关于清明节节英语作文精品20篇

My mother is a ordinary women.She is a very very ordinary women，really.She

looks like very ordinary;her age very ordinary;only her wears looks like very

special.

My mother always wear a wide casual pants，a T-shirt (or a wide vest)，and a

pair of sunglaes.She always use toiletry，consequently shes skin was very

good.

My mother is very benignant，and she was very love me.I with regard to

these，I to be thankful.I love my mother ， too.Because she gave me very very

many.She civilize by education me how to do in world and knowledge.

My mother is a office workers.She everyday works hard，but she always not to

get heighten.Ha ha～～

I love my mother ， because she gave me very many thinks.

I love my Mum . A ordinary and largene mother.

I like reading very much during summer vacation. Let me tell you something

about my reading.

One day, I just finished my meal and went to the front of the bookshelf to

look for the books I wanted to read. My eyes are on the famous little woman. I

couldnt help but pull the book out of the shelf. Sit on the bed and look with

interest. What a wonderful book! I am like the scene in the book of dragon road:

I am happy for the little hero when he receives the gift; I am sad for the

little hero when his canary dies.

Time passed by minute by second. Unconsciously, I have been reading for

three hours, and my eyes begin to ache, but I am still reading there, until five

hours, my eyes are willing to strike.

Every morning you can see the sun rising in the east The sun gives us light

When you stand in the sun you can feel the heat The sun gives us heat from very

far away The sun is about one hundred and fifty million kilometers away It looks

small because it is so far from us, but it is actually very very big

The earth goes around the sun It takes the earth a year to go around the

sun Plants, animals and people need the sun We cannot live without the sun.

My holiday my family,"ten.one" golden week will float in the sky with

laughter.

Im going to the countryside,put aside all the troubles,do a happy bird. In

the woods picking sweet fruit,make endless sweet ying heart; To the river to

catch fish,with the river flowing rhythm,let laughter echoed in the air for a

long time.

Should first glimpse of the sea,I feel it flat as colchicine

halcyon,rustling noise at high tide,when angry when earth—shattering roar; I

want to lay in the sun on the soft beach,hacking waves affectionate hug rock

discourse. Remember fresh seabreeze comes,remember waves of the sea as

snow,remember the roar when windsthat blow,remember

unforgettable,endless,capricious,make people intoxicated with the sea.

I also want to read a good book,let oneself into a seedling,rooted in the

book of the pure land,absorbs the nutrition knowledge,broaden their horizons.

With books,as the magic machine of time and space,as the bridge of the

mind,communication up and down in five thousand,with friends all over the world

with joy and sadness,from now on,heart no longer lonely.

Everyone has their own dreams， I am the same. But my dream is not a lawyer， not a doctor， not actors， not even an industry.

Perhaps my dream big people will find it ridiculous， but this has been my pursuit! My dream is to want to have a folk life! I want it to become a beautiful painting， it is not only sharp colors， but also the colors are bleak， I do not rule out the painting is part of the black， but I will treasure these bleak colors! Not yet， how about， a colorful painting， if not bleak， add color， how can it more prominent American? Life is like painting， painting the bright red color represents life beautiful happy moments. Painting a bleak color represents life difficult， unpleasant time. You may find a flat with a beautiful road is not very good yet， but I do not think it will. If a person lives flat then what is the point?

Life is only a short few decades， I want it to go Finally， Each memory is a solid.

Since the development of the technology, the society gets modernized,

people make use of the high technology to pursue more profit. Though the

government has noticed the problem that people do to the environment, they still

can’t prevent negative result that the polluted environment brings.

Many years ago, the most prominent problem of the polluted environment is

that the river and the water were changed their color, some fish even died for

the polluted river. Now the situation becomes ever worse, lately, in the big

city, like Beijing and Shanghai, people are annoyed by the bad weather. It is

not the rainy day, but the haze around the sky, there is no way for people to

run away for it. The haze contains toxic elements, people breathe it and hurt

their bodies.

