中英雙語話中國民風民俗 第59期:清明的含義
The Meaning of Qingming
清明的含義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.
清明是一個傳統節日，強調拜祭祖墳。通常它落在4月4-6日之間。這個節日標誌着傳統的中國農曆的第五個節氣，根據地球的位置，它共分爲24個節氣，因爲它圍繞太陽旋轉。在中國，這些節氣的名字被用作農業和某些中國節日的路標。清明標誌着在中國北部春耕和南部春播的開始。這時人們也習慣供奉家庭的祖先，出外旅行和放風箏。
