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清明，农历二十四节气之一。中国传统的清明节大约始于周代，距今已有二千五百多年的历史。清明作为节日，与纯粹的节气又有所不同。节气是我国物候变化、时令顺序的标志，而节日则包含着一定的风俗活动和某种纪念意义。
清明节也是最重要的祭祀节日，是祭祖和扫墓的日子。扫墓俗称上坟，祭祀死者的一种活动。汉族和一些少数民族大多都是在清明节扫墓。按照旧的习俗，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。唐代诗人杜牧的诗《清明》曰：“清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂。借问酒家何处有?牧童遥指杏花村。”写出了清明节的特殊气氛。
清明节还叫踏青节，按阳历来说，它是在每年的4月4日至6日之间，正是春光明媚草木吐绿的时节，也正是人们春游(古代叫踏青)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。在古时，还有一种说法，就是“三月节”。
Qingming, meaning clear and bright, is one of the 24 solar terms in China.
The 24 solar terms represent the weather changes in a year. Peasants plan their farming work according to this schedule. Qingming usually occurs in early April of each year.This year, the Qingming Festival falls on April 5, according to the solar calendar.To Chinese people, the Qingming Festival is an opportunity to remembered honor their ancestors at grave sites.
In thetraditional way, young and oldpray before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and present food, tea, wine, joss paper and other offerings. Usually, the cemeteries are located at the outskirts of the city or town and the whole family will travel to the site and burn paper offerings there.
People believe their ancestors will see the smoke from the burning paper from heaven then they'll hear their prayers.
Tradition is one thing, but on the other hand, the smoke does pollute the air; people pouring out to the cemeteries causes traffic jams; and the paper burning can cause fires. Therefore, in recent years, the idea of greening tomb sweeping day has emerged.
One of the most popular ideas is online cemeteries. Many big cemeteries have opened a virtual version online. Visitors log onto the Web site and follow the 3D map to find the tombs of their late relatives. Then they can clean the tomb, put flowers in front of it or even burn joss paper and light firecrackers all by a click of different buttons. They can also write a biography or some articles on the Internet to express their memories of family members who've passed away.
Ms. Qian is from Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province in Central China. Because of a busy work schedule, she has given up going to the cemetery with her family but has chosen to remember her late elders on the Internet.
"I don't have the time to really go to the tomb site. But still, I need to express my feelings. So the online cemetery is a convenient way for me. And on the other hand, the government also encourages us to practice a green tomb sweeping way."
Many young people like Ms. Qian have accepted this avant-garde idea. They think it is a good way to avoid the crowds, and believe true feelings of love and respect toward late family members are more important than how you commemorate them. However, the elder generation still thinks that going to the site in person and cleaning the tomb by hand is the best way to show your respect and love to the ancestors. In this case, other green tomb sweeping traditions are easier to accept. This year, many cemeteries have set up stands at the gate. They've prepared free flowers for visitors to exchange for the joss paper and firecrackers they've brought.
"We prepared joss paper before we came. But when I saw these beautiful flowers, I decided to change the paper for flowers. Flowers may be a better way to express our grief and how much we miss them. And on the other hand, society calls for greener ways of tomb sweeping, to decrease pollution."
"Lighting firecrackers and burning joss paper damages the environment and can also cause fires easily. Flowers are much better."
Besides flowers, planting a tree instead of building a tomb is another offering that is being accepted by a growing number of people. It saves land and at the same time improves the environment.
How will you choose to honor your ancestors on Tomb Sweeping Day?
Tomb Sweeping or Ancestor Worshipping 扫墓
The major custom in Qingming Festival is tomb sweeping. According to folk religion, the spirits of deceased ancestors still live underground and look after the family; the tombs are said to be their houses; thus it is very important to keep the tombs clean.
Spring Outing 春游、踏青
Not only is it a day for commemorating the dead, is it also a festival for people to enjoy themselves. During March, everything in nature takes on a new look, as trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly. It is a fine time to go out and to appreciate the beautiful scenes of nature during the festival. This custom can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty and followed by each dynasty later till today. So visitors can be seen everywhere during the month of the festival.
Flying Kites 放风筝
Flying kites is an activity favored by many people during the Qingming Festival. Kites are not only flown at day time but also in the evening. Little lanterns are tied to the kite or to the string that holds the kite. And when the kite is flying in the sky, the lanterns look like twinkling stars that add unique scenery to the sky during the night. What makes flying kites during this festival special is that people cut the string while the kite is in the sky to let it fly free. It is said this brings good luck and that diseases can be eliminated by doing this.
Planting Willow Trees 插柳
Because Jie Zitui died embracing a willow tree, the willow is believed to have miraculous powers against evil. During the Qingming Festival, willow branches are hung on door fronts and used to sweep the tombs.
Swinging 荡秋千
The common swing has offered sport to many children throughout the world. During the Ming Dynasty, swinging was a designated recreation on the Qingming Festival, also known as the Clear and Bright Festival or the Tomb Sweeping Festival. Because the festival generally occurs in mid-spring, many also use the occasion for family outings.
According to the Annals of the Ming Court, this day was also called Swing Festival, when swings were suspended in the Hall of Earthly Peace of the Forbidden City and in all the residential complexes where palace ladies resided. Ladies of the imperial household wore colorful silks especially made for the occasion, and amused themselves on swings.
