清明：缅怀，是为了更好的前行！| Qingming: Mourning ancestors, embracing future
气清景明
万物皆显
礼敬祖先
慎终追远
清明，二十四节气的第五个节气。今年的清明节4月4日开始，4月20日结束。
Qingming (Chinese: 清明), the 5th solar term, starts this year on April 4 and ends on April 20.
进入正题之前，让我们一起欣赏古诗《清明》吧。
清明时节雨纷纷，
A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Qingming day.
路上行人欲断魂。
The traveler's heart is going to break on the way.
借问酒家何处有，
Where can a wine shop be found to drown his dismay?
牧童遥指杏花村。
A cowherd points to the apricot flower village far away.
注：《清明》是唐代文学家杜牧的诗作。此诗描写了诗人在清明春雨中所见，色彩清淡，意境悠远，广为传诵。
Notes: A poem called Qingming, written by Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet Du Mu. In the poem, Du described his mood during his trip on Qingming, or Tomb Sweeping Day, in April.
关于清明节你可能想知道的几件事:
Here are things you may not know about Qingming.
扫墓祭祖
Worshiping Ancestors
人们在清明节前后有扫墓祭祖的习俗：铲除杂草（clear away weeds），放上供品（offerings），或简单地献上一束鲜花（flowers），以寄托对先人的怀念。
在中国，白、黄菊通常被作为祭品供奉。
White and yellow chrysanthemums are usually presented as tribute to the dead in China.
踏青
Spring Outings
清明节期间到大自然去欣赏和领略生机勃勃的春日景象，郊外远足。
As trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly, everything returns to life in spring. It is a fine time to go hiking and appreciate the beauty of nature during the period of Qingming.
这种踏青也叫春游，古代叫探春、寻春（explore the spring），可以一抒在严冬以来的郁结之气（stasis）。
插柳
Willow Branches
清明节是杨柳（willow）发芽抽绿的时间，民间有折柳、戴柳、插柳的习俗。
有句农村俗语说：“清明不戴柳，红颜成皓首。”
One proverb states that if a young lady does not wear a willow branch during the Qingming period, she will soon turn old.
蹴鞠
Cuju
蹴鞠是古代清明节时人们喜爱的一种游戏。
Cuju is an interesting game played during this period in ancient times.
注：鞠是一种皮球，球皮用皮革做成，球内用毛塞紧。蹴鞠，就是用足去踢球。相传是黄帝发明的，最初目的是用来训练武士。
Notes: Ju is a ball made of leather with hairs plugged in it. Legend has it that the Yellow Emperor first invented it for training warriors. Later, Cu Ju was used by people to build up their bodies when they were unable to eat hot food during the Cold Food Festival.
吃青团
Feasting on Qingtuan
清明时节，江南一带有吃青团子（qingtuan or green cake）的风俗习惯。青团子油绿如玉，糯韧绵软，清香扑鼻，吃起来甜而不腻，肥而不腴。
青团子还是江南一带人用来祭祀祖先必备食品，正因为如此，青团子在江南一带的民间食俗中显得格外重要。
In the lower reaches of the Yangtze River region, qingtuan or green cake is very popular snack on Tomb Sweeping Day.
况是清明好天气
愿君莫负好春光
图片来源：China Daily、soogif动图
编辑：张婷婷
设计：王雅雯
审核：王伟
监制：施力维
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