一. 清明节起源
作为节日的清明节一般翻译为Tomb-sweeping Day
清明节是祭祀祖先亡灵的日子，我们经常会扫墓，所以翻译为扫墓节。
It is the 15th day after the Spring Equinox either 4 or 5 April in a given year.
它是春分后的第15天，是4月4号或者5号
节气“清明”——因“清”“明”二字皆为描述天气的词语，所以英语表达为Clear and Brigh
The “cold food” festival occurs on the eve of Qing Ming and is often considered as part of the Tomb-sweeping Day. As time passes, the Tomb-sweeping Day replaced the “cold food” festival. Whatever practice is observed, the basic observation of Qing Ming is to remember one’s elders by making a special effort to visit their graves, ashes or ancestral tablets.
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，清明节取代了寒食节。拜介子推的习俗也变成了清明扫墓的习俗了。
二. 清明习俗相关表达
1.缅怀祖先
tomb-sweeping 扫墓
burn joss paper 烧纸钱
visit the cemetery 去墓园
pay respect to remember them 追思故人
Cold Food Festival 寒食节
worship ancestors 祭祖
commemorate the dead 纪念逝者
2.去世的委婉表达
一般不用die这么直接的词语表示去世，有下面委婉一些的表达：
pass away 去世
be gone 过世
be left 离世
lost someone 失去了某人
Someone is in a better place 去了更好的地方
rest in peace 安息
a celebration of life 生命的仪式
3.习俗活动
Spring Outings 春游
Green Rice Ball 青团
Qingming Cakes 撒子
Park Seed Cake 朴籽粿
Flying Kites 放风筝
Planting Willow Trees 插柳
Swinging 荡秋千
三. 清明问候
清明是一个向死者表示敬意的日子，用happy/joyful/merry等比较欢乐的词语就不太合适了
所以可以这样问候比较合适又有礼貌：
Wish you all best for Qingming.
清明安好
Wish you health and safety for Qingming.
清明安康
May the departed rest in peace.
逝者安息
May the deceased rest in peace while the living live a blessed life.
逝者已矣，生者如斯
四. 清明诗歌
清明
(唐)杜牧
清明时节雨纷纷，
路上行人欲断魂。
借问酒家何处有?
牧童遥指杏花村。
许渊冲(译)
A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;
The mourner’s heart is going to break on his way.
Where can a wineshop be found to drown his sad hours?
A cowherd points to a cot ‘mid apricot flowers.
