festival, but also the most important festival of sacrifice. According to the old custom, sacrifice (tomb-sweeping), people to carry food and wine, paper money and other items to the cemetery, food for sacrifice in front of the tomb of their loved ones, and then burned paper money, for the grave on the new soil, fold a few branches of the new green branches inserted in the grave, and then kowtowed worship, and finally eat wine home.
每年的公历四月五日前后为清明节,是二十四节气之一。今年的清明节是4月4日。在二十四个节气中,既是节气又是节日的只有清明。清明节是我国传统节日,也是最重要的祭祀节日。按照旧的习俗,祭祀(扫墓)时,人们要携带酒食果品、纸钱等物品到墓地,将食物供祭在亲人墓前,再将纸钱焚化,为坟墓培上新土,折几枝嫩绿的新枝插在坟上,然后叩头行礼祭拜,最后吃掉酒食回家。
清明节,又叫踏青节,正是春光明媚草木吐绿的时节,也正是人们春游的好时候,所以古人有清明踏青,并开展一系列体育活动的的习俗。直到今天,清明节祭拜祖先,悼念已逝的亲人的习俗仍很盛行。
问题补充:每年的公历四月五日前后为清明节,是二十四节气之一。今年的清明节是4月4日。在二十四个节气中,既是节气又是节日的只有清明。清明节是我国传统节日,也是最重要的祭祀节日。按照旧的习俗,祭祀(扫墓)时,人们要携带酒食果品、纸钱等物品到墓地,将食物供祭在亲人墓前,再将纸钱焚化,为坟墓培上新土,折几枝嫩绿的新枝插在坟上,然后叩头行礼祭拜,最后吃掉酒食回家。
清明节,又叫踏青节,正是春光明媚草木吐绿的时节,也正是人们春游, 强身健体的好时候,所以古人有清明踏青,并开展一系列体育活动的的习俗。直到今天,清明节祭拜祖先,悼念已逝的亲人的习俗仍很盛行。
The Gregorian calendar year before April 5 for tomb-sweeping day, 24 solar is one. This is the tomb-sweeping day on April 4. In the twenty four seasons, is also the only qingming festival nights. Chinese traditional festival, is also the most important holiday of sacrifice. According to the old tradition, the grave), sacrifice (people to carry fruits, especially to the graveyard, pack items will be food for the offerings in the family grave, again will pack incineration, grave in new soil, fold a few branches in the new green grave, then KouTou salute, especially home last eat worship.
Tomb-sweeping day, also called TaQingJie TuLu vegetation, spring season, also is the good people, so a spring outing, and the ancients had clear outing launched a series of sports activities. Until today, the tomb-sweeping day, our ancestors have relatives customs still prevail.
“清明”依音译为“Ching Ming, 但“节”则依意译为festival,合起来便是Ching Ming Festival, 是音译和意译的混合物。
此外,我们再学习几个中国传统节日的英译:
“春节”在英文上叫做Chinese New Year's Day, 是意译,字面的意思就是“中国人的新年”;或Spring Festival,即“春天的节日”;或Chinese Rural New Year,即“中国农历新年”
“端午节”的译法和“清明节”一样,“端午”译为Duan Wu, 节是Festival。不过,许多人也喜欢称之为Duan Wu, 节是Festival。另外,许多人也喜欢称之为Dragon Boat Festival,意为“龙舟节”。
“中秋节”逐字意译为Mid-Autumn Festival,有时则在前边加上Chinese。亦有人称之为Moon Festival的。
“重阳节”也和“清明节”、“端午节”一般译法,称为Chung Yeung Festival。由于我们有时也把“重阳”称为“重九”,所以有些英国人也把我们的这一个节日叫做“Double-ninth Day,”不过还是以前者较多用。
Chinese Ching Ming Festival
A Chinese holiday, celbrated on April 5th, is the Ching Ming Festival (aka Qingming Festival.) Ching, in Chinese, means pure or clean and Ming means brightness. Most people call this holiday grave-sweeping day because people head to the cemetery to clean graves.
There are many Ching Ming rituals[仪式] which include pulling out weeds around the headstone, cleaning the stone and replacing wilted or dead flowers with fresh ones. People also burn incense[薰香] and paper money. The paper money is for the deceased to use in the afterlife. You'll even see food arranged on headstones but it's not a picnic. The food is an offering to the spirits. Three sets of chopsticks[筷子] and three Chinese wine cups are also placed above the food, close to the headstone.
Other rituals include family members pouring wine on the grave or setting off firecrackers[鞭炮] to scare away evil spirits. The firecrackers also let deceased loved ones know they're there to pay their respects. Legend has it that unhappy spirits wander the earth on Ching Ming day. It's considered bad luck to do important business or have an operation on April 5th. Stick to hanging out in the cemetery and offering your ancestors food and fake money.
The practice of ancestor worship is based on three beliefs:
1) that a person's good or bad fortune is influenced by the souls of his or her ancestors;
2) that all departed[死去的] ancestors have the same material needs they had when alive; and
3) that the departed can assist their living relatives.
Tomb-sweeping day, also called TaQingJie TuLu vegetation, spring season, also is the good people, so a spring outing, and the ancients had clear outing launched a series of sports activities. Until today, the tomb-sweeping day, our ancestors have relatives customs still prevail.