清明节到来，作为中国重要的传统节日之一，它是唯一一个节日和节气并存的日子。今天我们就来普及下与清明节有关的知识吧~

清明节，也叫做“寒食节”，是人们悼念祖先最重要的日子。它起源于周代，距今已有超过2500年的历史。
Tomb Sweeping Day, also called "Cold Food Day", is the most important day for people to offer sacrifice to ancestors. It started from the Zhou Dynasty, with a history of over 2500 years.

清明是中国的24个节气之一，暗示着暮春的到来，是耕地和种植最佳时期，同时，“寒食节”也是人们给祖先扫墓，吃冷食的日子。清明临近“寒食节”，逐渐地也演变成了一个节日，因此“寒食节”，也是清明的另一个名字。
Qingming is one of the 24 solar terms in China, indicating the coming of late spring, thus the best plowing and growing time, while "Cold Food Day" is a day when folks sweep the ancestors' tombs and eat cold food. Qingming was adjacent to Cold Food Day, so later on they gradually became one festival, and thus "Cold Food" became another name for Qingming.

清明节的主要习俗是扫墓。在这一天，人们都会前往他们的家族墓地进行拜祭。他们会铲除墓地周围的杂草，擦拭墓碑，以及用鲜花装饰墓碑。然后，放置贡品和烧纸钱。
The major custom in Qingming Festival is tomb sweeping. On this day, people visit their family graves to remove any underbrush that has grown. They would uproot weeds near the gravesites, wipe the tombstones and decorate the tombstones with fresh flowers. And then they will set out offerings of food and paper money.

在清明节期间，许多人都喜欢放风筝，无论白天还是晚上。将小灯笼系在风筝或放风筝的绳子上，当风筝在空中飞舞时，灯笼看起来像闪烁的星星，会给夜晚的天空增加一些独特的风景。
Flying kites is an activity favored by many people during the Qingming Festival. Kites are not only flown at day time but also in the evening. Little lanterns are tied to the kite or to the string that holds the kite. And when the kite is flying in the sky, the lanterns look like twinkling stars that add unique scenery to the sky during the night.

清明节放风筝的特别之处，是当风筝被放飞到高空时，人们会将风筝线剪段，让它自由飞翔，据说这样可以带来好运和消除疾病。
What makes flying kites during this festival special is that people cut the string while the kite is in the sky to let it fly free. It is said that this brings good luck and that diseases can be eliminated by doing this.

清明节不仅仅是一个纪念故人的节日，人们也可以在这一天进行娱乐活动。在4月份，大自然焕然一新，树木变绿，花朵绽放，阳光普照。节日期间，大家可以好好地去感受一下自然的魅力。春游不仅能给生活带来愉悦，同时也可以促进身体和心灵的健康。
Not only it is a day for commemorating the dead, is it also a festival for people to enjoy themselves. During April, everything in nature takes on a new look, as trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly. It is a fine time to go out and to appreciate the beautiful scenes of nature during the festival. Spring outings not only add joy to life but also promote a healthy body and mind.

中国传统医学理论认为清明时节是人们吸取阳气的最佳时机、应该要避免所有消耗或阻挡体内阳气的事。建议人们多参与像慢跑、体操、徒步旅行这样的锻炼。
The traditional Chinese medical theory believes that this period is the perfect time for people to absorb Yang Qi into human’s body. Everything which may consume or block one’s Yang Qi should be avoided. People are suggested to take more exercises such as jogging, gymnastics, hiking.

尽管吃冷食的就习俗在某些地方依旧盛行，但并不是每个人的身体都能适应，尤其是那些肠胃功能不好的人。应该多吃水果和蔬菜，如韭菜、大白菜、萝卜。
Although the old custom of eating cold food is still popular in some areas, not everyone’s body is suitable for doing so, especially those who have weak stomach. People should eat more fruits and vegetables such as chives,Chinese cabbage and radish.

好啦，今天就到这里啦！
清明时节，草长莺飞，在这样温暖又灵动的季节，好好享受春天的气息吧~~~