Customs of Qingming Festival 清明節(jié)習俗

The various customs of Qingming Festival are very interesting. In addition to fire prohibition and tomb sweeping, there are also lots of customs and sports activities, including spring outing, playing on a swing, cuju, polo, and plant willows. As the legend tells, fire is prohibited during the Qingming Festival, so people come to join some sports activities to keep warm and avoid harms caused by cold dishes. As a result, this festival includes not only sorrows from sweeping new tombs, but also laughter from spring outings. This is a festival of diverse emotions.

清明節(jié)的習俗是豐富有趣的，除了講究禁火、掃墓，還有踏青、蕩秋千、蹴鞠、打馬球、插柳等一系列風俗體育活動。相傳這是因為清明節(jié)要寒食禁火，為了防止寒食冷餐傷身，所以大家來參加一些體育活動，以鍛煉身體。因此，這個節(jié)日中既有祭掃新墳生別死離的悲酸淚，又有踏青游玩的歡笑聲，是一個富有特色的節(jié)日。

Swing蕩秋千

This is a custom of Qingming Festival in ancient China. The swing means swinging with hide ropes in hands. It has a long history and was called “qianqiu” in the earliest period, then renamed as “qiuqian” to avoid taboo. In ancient times, tree branches were often used as the frame of a swing, which were tied to colored ribbons. Later, it was developed into a swing with two ropes and one seat. Playing on a swing is not only a healthy exercise but also it also raises one’s courage; therefore, it is a beloved activity among Chinese, especially children, to these days.

這是我國古代清明節(jié)習俗。秋千，意即揪著皮繩而遷移。它的歷史很古老，最早叫千秋，后為了避忌諱，改為秋千。古時的秋千多用樹椏枝為架，再拴上彩帶做成。后來逐步發(fā)展為用兩根繩索加上踏板的秋千。打秋千不僅可以增進健康，而且可以培養(yǎng)勇敢精神，至今為人們特別是兒童所喜愛。

Cuju蹴鞠

Ju is a kind of ball made of leather, which is plugged with hairs. Cuju means to kick the ball with feet. In ancient China, it was one kind of game loved by people during Qingming Festival. According to legend, it was invented by Yellow Emperor with the initial purpose of training warriors.

鞠是一種皮球，球皮用皮革做成，球內用毛塞緊。蹴鞠，就是用足去踢球。這是古代清明節(jié)時人們喜愛的一種游戲。相傳是黃帝發(fā)明的，最初目的是用來訓練武士。

Spring Outing踏青

Spring outing is also called spring excursion, which was called spring exploration, spring seeking and so on in ancient times. Qingming arrives in the third month in the lunar calendar, when spring rolls up the ground and the nature world is filled with vigor. This is the perfect time to go for an outing. The tradition of spring outing in Qingming has been maintained among people in China for a long period.

又叫春游。古時叫探春、尋春等。三月清明，春回大地，自然界到處呈現(xiàn)一派生機勃勃的景象，正是郊游的大好時光。我國民間長期保持著清明踏青的習慣。

Planting Trees植樹

Around Qingming, the sun of spring shines brightly, and the rain of spring drops sufficiently, which help saplings to survive and grow. Therefore, the custom of planting trees in Qingming can be dated back to ancient times in China. Someone even regards Qingming as the “Arbor Day”. And this custom is still popular nowadays. In 1979, the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress provided March 12th of every year as the Arbor Day of China. This makes significant senses in mobilizing people of all nationalities to participate in activities to afforest China.

清明前后，春陽照臨，春雨飛灑，種植樹苗成活率高，成長快。因此，自古以來，我國就有清明植樹的習慣。有人還把清明節(jié)叫做“植樹節(jié)”。植樹風俗一直流傳至今。1979年，人大常委會規(guī)定，每年三月十二日為我國植樹節(jié)。這對動員全國各族人民積極開展綠化祖國活動，有著十分重要的意義。

Flying Kites放風箏

This is also a popular activity of Qingming among people. When Qingming draws near, people fly kites during day and night. When flying kites in nights, people hang bunches of small lanterns below kites or on bracing wires, and these lanterns look like twinkling stars, which are called “magic lights”. In the past, someone cut strings after sending kites into the sky, allowing them to go to the end of the world with refreshing breeze, which was said to remove diseases and disasters while bringing in fortune.

也是清明時節(jié)人們所喜愛的活動。每逢清明時節(jié)，人們不僅白天放，夜間也放。夜里在風箏下或風穩(wěn)拉線上掛上一串串彩色的小燈籠，像閃爍的明星，被稱為“神燈”。過去，有的人把風箏放上藍天后，便剪斷牽線，任憑清風把它們送往天涯海角，據(jù)說這樣能除病消災，給自己帶來好運。