Qingming Festival(Tomb-sweeping Day)
April 4th or 5th of the Gregorian calendar
公历4月4日或4月5日
one of the Chinese Twenty-four Solar Terms
中国二十四节气之一
From that date temperatures begin to rise and rainfall increases
从这一天起，气温开始升高，降雨量开始增多
the crucial time for plowing and sowing in the spring
春耕春播的重要时节
Origin 故事起源
这是一个关于一位忠孝义士的故事
It is said that theQingming Festivalwas originally held tocommemorateJie Zitui, a loyal man who lived duringthe Spring and Autumn Period. Jie cut a piece of meat from his own leg in order to save his hungry lord who was forced to flee from his own country.
Later, when the lord regained his position, he forgot about Jie Zitui’s sacrifice. However, after being reminded, he felt ashamed and decided to reward the loyal man, but Jie had hidden in a mountain with his mother. In order to find Jie, the lord ordered that the mountain be set on fire.
Unfortunately, Jie was found dead with his mother. In order to commemorate the day of his death, the lord declared the date to beHanshi (Cold Food) Festival— the day that only cold food can be eaten.
A year later, when the lord went to the mountain to commemorate Jie’s death, he found the burned willows hadrevived, so he gave instructions that the day after Hanshi Festival was to be Qingming Festival. Eventually, the two festivals were combined into one.
翻译：
相传清明节最初是为了纪念春秋时期（公元前770-476年）的一位忠臣，介子推。晋国公子重耳被迫逃亡齐国。因咽不下野菜，介子推就从自己的腿上切下一块肉做成汤，说是麻雀汤让重耳吃下。重耳在秦国的帮助下，回到了晋国，平定了叛乱并当上国君，这就是历史上有名的晋文公。跟随他出逃的人都得到了封赏，而晋文公唯独忘了介子推。晋文公意识到自己的错误时，介子推和母亲已经隐居在山上，并拒绝出山。为了找到介子推，晋文公又中了奸臣计策下令放火烧山，想逼出孝子介子推。火灭时却发现介子推和母亲一起被烧死。为了纪念他，晋文公下令忌日百姓不得焚火煮饭，只吃寒食，这一天就是寒食节。
第二年忌日次日，晋文公上山祭祀介子推，发现介子推死前抱着的柳树又复活了起来，于是他下令寒食节的次日为清明节。后来，这两个节日合而为一。
Traditional Customs
Tomb Sweeping 扫墓
cleaning the tomb
清扫坟墓
paying respect to the dead person with offerings（including a variety of food, fruits, drinks and flowers）
用祭品来纪念逝者
Spring Outing
Not only is it a day for commemorating the dead, but it is also atime for people to enjoy themselves.
清明时分，不但怀念逝者，也正是享受生活的时节。
Flying Kites
Flying kites is also closely associated with the Qingming Festival.
放风筝也是和清明节密切联系的一项活动。
Spring outings not only add joy to life but also promote a healthy mind and body.
清明节外出踏青等活动不仅给生活增添了欢乐，也促进了身心的健康。
清明节相关英文词汇
Cold Food Festival 寒食节
Day of sacrifice 祭祀节日
Condolence 哀悼之情
Hell note/Joss paper 纸钱
Mourning ceremony 哀悼仪式
Offer sacrifices to ancestors 祭祖/上供
Funeral supplies/products 殡葬用品
Funeral services 殡葬服务业
Mortician 殡仪业者
Burn incense 焚香
Tomb-sweeping 扫墓
Tomb sweeper 扫墓的人
Monument 纪念碑
Online funeral 网上葬礼
Online tribute 网上悼念
Cremation urn 骨灰盒
Inhumation 土葬
Cremation 火葬
Sea burial 海葬
Tree burial 树葬
Celestial burial 天葬
Boat-coffin burial 船棺葬
National mourning 全国哀悼
National mourning day 全国哀悼日
Willow branches inserted on each gate 门旁插柳
Filial piety 孝顺；孝心
诗歌翻译
我们人耳熟能详的一首关于清明的诗就是：
清 明
——杜牧
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
这首诗的英文翻译版本也有很多：
1.许渊冲译
A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day
The mourner"s heart is going to break on his way.
Where can a wineshop be found to drown his sad hours?
A cowherd points to a cot "mid apricot flowers.
2.吴伟雄译
It drizzles thick and fast on the Mourning Day,
The mourner travels with his heart lost in dismay.
When asked for a wineshop to kill his gloomy time,
A cowboy points at Almond Hamlet far away.
3.万昌盛、王僴中译
The ceaseless drizzle drips all the dismal day,
So broken-hearted fares the traveler on the way.
When asked where could be found at avern bower,
Acow boy points to yonder village of the apricot flower.
4.杨宪益、戴乃迭译
It drizzles endless during the rainy season in spring,
Travelers along the road look gloomy and miserable.
When I ask a shepherd boy where I can find a tavern,
He points at a distant hamlet nestling amidst apricot blossoms.
5.吴钧陶译
It drizzles thick and fast on the Pure Brightness Day,
I travel with my heart lost in dismay.
"Is there a public house somewhere, cowboy?"
He points at Apricot Village faraway.
6.蔡廷干译
The rain falls thick and fast on All Souls" Day,
The men and women sadly move along the way.
They ask where wineshops can be found or where to rest ----
And there the herdboy"s fingers Almond-Town suggest.
7.孙大雨译
Upon theClear-and-Bright Feast of spring, the rain drizzleth down in spray.
Pedestrians on countryside ways, in gloom are pinning away.
When asked "Where a tavern fair for rest, is hereabouts to befound",
The shepherd boy the Apricot Bloom Vill, doth point to afar and say.
来源 | 微学英语
