清明节是我国传统节日，也是最重要的祭祀节日，是祭祖和扫墓的日子。按阳历来说，它是在每年的4月4日至6日之间。扫墓俗称上坟，祭祀死者的一种活动。汉族和一些少数民族大多都是在清明节扫墓。清明的得名，不仅缘于万物此时的生长清洁明净，也缘于这一时期的太阳也是清新的太阳，流转于这一时期天地之间的阳气，也是清新的阳气。
按照旧的习俗，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。唐代诗人杜牧的诗《清明》曰：
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。
写出了清明节的特殊气氛。
相传大禹治水后，人们就用“清明”之语庆贺水患已除，天下太平。此时春暖花开，万物复苏，天清地明，正是春游踏青的好时节。踏青早在唐代就已开始，历代承袭成为习惯。到了北宋时期清明节很是普遍，现在流传下来的张泽端的<<清明上河图>>描绘的就是北宋徽宗年间清明时节东京汴梁(开封)汴河两岸的人物景象。
清明节的习俗是丰富有趣的，除了讲究禁火、扫墓，还有踏青、荡秋千、踢蹴鞠、打马球、插柳等一系列风俗体育活动。相传这是因为寒食节要寒食禁火，为了防止寒食冷餐伤身，所以大家来参加一些体育活动，以锻炼身体。清明节，民间忌使针，忌洗衣，大部分地区妇女忌行路。傍晚以前，要在大门前洒一条灰线，据说可以阻止鬼魂进宅。
因此，这个节日中既有祭扫新坟生离死别的悲酸泪，又有踏青游玩的欢笑声，是一个富有特色的节日。 和清明节有关的英语：
清明节 Tomb-Sweeping Day / Qing Ming Festival 扫墓 sweep a grave 踏青 Outing / tread the green 荡秋千 play on the swing 放风筝 fly kites
Chingming Festival, also called Tomb Sweeping Day, it is both a holiday and a solar term, is one of the few traditional Chinese holidays that follows the lunar calendartypically falling on April 4, 5, or 6. It celebrates the rebirth of nature, while marking the beginning of the planting season and other outdoor activities.
In ancient times, people celebrated Qing Ming Jie with dancing, singing, picnics, and kite flying. 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.
With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to the honor past ancestors. Today, when people visit their family graves, weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set out offerings of food and spirit money.
Besides the traditions of honoring the dead, people also often fly kits when they enjoy spring during Tomb Sweeping Day.
参考资料：百度百科，http://www.recipes-holiday.com/