每年的公历四月五日前后为清明节,是二十四节气之一.今年的清明节是4月4日.在二十四个节气中,既是节气又是节日的只有清明.清明节是我国传统节日,也是最重要的祭祀节日.按照旧的习俗,祭祀（扫墓）时,人们要携带酒食果品、纸钱等物品到墓地,将食物供祭在亲人墓前,再将纸钱焚化,为坟墓培上新土,折几枝嫩绿的新枝插在坟上,然后叩头行礼祭拜,最后吃掉酒食回家.

　　清明节,又叫踏青节,正是春光明媚草木吐绿的时节,也正是人们春游的好时候,所以古人有清明踏青,并开展一系列体育活动的的习俗.直到今天,清明节祭拜祖先,悼念已逝的亲人的习俗仍很盛行.

　　Celebratedtwoweeksafterthevernalequinox,TombSweepingDayisoneofthefewtraditionalChineseholidaysthatfollowsthesolarcalendar--typicallyfallingonApril4,5,or6.

　　ItsChinesename"QingMing"literallymeans"ClearBrightness,"hintingatitsimportanceasacelebrationofSpring.Similartothespringfestivalsofothercultures,TombSweepingDaycelebratestherebirthofnature,whilemarkingthebeginningoftheplantingseasonandotheroutdooractivities.

　　QingMingJieinAncientTimes

　　AnoldmantakesonelastlookbeforeleavingtheCityCemeteryatBiandanshanofWuhan,CentralChina'sHubeiProvince.

　　Inancienttimes,peoplecelebratedQingMingJiewithdancing,singing,picnics,andkiteflying.Coloredboiledeggswouldbebrokentosymbolizetheopeningoflife.Inthecapital,theEmperorwouldplanttreesonthepalacegroundstocelebratetherenewingnatureofspring.Inthevillages,youngmenandwomenwouldcourteachother.

　　TheTombSweepingDayasCelebratedToday

　　Withthepassingoftime,thiscelebrationoflifebecameadaytothehonorpastancestors.Followingfolkreligion,theChinesebelievedthatthespiritsofdeceasedancestorslookedafterthefamily.Sacrificesoffoodandspiritmoneycouldkeepthemhappy,andthefamilywouldprosperthroughgoodharvestsandmorechildren.

　　Today,Chinesevisittheirfamilygravestotendtoanyunderbrushthathasgrown.Weedsarepulled,anddirtsweptaway,andthefamilywillsetoutofferingsoffoodandspiritmoney.Unlikethesacrificesatafamily'shomealtar,theofferingsatthetombusuallyconsistofdry,blandfood.Onetheoryisthatsinceanynumberofghostsromearoundagravearea,thelessappealingfoodwillbeconsumedbytheancestors,andnotbeplunderedbystrangers.

　　HonoringAncestors

　　Honoringancestorsbeginswithproperpositioningofagravesiteandcoffin.Expertsinfengshui,orgeomancy,determinethequalityoflandbythesurroundingaspectsofstreams,rivers,trees,hills,andsoforth.Anareathatfacessouth,withgrovesofpinetreescreatesthebestflowofcosmicenergyrequiredtokeepancestorshappy.Unfortunately,nowadays,withChina'sburgeoningpopulation,publiccemetarieshavequicklysurplantedprivategravesites.Familyelderswillvisitthegravesiteatleastonceayeartotendtothetombs.

　　WhileblandfoodisplacedbythetombsonQingMingJie,theChineseregularlyprovidescrumptiousofferingstotheirancestorsataltartablesintheirhomes.Thefoodusuallyconsistsofchicken,eggs,orotherdishesadeceasedancestorwasfondof.Accompaniedbyrice,thedishesandeatingutensilsarecarefullyarrangedsoastobringgoodluck.Sometimes,afamilywillputburningincensewiththeofferingsoastoexpeditethetransferofnutritiouselementstotheancestors.InsomepartsofChina,thefoodistheneatenbytheentirefamily.

　　Kites

　　Besidesthetraditionsofhonoringthedead,peoplealsooftenflykitsonTombSweepingDay.Kitescancomeinallkindsofshapes,sizes,andcolors.Design