用英语介绍中国传统节日——清明节

用英语介绍中国传统节日——清明节

ORIGIN 起源

Qing Ming is popularly associated with Jie Zi Tui, 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.

谈到清明节，有点历史知识的人，都会联想到历史人物介子推。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*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。

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.

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个天，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。

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.

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。

【清明习俗】

sweeping the tomb 扫墓

One of the most important activities on this day is to tend graves to honor ancestors,dead relatives and friends. On Tomb Sweeping Day, thousands of Chinese families will head to cemeteries to clean and sweep the tombs of deceased family members. As we gather with our families to remember our ancestors, remember to give thanks for family and the gift of life. In addition, as the spring comes and everywhere gets green, people often go picnicking, hiking, play kites or plant willows.

清明一大重要的活动就是上坟祭拜祖先、去世的亲人及朋友。在清

明这天，成千上万的中国家庭将要前往陵园去为逝去的亲人扫墓。当

我们全家一起祭奠祖先的时候，记得一同感谢家人和生命的礼物。除

此之外，春天到来万物复苏，人们也常常借此机会外出野餐，徒步旅行、放风筝或者种柳树。

【健康小贴士】

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. Although the

old custom of eating cold food is still popular in some areas, not ev eryone’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.

中国传统医学理论认为清明时节是人们吸取阳气的时机、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。即使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合，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。

我们人耳熟能详的一首关于清明的诗就是：

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。

清明杜牧

这首杜牧《清明》各种英文翻译版本也有很多：

1.许渊冲译