中英双语话中国民风民俗 第59期:清明的含义
The Meaning of Qingming
清明的含义Qingming (Pure Brightness) is a traditional festival highlighted by worship at ancestral graves. Usually it falls between April 4-6. The festival marks the fifth solar term of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, which divides the year into 24 such terms according to the position of the earth as it orbits the sun. The names of the terms are used as guideposts for agriculture and certain Chinese festivals in China. Qingming marks the start of spring plowing in China's north and of spring sowing in the south. At this time people also customarily make offerings to family ancestors,go on outings and flying kites.
清明是一个传统节日，强调拜祭祖坟。通常它落在4月4-6日之间。这个节日标志着传统的中国农历的第五个节气，根据地球的位置，它共分为24个节气，因为它围绕太阳旋转。在中国，这些节气的名字被用作农业和某些中国节日的路标。清明标志着在中国北部春耕和南部春播的开始。这时人们也习惯供奉家庭的祖先，出外旅行和放风筝。
