高中英语双语阅读关于清明你可能不了解的8件事素材

关于清明你可能不了解的8件事

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Clear and Bright (Chinese: 清明), the 5th solar term, starts this year on Apr 5 and ends on Apr 20.

中国阴历将一年分为24个节气。清明，每年的第五个节气，今年的4月5日到4月20日。

Of all the 24 solar terms, Clear and Bright is the only one whose first day is also a traditional Chinese festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day. The words “clear” and “bright” describe the weather during this period. Temperatures begin to rise and rainfall increases, making it a crucial time for plowing and sowing in the spring.

在24个节气中，清明是唯一一个以首日作为中国的传统节日的节气，也称扫墓节。“清”和“明”两字分别描述了这个时节的天气状况。此时，气温开始回升，降雨量也随之增加，正是春天播种的好时节。

This year’s Tomb-Sweeping Day coincides with Easter Day, one of the oldest and most vital of Christian festivals celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians, the dawn of Easter Sunday signifies new life and represents the peak of the Christian year.

今年的清明节刚好与西方的复活节（庆祝耶稣的重生）差不多时候。对于基督教徒来说，复活节代表了新的生活，是基督教会年历里最重要的日子。

Here are 8 things you may not know about Clear and Bright.

以下就是你可能不了解的关于清明的八件事

White and yellow chrysanthemums are usually presented as tribute to the dead in China.

在中国，白菊花和黄菊花通常被献给死者

Worshiping Ancestors

祭祖

Clear and Bright is a period in which Chinese people honor nature and the ancestors of the Chinese nation. The worship of nature and ancestors can be traced to ancient times, and still matters a lot in modern society.

清明是中国人敬畏自然和祖先的时节。这可以追朔到古时候，直到现在意义也很重大。扫墓和祭祖是纪念逝去亲人的两个重大活动。人们会拔除墓地周围的杂草，并添上新土以表示对逝者的关心。

Cleaning the tombs and paying respect to the dead with offerings are the two important practices to remember late relatives. Weeds around the tomb are cleared away and fresh soil is added to show care for the dead.

扫墓和祭祖是纪念逝去亲人的两个重大活动。人们会拔除墓地周围的杂草，并添上新土以表示对逝者的关心。

The dead person’s f avorite food, wine and chopsticks are offered on their tombs, along with paper money. These sacrifices are all burned in the hope that the deceased will not lack food and money in the afterlife.

将死者生前最喜爱的食物、酒和筷子连同纸钱置于坟头，焚烧祭品，希望逝者来世不会缺少食物和钱财。

Willow Branches

柳枝

Legend has it that Clear and Bright is one of three periods during the year in which ghosts come closest to the world of living men. Buddhists believe that willow branches will drive away unwelcome ghosts and evil spirits. Therefore, willow branc hes are also known as “ghost terror wood.”

有传说言，清明是三大鬼节之一，一年中鬼魂最接近人们的三个时间。佛教相信，柳条能有驱鬼辟邪的作用。因此，柳条也被称为“鬼怖木”。

Folk proverbs also dictate customs. One proverb states that if a young lady does not wear a willow branch during the Clear and Bright period, she will soon turn old. Another says: "If one does not wear a willow, he will become a yellow dog after he dies and is reincarnated."

民间的谚语也有此类习俗。有谚云:“清明不戴柳，红颜成白首”。亦有谚云：“清明不戴柳，死后变黄狗”。

Spring Outings

踏青