The haze problem is the result of people’s pursuit for the profit, what

people did to the environment now has been paid back by the environment. Now

people have realized the revenge from the nature is so huge, protecting the

environment is the main task. No matter how bad the environment is, people still

need to do something to fix their mistake.

Dear Tim,

With Spring Festival drawing near, I’d like to invite you to my home to experience the festival.

When you come, we can enjoy traditional Chinese food together, and then put up Spring Festival couplets. As a traditional custom, the couplets are always posted on the door of a house. Written on red paper, a couplet is composed of two lines of poetry, which rhyme with each other. Not only do the couplets add some joyous atmosphere to the festival, but also they express people’s wishes for a better life.

I would appreciate it if you could accept my invitation. Looking forward to your coming.

Yours,

Li Hua

Happy Mid-autumn Day

Today is Mid-autumn Day. I have a big meal at home with my parents and

relatives. This is an important festival， so my mother was busy with preparing

the dinner from morning. She bought a lot of foods for the dinner. We ate the

dinner at 5：30 p.m.. The dinner was very delicious. I was so full. After dinner，

we went to theHongTingParkto enjoy the glorious full moon. There were many

people in the park.We talked to each other and strangers. Of course， the moon

cake was essential. We had a great night there.

今天是中秋节，我同父母和亲戚一起吃了一顿大餐。这是一个重要的节日，所以我妈妈从早到晚都在忙着准备晚饭。她买了很多的食物做晚餐。我们傍晚五点半吃晚饭，晚饭很好吃，我吃得很饱。晚饭过后，我么去红亭公园赏满月。公园里有很多人，不管认识与否，我们互相交谈。当然，月饼是必不可少的。我们在那度过了愉快的夜晚。

Over the last page calendar in 2010, time wheels and leave a deep imprint.

With winter snow after the warmth of the sun, in the joyful mood, 2011 to keep

the New Years day.

New Years day, is a connecting link between the preceding and the node.

The New Year is about to begin, standing on new starting point, the aftertaste

is past, have heavy harvest; Looking ahead, waiting for us is the beautiful

future. After a busy year of you I, can at this time to make a little stay,

close your eyes, bathed in sunshine, enjoy harvest thick feeling. From this day

started again, we will have a new targets, and on a one-year new journey.

The grass sprout out of the earth, clouds scud across, and year after year,

annual similar different. But, has not changed for New Years day is my

expectation.

When I was young, every New Year comes a few days ago, the morning wake up,

the first thing is bare bottom from woli leafing out of nowhere, then this

calendar day several times of snapping to finger countdown. Young Im such a

keen on New Years day this festival, in fact, only to have something good food,

new clothes to wear, but also need not go to school.

New Year dyed the our happy childhood, pulled close distance we grow up.

Slowly, I from elementary school, junior high school, arrive at the university,

blossom years as accelerated film a flash and pass. This years New Years day,

we are in a busy spent, work overtime everyday, we need to make very late. In

order to finish the task smoothly, we are often a pack of instant noodles, a

computer, four people take turns input. In order not to delay working, teacher

Chen just will just go to the kindergarten children locked in the home. The

nearest xiaoliu has also been no home, and together we live in the dormitory,

have a meal. Less childhood innocent romance, much work responsibility, also

enjoy our work of fun. During, no one has complained, increasingly mature we use

special ways of enjoying the unique New Years day holiday. As a word that said:

"even though we cannot stop the passage of time, but we can dominate oneself

mood."

