中华民族四大传统节日（春节、清明节、端午节、中秋节）之一，是中国传统岁时体系中唯一与节气合一的节日，通常在4月4或5或6日。唐以前，清明主要作为二十四节气之一，反映自然时节的变化，与农事息息相关。唐宋以后，清明节取代寒食节而成为节日，寒食节原有的祭祖扫墓、吃冷食等成为清明节俗的内容。此时万物生气旺盛，人们顺应季节的变化，又有郊游踏青、插柳、放风筝、荡秋千等活动。时至今日，清明仍是中国人生活中具有特殊意义的节日。2006年5月20日，经国务院批准，清明节被列入中国第一批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。
It is one of the four major traditional festivals, namely, the Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival, that are celebrated by the Chinese. It is the only Chinese festival which occurs on one of the solar terms of the traditional calendar, usually on April 4, 5 or 6. Prior to the Tang Dynasty, Qingming functioned primarily as one of the 24 solar terms that reflected natural changes of seasons and were closely associated with timing of agricultural activities. After the Tang and Song dynasties, Qingming took the place of the Hanshi (“Cold Food”) Festival, and the practices of sweeping ancestral graves and eating cold food became prominent features of the Qingming Festival. At this time of year, with the coming of spring, all living things are bursting with vitality, and people go on country outings, plant willows, fly kites and play on swings. Today, Qingming has remained a festival of special significance to the Chinese. On May 20, 2006, it was put on the first list of national-level intangible cultural heritages by the Chinese government.
谈到清明节，有点历史知识的人，都会联想到历史人物介子椎。据历史记载，在两千多年以前的春秋时代，晋国公子重耳逃亡在外，生活艰苦，跟随他的介子椎不惜从自己的腿上割下一块肉让他充饥。后来，重耳回到晋国，作了国君（即晋文公，春秋五霸之一），大事封赏所有跟随他流亡在外的随从，惟独介子椎拒绝接受封赏，他带了母亲隐居绵山。
Qing Ming is popularly associated with Jie Zi Zhui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C. Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lord's life by serving a piece of his own leg. When the lord succeeded in becoming the ruler of a small principality, he invited his faithful follower to join him. However, Jie declined his invitation, preferring to lead a hermit's life with his mother in the mountains.
晋文公无计可施，只好放火烧山，他想，介子椎孝顺母亲，一定会带着老母出来。谁知这场大火却把介子椎母子烧死了。为了纪念介子椎，晋文公下令每年的这一天，禁止生火，家家户户只能吃生冷的食物，这就是寒食节的来源。
Believing that he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to set the forest on fire. To his consternation, Jie chose to remain where he was and was burnt to death. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all fires in every home to be put out on the anniversary of Jie's death. Thus began the "cold food feast", a day when no food could be cooked since no fire could be lit.
寒食节是在清明节的前一天，古人常把寒食节的活动延续到清明，久而久之，清明取代了寒食节。拜介子椎的习俗也变成了清明扫墓的习俗了。无论以何种形式纪念，为了使纪念祖先的仪式更有意义，我们应该让年轻一代的家庭成员了解先人过去的奋斗历史，当然，还要学习介子椎宁死不屈的气节。
The "cold food" festival occurs on the eve of Qing Ming and is often considered as part of the Qing Ming festival. As time passes, the Qing Ming festival replaced the "cold food" festival. Whatever practice is observed，the basic observation of Qing Ming is to remember one's elders by making a special effort to visit their graves, ashes or ancestral tablets. To make the visit even more meaningful, some time should be spent to remind the younger members of the family of the lives and contributions of their ancestors, and the story of Jie Zi Zhui who choose death over capitulation.
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。
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Green rice ball 青团
People in the Jiangnan region often eat this kind of greencolored balls made from glutinous rice on Tomb Sweeping Day. The green color isfrom the juice of brome grass that is added in the rice.
江南地区的人们经常在清明节食用这种由糯米制成的绿色团子。由于糯米中混合雀麦草汁，所以团子呈绿色。
San zi 馓子
In both Northern and Southern China, it is a tradition to eatsan zi, or fried dough twist, on Tomb Sweeping Day. The differences between sanzi made by Northern and Southern people lie in sizes and materials. The formerone is larger, often made from wheat and the latter is finer and made fromrice.
在中国，无论是北方还是南方，都有清明食用馓子（通过油炸面粉制成）的传统。差别在于北方馓子以麦面为主料，体积较大；而南方馓子则以米面为主料，更为精细。
Thin pancake 薄饼
People in Xiamen in Fujian province often have thin pancakes onTomb Sweeping Day. Dried seaweed, omelette, veggies and chili sauce are addedin the pancakes to enhance the flavor.
福建厦门的人在清明节时常常食用薄煎饼。薄饼中加入紫菜、煎蛋、蔬菜和辣椒酱，会更加美味。
