24 Solar Terms: 8 things you may not know about Clear and Bright
24节气：关于清明你可能不知道的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.
中国传统农历将一年分为24个节气。清明节(中文：清
明)，第五个节气，今年从4月5日开始，到4月20日
结束。
Of all the 24 solar terms, Clear and Bright is the only one whose first day is also a traditional Chinese festival, Qingming Festival or 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.
在所有24个节气中，清明是唯一一个第一天也是中国传统节日清明节的节气。“晴朗”和“明亮”这两个词描述了这一时期的天气。气温开始上升，降雨量增加，这是春季犁地和播种的关键时期。
Here are 8 things you may not know about Clear and Bright.
以下是你可能不知道的关于清明节的8件事。Worshiping Ancestors
祭奠祖先
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.
清明节气是中国人尊崇自然、中华民族祖先的时期。对
NOTES
✪红：词汇
☑蓝：短语
※黄：语法总结，长难句
阅读综合练习在文后
※whose first day is also a traditional Chinese festival：定语从句，关系代词whose代替Clear and Bright’s，在从句中做定语。
☑Tomb-Sweeping Day：清明节
※making it a crucial time for plowing and sowing in the spring：现在分词做伴随状语。✪crucial/ˈkruːʃl/adj. 至关重要的；关键性的The use of the correct materials was crucial.
使用合适材料是重要的。
✪plow/plaʊ/v.耕，犁
n.犁；犁过的地
✪worship/ˈwɜːʃɪp/v.敬奉（神）；爱慕，崇拜
n.敬神，拜神；崇拜
Like many of my generation, I have a weakness for hero worship.
自然和祖先的祭拜可以追溯到古代，在现代社会仍然很重要。
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.
扫墓和祭奠死者是纪念已故亲人的两个重要习俗。坟墓周围的杂草被清除，并添加新鲜的土壤，以示对死者的关怀。
The dead person's favorite 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.
死者最喜欢的食物、酒和筷子会和纸币一起放在他们的坟墓上。这些祭品都是希望逝者来世不缺粮不缺钱。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 branches are also known as "ghost terror wood".
传说清明是一年中鬼魂最接近人类世界的三个时期之一。佛教徒相信柳枝会赶走不受欢迎的鬼魂和恶灵。因此，柳枝也被称为“鬼恐怖木”。
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."
民间谚语也支配习俗。一句谚语说，如果一个年轻的女和我那一代人的多数人一样，我也痴迷于英雄崇拜。
※in which Chinese people honor nature and the ancestors of the Chinese nation：定语从句，关系代词which，在从句中做介词in的宾语，in which = in the period。
※Cleaning the tombs and paying respect to the dead with offerings：由and连接的两个动名词做主语。
✪offering/ˈɒfərɪŋ/供品，祭品；供奉，奉献
✪practice/ˈpræktɪs/n. 惯常做的事；习惯；习俗
☑late relatives：已故亲人
☑clear away：清除
✪deceased /dɪˈsiːst/adj.已故的
✪afterlife/ˈɑːftəlaɪf/n. 来世；死后的生活
※Legend has it that Clear and Bright is one of three periods during the year：同位语从句，legend = Clear and Bright is one of three periods during the year
※in which ghosts come closest to the world of living men：定语从句，which指代period在从句中做in的宾语。
✪buddhist/ˈbʊdɪst/n.佛教徒
adj.佛教的，佛的
✪terror /ˈterə/ n.惊恐，恐惧；引起恐怖的人（或事物）
士在清明时节不佩戴柳枝，她很快就会变老。另一个说:“如果一个人不穿柳树，他死后会变成一只黄狗。”Spring Outings
春游
Not only is it a period for commemorating the dead, it is also time for people to go out and enjoy nature.
春游不仅是纪念死者的节日，也是人们出去享受大自然的时候。
As trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly, everything returns to life. It is a fine time to appreciate the beauty of nature. This custom can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476BC) and Warring States Period (475 – 221BC).
随着树木变绿，花朵开放，阳光灿烂，万物复苏。这是欣赏大自然之美的好时机。这个习俗可以追溯到春秋时期(公元前770-476年)和战国时期(公元前475-221年)。Strolling outside in spring adds joy to life and promotes a healthy body and mind.
春天在户外散步，给生活增添了欢乐，促进了健康的身心。
Flying Kites
Flying kites is an activity favored by many Chinese during Tomb-Sweeping Day. Kites are not only flown during the day time but also in the evening. Little lanterns are tied to the kite or to the kite string. And when the kites are flying in the sky, the lanterns look like twinkling stars at night. What makes flying kites during this day special is that people cut the string while the kite is in the sky to let it fly free. It is said this brings good luck and that diseases can be chased away by doing this. ✪proverb/ˈprɒvɜːb/n.谚语，格言；典型，模范
✪dictate/dɪkˈteɪt/v.命令，规定；影响，支配；口述，使听写n.命令，规定
What right do they have to dictate how we live our lives?
他们有什么权利强行规定我们该怎样生活？✪reincarnate/ˌriːɪnkɑːˈneɪt/v. 使转世，使再生；使转世化身
adj. 转世化身的
✪commemorate/kəˈmeməreɪt/v.
纪念，用以纪念
✪blossom/ˈblɒsəm/v.开花；成长，繁盛，兴旺
trace back to追溯
✪stroll /strəʊl/v.散步，闲逛；（体育比赛）轻而易举地获胜
n.散步，溜达；（竞赛中）轻易的胜利
We went for a stroll in the park.