New Year, new opportunities, we need a new struggle. Wind is being tidal

flat, hereunder sails; No matter what happens, the more must be quickened his

horse. In the New Year, let us follow temple head, with the development of steps

to the glorious future -- -nikita Khrushchev and walked on.

ncreased stress results in increased productivity--up to a point. However,

this level differs for each of us. Its very much like the stress on a violin

string. Not enough produces a dull. harsh sound. Too much makes sharp, annoying

noir, or causes the string to snap. However, just the right degree can create

magnificent tones. Similarly, we all need to find the proper level of stress

that promotes optimal performance, and enables us to make harmonious music. Good

health is more than just the absence of illness. Rather, it is a very robust

state of physical and emotional well being that acknowledges the importance and

inseparability of mind/body relationships. In the next program. I hope you will

join me in the pursuit of learning how to exploit stress, so that it can work

for you. and make you more productive, rather than self-destructive.

清明节是每年的四月五日，是我国的传统节。“清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂。”是唐朝大诗人杜牧以“清明”为题写的一首绝句诗。这首脍炙人口的唐诗，使人读得朗朗上口。这是杜牧描写的清明节的景象。

从“清明时节雨纷纷”这句诗中我们可以知道，清明这段时间雨水比较多，而在这种天气里，田野里会长出一种叫“绵菜”的植物，这种“绵菜”就是我们清明节吃的清明果之中的最重要的原料之一。说起清明果，我们非常不陌生，在清明节就会吃到，可你知道清明果的制作方法吗?有多少人只知道吃清明果，连清明果怎么做都不知道。在清明果的皮里，主要由绵菜和糯米制成，先把绵菜洗干净，放在开水里煮软，然后把绵菜捞出，放进石臼里与糯米粉一起捣，直到把它捣成糯米团，它看上去绿绿的，非常好看。清明果的馅儿也有很多种，其中我最喜欢的是红糖馅儿的，它是黄豆粉与红糖掺和成的。清明果还有萝卜丝和肉馅儿的。每一种馅儿都有不同的味道，红糖馅儿的虽然好吃，可吃多了会上火。萝卜丝和肉馅儿的清明果其实还有很多配料，如：香菇，木耳，虾米等等。但萝卜丝和肉是最主要的。清明还有一个习俗就是扫墓，祭奠祖先。

“百里不同风，千里不同俗”。在清明节这天我们要做清明果，扫墓，祭奠祖先，但在别的地方，清明节还要做些什么呢?

Last Qingming Festival,I return home to worship my grandfather.Qingming

Festival is a folk Festival.In the past,In the past, the Qingming Festival was

called "Arbor Day". But 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

familys 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.

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.

Yesterday was Teachers Day. It was a great day for all the teachers and also a happy time for us students. In the morning.we went to school early and put a bunch of flowers on our class masters desk to give him a big surprise. Some of us stood at the school gate to say hello to every teacher when they entered the school. In the afternoon, we held a party. We sang and danced with the teachers. They said the best reward for the teachers was to see that we were making progress.

Boundless sea to look forward to, give people the beauty, give a person

warm motherly love.

The sea is like a poem; it jumps; like a picture, rich in meaning; and like

a symphony, vast and mighty...... It is like a mirror; sometimes calm, sometimes

filled with rage, overwhelming, to sail the boat overturned. In my mind, the sea

is blue world, is also the cradle of life. Pregnant with many free and small

life. The sea is so mysterious, so charming!

Now the sea has changed. The sea is no longer clear, it becomes muddy and

dirty. Washed up on the beach, left is no longer alive and kicking the fish

shrimp, instead of the piles of rubbish, but also mixed with a lot of dead fish

shrimp, stinking. Why is that? Its all because of us. When people admire the

beauty of the seaside, they throw the foul rubbish into the sea. There are also

people living on the beach, the toilet drain pipe to the bottom of the sea.

Whats worse is that the factory waste water flows into the sea in large stocks,

and the sea is dyed in a strange color. Led to the birth of a lot of lack of

brains, low IQ infants, our next generation - bright eyes [voice tender], the

face of the next generation of red, will never see the beautiful blue sea.

Someone once did an experiment. He compared a basin of water to the ocean,

and dropped a drop of ink into the sea. Immediately, the ink slowly spread out,

became shallow and disappeared. The sea water was almost as clean as ever. If

the ink kept dropping, the color of the sea would be deeper and darker, and

eventually it would become a basin of black water. 6 billion people on the earth

produce large quantities of living waste water and industrial pollution every

day. Like ink, it has been injected into the clear sea water. It has become a

polluted lake.

