The Qingming Festival 清明节(Qīngmíng Jié), also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English, is just around the corner. We have our Chinese teacher Yang laoshi here this week. She wants to talk about the customs of it today.

Jīnnián qīngmíng jié shì sì yuè sì hào.

今年清明节是4月4号。

Qingming Festival falls on April 4 this year. 

It is on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, called 春分(chūnfēn) in Chinese. Because the English name of the day is called Tomb-Sweeping Day, one of my students used to ask me, “Are you really going to sweep the tombs on that day?” 

Qīngmíngjié wǒmen huì dǎsǎo mùdì, jìdiàn zǔxiāng.

清明节我们会打扫墓地，祭奠祖先。

Actually, the Qingming Festival is well known as a day of paying respect to the dead in China. We’ll go visit ancestral tomb to clean it.

Chúle dǎsǎo yǐwài, wǒmen yě huì dài yìxiē gòngpǐn, bǐrú diǎnxin, shuǐguǒ, jiǔ háiyǒu xiānhuā shénmede.

除了打扫以外，我们也会带一些供品，比如点心、水果、酒还有鲜花什么的。

Besides cleaning, we’ll bring offerings or 供品(gòngpǐn), like pastry, fruits, wine, flowers and so on...

Qīngmíng jié bùjǐn shì jìdiàn zǔxiān de rìzi, háishì tàqīng de rìzi.

清明节不仅是祭奠祖先的节日，还是踏青的日子。

The Qingming Festival is not just a day for paying respect to the ancestors. From Qingming Festival temperatures begin to rise, trees are turning green and flowers are booming in most part of China. We also have a tradition to go for a spring outing, called 踏青(tàqīng) in Chinese. Going out to see flowers and green grass, and also breathe some fresh air will do well to your health.

Zài zhōngguó nánfāng, hěnduō dìfang huì zài Qīngmíng Jié chī qīngtuán.

在中国南方，很多地方会在清明节吃青团。

In some parts of southern China, people will eat 青团(qīngtuán) on Qingming Festival. 青(qīng) means green, 团(tuán) tells the round shape of it. It’s a type of dessert which is made of glutinous rice mixed with the juice of Chinese mugwort or barley grass and with red bean paste inside. 

hóngdòu xiànr

红豆馅儿 red bean paste

It’s quite tasty. If you are in China or you can find it in any local Chinese stores, we suggest you to have a try.

Qīngmíng Jié nǐ yǒu shénme dǎsuàn? Nǐ huì chūqu tàqīng ma?

清明节你有什么打算？你会出去踏青吗？

What plan do you have for Qingming Festival? Will you go out for a walk?