我们去公园散了散步。
✪favor/ˈfeɪvə/v.较喜欢；偏袒；有利于n.帮助；提拔；徽章；赞同；偏袒
I know you will do me this little
放风筝是许多中国人在清明节喜欢的活动。风筝不仅在白天放风筝，晚上也放风筝。小灯笼系在风筝上或风筝线上。当风筝在天空中飞翔时，灯笼看起来就像夜晚闪烁的星星。在这一天放风筝的特别之处在于，当风筝在空中时，人们会剪断风筝线，让它自由飞翔。据说这会带来好运，这样做可以赶走
疾病。
Cold Food Festival
寒食节
The Cold Food Festival or Hanshi Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated for one day before Tomb-Sweeping Day. On that day, making fire is taboo and only cold food is available.
寒食节是中国的传统节日，在清明节前一天庆祝。在那一天，生火是禁忌，只能吃冷食。
Legend has it that Prince Chong'er of the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period, endured many hardships while he was exiled from his home state. Once, in order to help the prince who was tormented by hunger, Jie Zitui cut off the flesh from his thigh and offered it to the prince for sustenance.
相传春秋时期晋国的重耳王子，在被流放的时候，忍受了许多苦难。有一次，为了帮助被饥饿折磨的王子，介子推把自己大腿上的肉割下来，献给王子作为食粮。When Chong'er became Duke Wen of Jin, however, he did not reward him, instead killing Jie and his mother in a fire. Later, Duke Wen, filled with remorse, ordered that using fire on the anniversary of Jie's death was forbidden and all foo
d was to be consumed cold.
当重耳成为晋文公时，他没有奖赏重耳，而是用火杀死了介和他的母亲。后来，晋文公悔恨不已，下令在介忌日禁止用火，所有的食物都要凉着吃。favor.
我就知道你会帮我这点小忙的。
※favored by many Chinese：过去分词做后置定语，修饰activity。
※What makes flying kites during this day special is that people cut the string while the kite is in the sky to let it fly free：is之前是what引导的主语从句，is之后是that引导的表语从句。
chase away：赶走
This' ll chase away the blues.
这将把忧郁驱散。
※celebrated for one day before Tomb-Sweeping Day：过去分词做后置定语，修饰holiday。
He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.
他很快就跻身于英国最著名的青年画家行列。
✪taboo/təˈbuː/n.（宗教或社会习俗方面的）禁忌，忌讳；禁忌的事物
adj.忌讳的，为社会习俗所不容的，vt.把……列为禁忌
✪exile/ˈeksaɪl/v.流放；使离开
n.流放；被流放者，流亡者
✪torment/ˈtɔːment/v. 使痛苦，折磨；骚扰，捉弄
n.（肉体、精神上的）折磨，痛苦；使人痛苦的人（物）
Cuju 蹴鞠
Cuju is an interesting game played during this period. Ju is a ball made of leather with hairs plugged in it. Legend has it that the Yellow Emperor first invented it for training warriors. Later, Cu Ju was used by people to build up their bodies when they were unable to eat hot food during the Cold Food Festival.
蹴鞠是这个时期玩的一种有趣的游戏。鞠是一个用皮革制成的球，球内插有毛发。传说黄帝最早发明它是为了训练勇士。后来，人们在寒食节吃不到热食时，就用蹴鞠来强身健体。
Eating Eggs 吃鸡蛋
In many parts of China, eating eggs during Tomb-Sweeping Day is as important as eating moon cakes at Mid-Autumn Festival. The Chinese folk belief is that eating an egg on Tomb-Sweeping Day will bring good health all year. In China, this custom has lasted for thousands of years.
吃鸡蛋在中国的很多地方，清明节吃鸡蛋和中秋节吃月饼一样重要。中国民间的信仰是在清明节吃一个鸡蛋会带来一整年的健康。在中国，这种习俗已经延续了几千年。
The origin of eating eggs dates back to "Shangsi Jie" (a traditional Chinese festival). In ancient times, women who want to have babies after marriage often colored boiled eggs with different colors and put them into the river, and people living in the lower reaches of the river picked the eggs up and ate them. It was said that the more eggs were eaten, the greater the chance the woman will get pregnant. Today, people believe that eating eggs on Tomb-Sweeping Day will bring success.
吃鸡蛋的起源可以追溯到“上巳节”(中国的一个传统节Sometimes the memories returned
to torment her.
有时这些记忆会又来折磨她。
✪thigh/θaɪ/n. 大腿，股
清明节 英语✪sustenance/ˈsʌstənəns/n.
食物；生计；支持
✪remorse/rɪˈmɔːs/n. 懊悔，自责
I felt guilty and full of remorse.
我感到内疚，并且非常懊悔。
✪plug/plʌɡ/v.堵，塞；补足；插入，n.（电）插头；（电）插座；（洗涤槽或浴缸的）塞子；堵塞物
Check that the plug has not come loose.
检查一下别让插头松脱了。
✪warrior/ˈwɒriə/n. （尤指旧时的）武士，勇士；（瑜伽体式）战士
I am not an Internet keyboard warrior.
我不是互联网键盘侠。
※women who want to have babies：定语从句，关系代词who指代先行词women在从句中做主语。
※living in the lower reaches of the river：现在分词做后置定语，修饰people。
✪feast/fiːst/n.宴会，筵席；盛会，特别的享受；宗教节日
v.饱餐，尽情享用；宴请，设宴招待（某人）The delicious dishes for dinner are
another feast.
晚餐的美味菜肴让人又是一顿饱餐。