To the health of our human beings, to see the beautiful blue sea for our

children and grandchildren. Let us act now, love the ocean as much as we love

life, and love the common blue home of mankind.

Today is March 8, International Womens Day is to commemorate the world of

working women to fight for peace and democracy, womens liberation struggle

holiday.

Since yesterday, I discussed with my father on how to make my mother happy

over the holiday. I would first make a suggestion: "Give my mother to buy a new

phone." Dad thought for a moment, said: "Mom bought a mobile phone soon, you can

use, there is no need to change." Dad said: "We go out to buy some cosmetics,

her mother there." I am opposed to: "Moms cosmetics too much, many of which are

not all useful." My Father and I are anxious, and in the end what got her point?

We simply asked her what he wanted bar. But my mother said: "I do not want to

buy, I just want to sleep." I do not know why my mother this way, but I know my

mother is very hard to control more than 300 college students, daytime talk,

meetings, writing papers, fill out information and give students lessons, etc.

in the evening and students should check the study up the bedroom. If it is me,

I would like the mother, in addition to want to sleep, the other wants to do

nothing.

However, I and Dad are determined to give my mother, "International Womens

Day" gifts, things came back to buy her mother was shocked at my father bought a

goggles and a pillow, my mother smiled.

I wish Mom "Womens Day" Happy!

When I learned English, I felt so hard, because no matter hard I tried, I

just could not understand the grammar. One day, my sister asked me why was I so

confused with English, I told her I did not know, I was so afraid of it. Then

she asked me to watch English movie and listened to the English songs.

At first, I fell in love with these songs, I learned to sing them, I found

I could remember more and more words. I also felt very interested in the movie,

I could learn the local words. With interest, I make great progress, I am not

afraid of English any more. Interest is the best teacher.

What is healthy diet? To the most people, healthy diet means more green foods, no junk foods. The green food is those pollution-free, high quality and nutrient food, including the organic vegetables and meats, fruits, eggs and so on. The meals of healthy diet should be cooked with fewer salt and oil. And the junk food is those low nutrition, high calorie, processed food with much salt or oil, such as the fries, fried chickens, salted eggs and so on. These foods will cause one get weight and increase the risk of many diseases. We should keep a healthy diet, abandon the junk food to keep ourselves healthy.

什么是健康饮食?对于大多数人来说，健康饮食就意味着多吃绿色食品，不要吃垃圾食品。绿色食品就是那些无污染、高品质和营养的食物，包括有机蔬菜和肉类、水果、鸡蛋等等。健康饮食的膳食应该用更少的盐和油制作。而垃圾食品是指那些低营养、高热量、再加工的高盐重油食品，例如薯条、炸鸡和咸蛋等等。这些食品会导致一个人发胖，并增加疾病的风险。为了保持健康，我们应该保持健康饮食，抛弃垃圾食品。

清明的荒原，蝴蝶从何而来?

迷茫的思念，在千年如梦的河流之上，爱情，孤独的幻术，成为一种冥火的悸动。

扭曲了生命的去向。

有一天黄昏，月色柔柔，我知道，更多的祭祀，是来自灵魂深处的敬畏——一种死亡的超越，比复活的遗言更为崇高。

我便不停地赞美花朵的惊艳。

赞美春天的温馨星月。

赞美生命的赐福，从原始的血脉中，疲惫的云朵，顽强地向我走近。

她们果实的丰满，和蜜蜂付出的泪水，绵延在沙漠的肌肤表象——

清明节姗姗来迟。

青雨蒙蒙。

The human race has entered a completely new stage in its history,along with

the advance of the society and the increaceingly rapid economic globalization

and urbanization, which resulted in the phenomenon that we are accustomed to

living a very fast rhythm lifestyle,ignoring the Chinese traditional

culture.

