No.113 Qingming 清明
英语话中国China Story
本期文本
清明，是二十四节气中的第五个节气。
Qingming is the fifth of China’s 24 solar terms.
它告诉我们：春意正浓，万物清明。
It tells us: spring is in full bloom—clear skies, bright days, and all things fresh.
但清明不只是一个节气——它也是中国人最重要的传统节日之一。
But Qingming is more than just a solar term—it’s also one of China’s most important traditional festivals.
这一天，人们祭祖扫墓，表达思念；也走进田野，感受春天的生机。
On this day, people visit ancestors’ graves to honor and remember;they also walk into fields to feel spring’s energy.
农人知道：“清明前后，种瓜点豆。”
Farmers know the saying: “Around Qingming, plant melons and beans.”
因为此时气温回暖，雨水增多，正是春耕的好时节。
The weather warms; rain increases— the perfect time to begin spring farming.
而城市里的人们，则带上家人回乡。
In cities, families travel back to their hometowns.
他们清理墓地，献上鲜花和食物，轻声诉说一年来的变化与牵挂。
They clean the graves, offer flowers and food,and softly share news and memories from the past year.
祭拜之后，悲伤渐渐化作希望。
After paying respects, sorrow gently turns to hope.
孩子们在草地上放风筝，老人坐在柳树下晒太阳；
Children fly kites on green grass;elders sit under willow trees in the sun;
年轻人踏青赏花，拍照留念。
young people stroll through blooming gardens, taking photos.
古人说：“气清景明，万物皆显。”
An old phrase says: “The air is clear, the light is bright—everything becomes visible.”
清明，就是这样一天：既低头缅怀过去，也抬头拥抱新生。
Qingming is such a day—
we look down to remember the past—and look up to welcome new life.
