TheQingming(PureBrightness)Festivalisoneofthe24seasonaldivisionpointsinChina,fallingonApril4-6eachyear.Afterthefestival,thetemperaturewillriseupandrainfallincreases.Itisthehightimeforspringplowingandsowing.ButtheQingmingFestivalisnotonlyaseasonalpointtoguidefarmwork,itismoreafestivalofcommemoration.TheQingmingFestivalseesacombinationofsadnessandhappiness.www.58en.comThisisthemostimportantdayofsacrifice.BoththeHanandminorityethnicgroupsatthistimeoffersacrificestotheirancestorsandsweepthetombsofthediseased.Also,theywillnotcookonthisdayandonlycoldfoodisserved.TheHanshi(ColdFood)FestivalwasusuallyonedaybeforetheQingmingFestival.AsourancestorsoftenextendedthedaytotheQingming,theywerelatercombined.OneachQingmingFestival,allcemeteriesarecrowdedwithpeoplewhocametosweeptombsandoffersacrifices.Trafficonthewaytothecemeteriesbecomesextremelyjammed.Thecustomshavebeengreatlysimplifiedtoday.Afterslightlysweepingthetombs,peopleofferfood,flowersandfavoritesofthedead,thenburnincenseandpapermoneyandbowbeforethememorialtablet.Incontrasttothesadnessofthetombsweepers,peoplealsoenjoyhopeofSpringonthisday.TheQingmingFestivalisatimewhenthesunshinesbrightly,thetreesandgrassbecomegreenandnatureisagainlively.Sinceancienttimes,peoplehavefollowedthecustomofSpringoutings.Atthistimetouristsareeverywhere.PeoplelovetoflykitesduringtheQingmingFestival.KiteflyingisactuallynotlimitedtotheQingmingFestival.Itsuniquenessliesinthatpeopleflykitesnotduringtheday,butalsoatnight.Astringoflittlelanternstiedontothekiteorthethreadlooklikeshiningstars,andtherefore,arecalled"god'slanterns."58英语学习TheQingmingFestivalisalsoatimetoplanttrees,forthesurvivalrateofsaplingsishighandtreesgrowfastlater.Inthepast,theQingmingFestivalwascalled"ArborDay".Butsince1979,"ArborDay"wassettledasMarch12accordingtotheGregoriancalendar.清明节清明是我国的二十四节气之一。由于二十四节气比较客观地反映了一年四季气温、降雨、物候等方面的变化,所以古代劳动人民用它安排农事活动。但是,清明作为节日,与纯粹的节气又有所不同。节气是我国物候变化、时令顺序的标志,而节日则包含着一定的风俗活动和某种纪念意义。因此,这个节日中既有祭扫新坟生别死离的悲酸泪,又有踏青游玩的欢笑声,是一个富有特色的节日。清明节是我国传统节日,也是最重要的祭祀节日,是祭祖和扫墓的日子。扫墓俗称上坟,祭祀死者的一种活动。汉族和一些少数民族大多都是在清明节扫墓。由于清明与寒食的日子接近,而寒食是民间禁火扫墓的日子,渐渐的,寒食与清明就合二为一了,而寒食既成为清明的别称,也变成为清明时节的一个习俗,清明之日不动烟火,只吃凉的食品。按照旧的习俗,扫墓时,人们要携带酒食果品、纸钱等物品到墓地,将食物供祭在亲人墓前,再将纸钱焚化,为坟墓培上新土,折几枝嫩绿的新枝插在坟上,然后叩头行礼祭拜,最后吃掉酒食回家。58en.com与清明节扫墓的悲哀相反,人们在这个春光明媚的日子里,也一样是可以享受生活的。放风筝也是清明时节人们所喜爱的活动。每逢清明时节,人们不仅白天放,夜间也放。夜里在风筝下或风稳拉线上挂上一串串彩色的小灯笼,象闪烁的明星,被称为“神灯”。清明前后,春阳照临,春阳照临,春雨飞洒,种植树苗成活率高,成长快。因此,自古以来,我国就有清明植树的习惯。有人还把清明节叫作“植树节”。植树风俗一直流传至今。1979年,人大常委会规定,每年三月十二日为我国植树节。这对动员全国各族人民积极开展绿化祖国活动,有着十分重要的意义。Awell-knownpoembyTangDynastywriterDuMutellsofasadsceneinearlyApril:"rainsfallheavilyasQingmingcomes,andpassers-bywithloweredspiritsgo."QingmingDay,thetraditionaltomb-sweepingday,fallsonApri...