It is universally acknowledged that Chinese culture has a history of more

than two thousand years, which once had great influence on the world, such as

Japan, South Korea and other Asian and European countries. As one of the four

ancient civilizations,China creates many splendid cultures,such as the four

ancient Chinese inventions,which benefited human society in the history.

Although China risks copying the Western lifestyle’s worst aspects,

especially of unhealthy eating and drinking,Which once gave rise to many

problems.Fortunately,Chinese begin to realize the importance of Chinese

traditional culture.Such examples might be given easily,Chinese traditional

culture was added into our CET4 and CET6 ,which help us get hold of it

better.

摘要：清明节是中国重要的“时年八节”之一，一般是在公历4月5号前后，节期很长，有10日前8日后及10日前10日后两种说法，这近20天内均属清明节。清明节原是指春分后十五天，1935年中华民国政府明定4月5日为国定假日清明节，也叫做民族扫墓节。

"As" this sentence is confirmed by the wonderful nature, yesterday the wisper under light rain, my heart is heavy like a rock, because want to master and old milk grave, before, I dont understand the real meaning of the qing Ming day, until today after sweeping the tomb, I understand the true meaning of tomb-sweeping day!

At seven o clock in the morning, we prepare to master and old milk grave, grave is a fresh thing for me, we take tools and set off.

Walking the winding mountain road, I cant wait, after about an hour, we came to the master and old grandmas grave, a year didnt come, graves are covered with wild grass, you well after the division of labor, began to busy, everything is in place, we started to burn money, along with the smoke, I seem to see their shadow, they told me: study hard and cherish life.

Yes, life is short, happy every day to live, to continuously surpass ourselves, surpass ourselves, dream will come true; The superego, the dream into power; Beyond the self, to create beautiful life! I think life is constantly transcend self, beyond the dream!!!!! Panoramic view of the city house on the mountain, the mountain was full of golden golden in the rape, deep breath, deep and remote light fragrance, fresh air, the flowers with irresistible power explanation of the meaning of life!

“清明时节雨纷纷”这句话被奇妙的大自然所印证，昨天下了淅淅沥沥的小雨，我的心像大石头一样沉重，因为要给老爷和老奶扫墓，以前，我不懂清明节的真正意义，直到今天扫完墓后，我才懂得了清明节的真正意义!

清晨七点，我们准备给老爷和老奶扫墓，扫墓对我来说可是件新鲜的事，我们拿上工具，出发了。

走在蜿蜒的山路上，我已经迫不及待了，大约过了一个小时，我们来到了老爷和老奶的墓前，一年没来，坟墓上长满了荒芜的草，大家做好分工后，纷纷开始忙碌起来，一切就绪后，我们开始烧纸钱，随着袅袅炊烟，我仿佛看到了他们的影子，他们告诉我：好好学习，珍惜生命。

是啊，人的一生苦短，每一天都要活得快乐，要不断超越自我，超越自我，梦想终会实现;超越自我，梦想化为动力;超越自我，创造美丽人生!我认为生命就在不断的超越自我，超越梦想!在山上，城市的房子尽收眼底，山中开满了金黄金光的油菜花，深呼一口，幽淡的花香，清新的空气，那些花以不可抗的动力诠释着生命的意义!

【知识延伸】关于“清明节”的英文介绍

Qing Ming Jie(All Souls Day)

Qing Ming is a time to remember the dead and the dearly departed. More important, it is a period to honour and to pay respect to ones deceased ancestors and family members. Because it reinforces the ethic of filial piety, Qing Ming is a major Chinese festival.

Literally meaning "clear" (Qing) and "bright" (Ming), this Chinese festival falls in early spring, on the 106th day after the winter solstice. It is a "spring" festival, and it is an occasion for the whole family to leave the home and to sweep the graves of their forebears. Chinese being practical people this sweeping of the graves is given an extended period, that is, 10 days before and after Qing Ming day. Among some dialect groups a whole month is allocated.

