「清明」是中國傳統二十四節氣（the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms）中的第五個節氣，也是諸多節氣中唯一一個與傳統節日「清明節」（Tomb Sweeping Day）重合的節氣。
因「清」「明」二字皆為描述天氣的詞語，所以「清明」的英語表達為Clear and Bright。
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.
「清明」一詞中的「清」和「明」是用來描述這段時期的天氣狀況的。溫度上升和降雨增多，這段時間成為春季耕作和播種的關鍵期。
plow：耕，犁
sow：播種
清明有哪些習俗呢？一起來看看吧。
祭祖
清明祭祖（worshiping ancestors）的傳統可以追溯到古代，唐朝朝廷專門在此期間設定「節假日」以供子民祭祀先祖，該傳統不斷延續，在現代社會也有著舉足輕重的影響。
Cleaning the tombs and paying respect to the dead with offerings are the two important practices to remember late relatives.[1] Weeds around the tomb [2] are cleared away and fresh soil is added to show care for the dead. The dead person's favorite food, wine and chopsticks are offered on their tombs, along with paper money.
掃墓和獻上供品對逝者表示敬意，是兩種紀念逝去親友的重要習俗。為表示對逝者的關懷，墓邊的雜草被清除並蓋上新鮮的土壤。逝者最喜歡的食物、酒和筷子連同紙錢一起被供奉在墓邊。
春遊
清明時節除了祭祖，也是春遊的好時光。有詩云：「梨花風起正清明，遊人尋春半出城。」在溫潤的微風中，當循著草木的氣息，外出尋找春天的足跡，強身健體又心情舒暢。
As trees turn green, flowers blossom[3] , and the sun shines brightly, everything returns to life. It is a fine time to appreciate the beauty of nature. This custom[4] can be traced[5] back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476BC) and Warring States Period (475 – 221BC).
清明正值草木復甦，百花齊放，陽光普照，萬物煥發生機之時，正是欣賞自然之美的大好時機。這一習俗可以追溯到春秋戰國時期。
寒食節
寒食節（Cold Food Festival）是中國傳統節日，在清明節的前一天，這天禁止生火，只能吃冷的食物。唐代詩人沈佺期在《寒食》一詩中寫道：「普天皆滅焰，匝地盡藏煙。」讀罷頓覺清冷之氣撲面而來。
相傳寒食節是「春秋五霸」之一的晉文公為紀念忠臣介子推而設立的。
蹴鞠
蹴鞠是古人清明時喜愛的一種遊戲。「蹴」是一種內部塞滿毛髮的皮球。從陸遊詩中「蹴鞠場邊萬人看」的盛景，可見這一運動受歡迎的程度。
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.
相傳蹴鞠是黃帝發明來訓練戰士的。後來，當人們不能在寒食節期間吃熱食時，就利用蹴鞠來鍛鍊身體。
青團
清明吃青團在長江下遊地區是非常流行的。軟糯的外皮散發著艾草的清香，配上各色餡料，一口下去，滿滿的都是春天的氣息。
People in the Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze River) region often eat this kind of green colored balls made from[6] glutinous [7] rice on Tomb Sweeping Day. The green color is from the juice of brome [8] grass that is added in the rice.
江南地區的人們經常在清明節食用這種由糯米製成的綠色糰子。由於糯米中混合雀麥草汁（也有使用艾草汁的），所以糰子呈現出綠色。
清明節裡話《清明》，讓我們再回顧一下這首詩的英文翻譯吧。
《清明》
(唐)杜牧
清明時節雨紛紛，
路上行人慾斷魂。
借問酒家何處有？
牧童遙指杏花村。
A drizzling [9] rain falls like tears on the Mourning[10] Day;
The mourner[11] 's heart is going to break on his way.
Where can a wineshop be found to drown [12] his sad hours?
A cowherd[13] points to a cot 'mid apricot flowers.
(許淵衝 譯)
[1]已故親人
[2][tum]墳墓
[3][blsm] 開花；興旺；成功發展
[4][kstm] 習慣，慣例；風俗
[5][tres] （通過調查）找到；追溯；追蹤
[6]由…製成
[7][ɡlutns] 糯米的
[8][brm] 雀麥草
[9]['drzl] 下毛毛雨
[10][mn] 哀悼；憂傷；服喪
[11] [mn(r)] 哀悼者；悲傷者；送葬者；懺悔者
[12][dran] 淹沒；把…淹死
[13]['kahd] 牧牛者