清明節/清明节 (qīng míng jié) Tomb Sweeping Festival
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四月四日是清明节，和春节、中秋节、端午节并列为中国四大节日。《岁时百问》中说：“万物生长此时，皆清洁而明净，故谓之清明。” 清明节前后，家人齐聚一起，清理祖坟、祭拜祖先，表达慎重追远之心。
April 4 is the Ching Ming (Tomb Sweeping) Festival. It is ranked as the four important Chinese festivals with the others, Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival and Dragon Boat Festival. 清明 (qīng míng) literally means "clear" (qīng) and "bright" (míng) because it falls in early spring, on the 106th day after the winter solstice. Around this time, families gather together to clean the ancestor's tombs, worship them with sacrifices and express our reverence for them. |
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慎终追远(shèn zhōng zhuī yuǎn, Reverence for the Ancestors) 出自《论语学而》：“曾子曰：“慎终追远，民德归厚矣。”
Xue Er Chapter, The Analects of Confucius:The philosopher Zeng said, "Let there be a careful attention to perform the funeral rites to parents, and let them be followed when long gone with the ceremonies of sacrifice - then the virtue of the people will resume its proper excellence." (诸子百家）
Xue Er Chapter, The Analects of Confucius:The philosopher Zeng said, "Let there be a careful attention to perform the funeral rites to parents, and let them be followed when long gone with the ceremonies of sacrifice - then the virtue of the people will resume its proper excellence." (诸子百家）
Tomb Sweeping Day
Chinese societies respect and worship ancestors. China, Taiwan, Hong kong and Macau all defined Tomb Sweeping Day as a National Holiday. It occurs around April 5 when family members get together for sweeping the tombs of their ancestors and deceased families or relatives.
Tomb Sweeping Festival (扫墓节） is also called Qingming Festival (清明节). It falls on the 15th day from the Spring Equinox, usually around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar. Astronomically it is also a solar term. The Qingming festival falls on the first day of the fifth solar term, named Qingming. This day is also named Clear and Bright Day, denoting a time for people to go to the graves of departed ones at the Spring time, a revival season of a year.
Tomb Sweeping Festival (扫墓节） is also called Qingming Festival (清明节). It falls on the 15th day from the Spring Equinox, usually around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar. Astronomically it is also a solar term. The Qingming festival falls on the first day of the fifth solar term, named Qingming. This day is also named Clear and Bright Day, denoting a time for people to go to the graves of departed ones at the Spring time, a revival season of a year.
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Tomb Sweeping Day is a day to commemorate and honor the ancestors on their grave sites. All family members pray before the ancestors, sweep and clean the tombs by weeding and plowing. Chinese cakes, meat, fruit, tea, wine, flowers are offered. Joss stick and paper money are usually burned for wishing ancestors a great life in their world.
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