清明节是一个纪念祖先的节日。主要的纪念仪式是扫墓，扫墓是慎终追远、郭亲睦邻及行孝的具体表现;基于上述意义，清明节因此成为华人的重要节日。清明节是在仲春和暮春之交，也就是冬至后的106天。扫墓活动通常是在清明节的前十天或后十天。有些地域的人士的扫墓活动长达一个月。

ORIGIN(起源)

Qing Ming is popularly associated with Jie Zi Zhui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C. Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lords life by serving a piece of his own leg. When the lord succeeded in becoming the ruler of a small principality, he invited his faithful follower to join him. However, Jie declined his invitation, preferring to lead a hermits life with his mother in the mountains.

Believing that he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to set the forest on fire. To his consternation, Jie chose to remain where he was and was burnt to death. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all fires in every home to be put out on the anniversary of Jies death. Thus began the "cold food feast", a day when no food could be cooked since no fire could be lit.

The "cold food" festival occurs on the eve of Qing Ming and is often considered as part of the Qing Ming festival. As time passes, the Qing Ming festival replaced the "cold food" festival. Whatever practice is observed，the basic observation of Qing Ming is to remember ones elders by making a special effort to visit their graves, ashes or ancestral tablets. To make the visit even more meaningful, some time should be spent to remind the younger members of the family of the lives and contributions of their ancestors, and the story of Jie Zi Zhui who choose death over capitulation.

谈到清明节，有点历史知识的人，都会联想到历史人物介子椎。据历史记载，在两千多年以前的春秋时代，晋国公子重耳逃亡在外，生活艰苦，跟随他的介子椎不惜从自己的腿上割下一块肉让他充饥。后来，重耳回到晋国，作了国君(即晋文公，春秋五霸之一)，大事封赏所有跟随他流亡在外的随从，惟独介子椎拒绝接受封赏，他带了母亲隐居绵山。

晋文公无计可施，只好放火烧山，他想，介子椎孝顺母亲，一定会带着老母出来。谁知这场大火却把介子椎母子烧死了。为了纪念介子椎，晋文公下令每年的这一天，禁止生火，家家户户只能吃生冷的食物，这就是寒食节的来源。

寒食节是在清明节的前一天，古人常把寒食节的活动延续到清明，久而久之，清明取代了寒食节。拜介子椎的习俗也变成了清明扫墓的习俗了。无论以何种形式纪念，为了使纪念祖先的仪式更有意义，我们应该让年轻一代的家庭成员了解先人过去的奋斗历史，当然，还要学习介子椎宁死不屈的气节。

更多作文范文：

1、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.

清明节，又叫踏青节，正是春光明媚草木吐绿的时节，也正是人们春游的好时候，所以古人有清明踏青，并开展一系列体育活动的的习俗。直到今天，清明节祭拜祖先，悼念已逝的亲人的习俗仍很盛行。

2、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.

3、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.

每年的公历四月五日前后为清明节，是二十四节气之一。今年的清明节是4月4日。在二十四个节气中，既是节气又是节日的只有清明。清明节是我国传 统节日，也是最重要的祭祀节日。按照旧的习俗，祭祀（扫墓）时，人们要携带酒食果品、纸钱等物品到墓地，将食物供祭在亲人墓前，再将纸钱焚化，为坟墓培上 新土，折几枝嫩绿的新枝插在坟上，然后叩头行礼祭拜，最后吃掉酒食回家。

清明节，又叫踏青节，正是春光明媚草木吐绿的时节，也正是人们春游的好时候，所以古人有清明踏青，并开展一系列体育活动的的习俗。直到今天，清明节祭拜祖先，悼念已逝的亲人的习俗仍很盛行。

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 Jiein Ancient Times

An old man takes one last look before leaving the City Cemetery at Biandanshan of Wuhan, Central Chinas 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 familys 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 Chinas 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.