清明：今天你最懷念誰？
[ 2007-04-05 08:30 ]
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公歷四月五日前后為清明節(jié)，是二十四節(jié)氣之一。在二十四個節(jié)氣中，既是節(jié)氣又是節(jié)日的只有清明。清明節(jié)是我國傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日，也是最重要的祭祀節(jié)日。按照舊的習俗，祭祀（掃墓）時，人們要攜帶酒食果品、紙錢等物品到墓地，將食物供祭在親人墓前，再將紙錢焚化，為墳墓培上新土，折幾枝嫩綠的新枝插在墳上，然后叩頭行禮祭拜，最后吃掉酒食回家。
清明節(jié)，又叫踏青節(jié)，正是春光明媚草木吐綠的時節(jié)，也正是人們春游的好時候，所以古人有清明踏青，并開展一系列體育活動的的習俗。直到今天，清明節(jié)祭拜祖先，悼念已逝的親人的習俗仍很盛行。 |
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Celebrated two weeks after the vernal
equinox, Tomb Sweeping Day is one of the few traditional Chinese holidays that
follows the solar calendar-- typically falling on April 4, 5, or 6.
Its
Chinese name "Qing Ming" literally means "Clear Brightness," hinting at its
importance as a celebration of Spring. Similar to the spring festivals of other
cultures, Tomb Sweeping Day celebrates the rebirth of nature, while marking the
beginning of the planting season and other outdoor activities.
 Qing Ming Jie in Ancient Times
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| An
old man takes one last look before leaving the City Cemetery at
Biandanshan of Wuhan, Central China's Hubei
Province. | In ancient
times, people celebrated Qing Ming Jie with dancing, singing, picnics, and kite
flying. Colored boiled eggs would be broken to symbolize the opening of life. In
the capital, the Emperor would plant trees on the palace grounds to celebrate
the renewing nature of spring. In the villages, young men and women would court
each other.
The Tomb Sweeping Day as Celebrated Today
With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to the
honor past ancestors. Following folk religion, the Chinese believed that the
spirits of deceased ancestors looked after the family. Sacrifices of food and
spirit money could keep them happy, and the family would prosper through good
harvests and more children.
Today, Chinese visit their family graves to
tend to any underbrush that has grown. Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away,
and the family will set out offerings of food and spirit money. Unlike the
sacrifices at a family's home altar, the offerings at the tomb usually consist
of dry, bland food. One theory is that since any number of ghosts rome around a
grave area, the less appealing food will be consumed by the ancestors, and not
be plundered by strangers.
Honoring Ancestors
Honoring ancestors
begins with proper positioning of a gravesite and coffin. Experts in feng shui,
or geomancy, determine the quality of land by the surrounding aspects of
streams, rivers, trees, hills, and so forth. An area that faces south, with
groves of pine trees creates the best flow of cosmic energy required to keep
ancestors happy. Unfortunately, nowadays, with China's burgeoning population,
public cemetaries have quickly surplanted private gravesites. Family elders will
visit the gravesite at least once a year to tend to the tombs.
While
bland food is placed by the tombs on Qing Ming Jie, the Chinese regularly
provide scrumptious offerings to their ancestors at altar tables in their homes.
The food usually consists of chicken, eggs, or other dishes a deceased ancestor
was fond of. Accompanied by rice, the dishes and eating utensils are carefully
arranged so as to bring good luck. Sometimes, a family will put burning incense
with the offering so as to expedite the transfer of nutritious elements to the
ancestors. In some parts of China, the food is then eaten by the entire family.
Kites
Besides the traditions of
honoring the dead, people also often fly kits on Tomb Sweeping Day. Kites can
come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors. Designs could include frogs,
dragonflies, butterflies, crabs, bats, and storks.
（通訊員東華大學傅麗莉投稿
英語點津陳蓓編輯） |
