清明：气清景明，追思怀远
清明，既是二十四节气之一，通常在公历 4 月 4 – 6 日交节，也是中国传统节日之一，兼具自然与人文两大内涵。此时，天气清澈明朗，万物繁茂生长，大地呈现出一片生机勃勃的景象。而在人文方面，清明是人们缅怀祖先、祭奠逝者的重要时刻，承载着深厚的历史文化与浓浓的亲情思念。
一、清明的历史渊源
清明的起源可以追溯到上古时代的祖先信仰与春祭礼俗。据《周礼》记载，当时已有在仲春时节举行 “墓祭” 的习俗，这被视为清明扫墓的前身。随着时间的推移，清明逐渐融合了寒食节与上巳节的部分习俗。寒食节期间禁火冷食，纪念介子推的忠义之举；上巳节则有踏青、祓禊等活动，以祈求驱邪避灾、健康平安。到了唐宋时期，清明扫墓、踏青等习俗已经盛行，并成为当时社会生活的重要组成部分。明清时期，这些习俗进一步传承与发展，且更加注重礼仪规范，使得清明的节日氛围愈发浓厚，成为中华民族传统文化的重要符号。
二、清明的民俗文化
（一）饮食习俗
清明时节有着独特的饮食文化。青团是江南地区清明必备的传统点心，用糯米粉和艾草汁混合制成外皮，包裹着豆沙、莲蓉等馅料，口感软糯，清香扑鼻，其绿色的外表象征着春天的生机与活力。此外，还有吃馓子的习俗，馓子以面粉为主要原料，经油炸而成，纤细香脆，寓意着对生命的坚韧与对美好生活的向往。在一些北方地区，清明会食用鸡蛋，人们将鸡蛋煮熟后涂上各种颜色，称为 “彩蛋”，孩子们会拿着彩蛋相互碰撞，据说这样可以带来好运，也为节日增添了欢乐的氛围。
（二）传统活动
扫墓祭祖是清明最重要的活动之一。在这一天，人们会前往祖先的墓地，清扫墓碑，献上鲜花、祭品，表达对先人的追思与怀念之情。踏青也是清明的传统习俗，人们趁着春光明媚，走出家门，漫步在青山绿水之间，欣赏大自然的美景，感受春天的气息，既放松身心，又能增进家人朋友之间的感情。插柳也是清明常见的活动，人们将柳枝插在门前、屋檐下或头上，有驱邪避灾、祈福迎祥之意，同时也因为柳树易成活且生命力旺盛，象征着对生命的尊重与对未来的希望。此外，还有荡秋千、放风筝等娱乐活动，这些活动在清明时节的盛行，充分展现了人们对生活的热爱与积极向上的精神风貌。
三、清明的文化意义
清明作为节气与节日的融合体，在文化层面有着深远的意义。它是自然节气变化的反映，体现了中国人对自然规律的尊重与顺应，人们在清明时节进行的各种活动都与自然环境紧密相连，如踏青赏景、插柳等，都是对春天大自然恩赐的回应。而在人文方面，清明的扫墓祭祖习俗传承了中华民族的孝道文化与家族观念，让人们铭记祖先的功绩与恩情，维系着家族的血脉亲情与凝聚力。同时，清明也是一个让人们反思生命、珍惜当下的时刻，它提醒人们生命短暂而珍贵，应怀着敬畏之心对待生活，传承先辈的精神，努力创造美好的未来，在传承与创新中不断延续中华民族的文化命脉。
Qingming: Clear and Bright, Remembrance and Reverence
Qingming is not only one of the twenty-four solar terms, usually occurring around April 4 – 6 in the Gregorian calendar, but also one of the traditional Chinese festivals, possessing both natural and humanistic connotations. At this time, the weather is clear and bright, and all things are flourishing. The earth presents a vibrant scene. In terms of humanistic aspects, Qingming is an important moment for people to remember their ancestors and pay respects to the deceased, carrying profound historical culture and deep affectionate yearnings.
1. Historical Origin of Qingming
The origin of Qingming can be traced back to the ancestor worship and spring sacrificial rites in ancient times. According to “The Rites of Zhou”, there was already a custom of “tomb sacrifice” in the mid-spring season, which is regarded as the predecessor of tomb sweeping during Qingming. With the passage of time, Qingming gradually incorporated some of the customs of the Cold Food Festival and the Shangsi Festival. During the Cold Food Festival, fire was prohibited and cold food was eaten to commemorate the loyalty of Jie Zitui. The Shangsi Festival had activities such as going on an outing and performing lustration to pray for warding off evil spirits and disasters and ensuring health and safety. By the Tang and Song Dynasties, customs such as tomb sweeping and going on an outing during Qingming were already popular and became an important part of social life at that time. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, these customs were further inherited and developed, with more emphasis on etiquette norms, making the festival atmosphere of Qingming even stronger and becoming an important symbol of traditional Chinese culture.
2. Folk Culture of Qingming
(1) Dietary Customs
There is a unique dietary culture during the Qingming season. Qingtuan is a traditional snack essential for Qingming in the Jiangnan area. The outer skin is made by mixing glutinous rice flour and mugwort juice, and it wraps fillings such as red bean paste and lotus seed paste. It has a soft and glutinous texture and a fragrant aroma. Its green appearance symbolizes the vitality and vigor of spring. In addition, there is also a custom of eating sanzi. Sanzi is mainly made of flour and deep-fried. It is thin and crispy, implying tenacity in life and longing for a beautiful life. In some northern regions, eggs are eaten during Qingming. People boil eggs and color them, called “colored eggs”. Children will bump the colored eggs against each other. It is said that this can bring good luck and also adds a joyous atmosphere to the festival.
(2) Traditional Activities
Tomb sweeping and ancestor worship is one of the most important activities during Qingming. On this day, people will go to the graves of their ancestors, clean the tombstones, offer flowers and sacrifices, expressing their remembrance and yearning for their ancestors. Going on an outing is also a traditional custom of Qingming. People take advantage of the bright spring scenery, go out of their homes, and stroll among the green mountains and clear waters, enjoying the beauty of nature and feeling the breath of spring. It not only relaxes the body and mind but also enhances the relationships among family members and friends. Inserting willow branches is also a common activity during Qingming. People insert willow branches in front of doors, under eaves or on their heads, which has the meaning of warding off evil spirits and disasters and praying for good fortune and auspiciousness. At the same time, because willow trees are easy to survive and have strong vitality, it symbolizes respect for life and hope for the future. In addition, there are also recreational activities such as swinging and flying kites. The popularity of these activities during Qingming fully demonstrates people’s love for life and a positive and upward mental outlook.
3. Cultural Significance of Qingming
As a combination of a solar term and a festival, Qingming has far-reaching significance in terms of culture. It reflects the changes of natural solar terms, embodying the Chinese people’s respect and compliance with the laws of nature. All the activities carried out by people during Qingming are closely related to the natural environment, such as going on an outing and enjoying the scenery and inserting willow branches, which are responses to the gifts of nature in spring. In terms of humanistic aspects, the custom of tomb sweeping and ancestor worship during Qingming inherits the filial piety culture and family concept of the Chinese nation, making people remember the achievements and kindness of their ancestors and maintaining the blood kinship and cohesion of the family. At the same time, Qingming is also a moment for people to reflect on life and cherish the present. It reminds people that life is short and precious. People should face life with a sense of awe, inherit the spirit of their predecessors, strive to create a beautiful future, and continuously continue the cultural lifeblood of the Chinese nation in inheritance and innovation.