清明节介绍(英文)

Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated in spring. It usually falls around April 4th or 5th. During the Qingming Festival, people visit the tombs of their ancestors to sweep the tombs clean, offer sacrifices and pray to their ancestors.

The Qingming Festival has a history of over 2,500 years. It originated from Hanshi Festival in ancient China, and was officially established as a festival during the Tang Dynasty. According to ancient customs, people should clean the tombs and offer sacrifices to their ancestors on the first day of the tenth lunar month, which is called Shangsi Festival. The Qingming Festival gradually replaced Shangsi Festival and became the main day to mourn the dead.

On Qingming Festival, people will visit their ancestors' graves, sweep the tombs and clear the weeds. Then they will make sacrifices, including burning incense and joss paper, and offering food, wine and flowers. People pray to their ancestors, mourn them and recall the good memories they had when the ancestors were still alive. Some people may stay overnight at the ancestors' tombs during the festival.

The Qingming Festival is an opportunity for people to honor their ancestors, show respect towards elderly family members and reinforce family bonds. Some see it as a time for nature, as the spring foliage is blooming. Kite flying, cockfighting, financial trading were also popular folk activities during this festival.

With China's urbanization, some city residents have less time to visit family tombs far away. Some choose to honor their ancestors by placing flowers or joss paper at ancestral altars at home instead of traveling to actual tomb sites. However, the basic idea of filial piety and commemorating one's ancestors remains in this traditional festival.

The Qingming Festival reflects the importance of family and filial piety in Chinese culture. It has been observed by the Chinese for thousands of years to commemorate and honor their ancestors and loved ones who have passed away.