中国传统葬礼的英文介绍

第一篇：中国传统葬礼的英文介绍

中国传统葬礼的英文介绍(1)

来源： 张藤耀的日志

送终

老人生命垂危之时，子女等直系亲属守护在其身边，听取遗言，直到亲人去世，这在习俗中 称为“送终”。送终是一件大事，能为老人送终是表明子女尽了最后的孝心，未能为老人送 终常常成为人们一生中的一大憾事。有没有子女送终，是不是所有子女都来送了终又是老人 是否有福的一个判别标准。在老人临危之时，家人要将其从卧房移到正庭中临时铺设有板床上，板床在较穷的地方就用 临时卸下的门板做成。因为民俗以为人若在床上死。灵魂就会被吊在床中，无法超度。有的 地方也把死老是否在板床上死看作是子女是否尽了孝道的标准，老人在床上咽的气，子女往 往会受人非议。夭折的人，家人虽不会将其移入正庭，但也会将其移至床前地上。如果死者 之上还有长辈，死时，也不移入正庭。在许多地方，人死之后，家人都会烧纸钱，称为“烧倒头纸”，有的地方更明白，叫：“烧 落气纸”。此外，还人鸣放鞭炮，一是表示死者归西，二是向邻居报丧。人死之后，家人要围在死者身边恸哭，未死时，则禁止哭泣。[编辑本段]报丧

死老咽气后，家人应尽快向亲友发出报丧贴，或登门通报死讯，对远方的亲友，要告诉其开 吊下葬的日期。报丧的孝子要穿孝服，戴孝帽，到了别人家，不能进门，有人来迎接时，无 论长幼，都要叩首。[编辑本段]入殓

死者入棺前，要为之整容，如剃头、刮脸、换擦洗身、穿寿衣等，然后再以白绸(有的地方 也用纸钱)掩面。民俗以为，不能给死老穿皮衣皮裤，否则死者会转世为兽；为死者穿衣时，不要将眼泪滴到死者身上，否则以后做梦就见不到死者。有的地方要求为死老配木梳一把，镜子一面。在死者死后的二十四小时内，要由专人选择好时刻，正式将尸体移入棺中，入棺时，死者一 般是头朝里脚朝外。[编辑本段]守铺

死老家人在老人死后到正式放入棺材期间，要昼夜轮流守护在死老铺侧，以示服孝，叫做“ 守铺”。死者入棺之后，家人守护、睡卧在棺旁，叫“守灵”，也叫“困棺材”。[编辑本段]搁棺

因为要选择吉日吉地安葬死者，因此，可能要停枢在家，称为“搁棺”或“停棺”。“搁棺 ”的风俗，在古代常见，一般要搁七天，有的甚至搁棺十几天，几个月，现今则不常见，即 使搁棺，时间也不长。[编辑本段]居丧

居丧是指死者家人后辈自死者断气时起服丧。男子不穿华丽的衣服，穿草鞋(现在已不常见)；妇女则要脱去身上的装饰品，脱下彩色衣服。男女各依其与死者关系的远近，穿孝服，戴 教帽。孝子在居丧期间(一般为一月或百日)不能理发，不能同房，不能会晤亲友、参加宴会、进寺庙等。尤其是在安葬之前，这些习俗必须严守，否则不吉。see When the old man was dying, such as children in its directly-related members of one side to protect, and died in the family, until the custom of song zhong “called”.Put a great thing, that man can see all the children are finally failed to send a filial piety, old people often end in the life of a pity.Have children, are all the children are put to send end is blessed if old a discriminant criteria.The old man on the family will, from the bedroom is TingZhong temporarily moved on board, board is laid in poorer place with the door.It temporarily Because if people think folk in bed.The soul would be hanging in bed, cannot turn.Some places have died in the board if old children die as if the standard of filial piety, the old man on the bed, the gas to swallow their will into.Infant family, though not transferred to court, but also is the earth moved before bed.If the dead and elders, death, also don't move is atrium.In many places, people die, family will burn, called “paper”, some local received more understand, call: “burning gas paper” fall.In addition, people MingFang firecrackers, one is dead, two is that went to the neighbors indigoeyes.After death, the family to surround the deceased wail, death is forbidden to cry.[the] indigoeyes editor After death, the family should old died out as soon as possible to relatives and friends, or ascend indigoeyes reported to distant relatives, death, to tell the opening date of buried crane.The son to wear XiaoFu indigoeyes mourning, to others, hat, cannot take the door, someone to meet, his theory, KouShou.[editor this section RuLian] The former, the coffin of cosmetic, such as and when his body scrub, change clothes wear, etc, and then to BaiChou(some place also use money)face.Folk thought, not to die of old wear fur leather pants, otherwise the dead will reincarnate for beast, For the dress, don't be tears into dead, or later dream will not see the dead.Some local requirements for dead old MuShu with a mirror.In the dead died after 24 hours, should choose good moments from the body in the coffin, and then move when the head is like a, ChaoLi feet outwards.[editor this segment] keep shop The old man died LaoGuRen death to formally put coffin, day and night guard in tianjin and dead turn to serve, keep shop, called “filial piety”.The family after the coffin, protect, and lay in coffins, called “left”, also called “trapped coffin”.[editor this segment] put aside Because the ground should choose a buried the dead fudge, therefore, may be stopped at home, called “axis” or “stop” aside.“" ”Put the custom of“, in ancient times, to put seven days commonly, some even put coffins 10 days, months, now is not common, namely that aside, long ”.[editor this segment] mourning Blue is the family legacy to snuff out from the dead rise when in mourning.Men don't wear expensive clothes and sandals(now has no common), Women should undressed decorations, take off color clothes.Men and women with the relationship between the various according to the distance, wear XiaoFu, wear teach cap.During the mourning son in January or(100)for her hair, can not meet friends, not to attend the banquet, into the temple, etc.Especially in the burial customs, these must be strictly before, or not.

第二篇：中国传统葬礼

中国传统葬礼

送终

老人生命垂危之时，子女等直系亲属守护在其身边，听取遗言，直到亲人去世，报丧

死老咽气后，家人应尽快向亲友发出报丧贴，通知下葬的日期。报丧的孝子要穿孝服，戴孝帽，到了别人家，不能进门，有人来迎接时，无 论长幼，都要叩首。

入殓

死者入棺前，要为之整容，如剃头、刮脸、换擦洗身、穿寿衣等，然后再以白绸(有的地方 也用纸钱)掩面。

守铺

死者家人在老人死后到正式放入棺材期间，要昼夜轮流守护在死老铺侧，以示服孝，叫做“ 守铺”。死者入棺之后，家人守护、睡卧在棺旁，叫“守灵”，也叫“困棺材”。

搁棺

因为要选择吉日吉地安葬死者，因此，可能要停枢在家，称为“搁棺”或“停棺”。“ 居丧

居丧是指死者家人后辈自死者断气时起服丧。男子不穿华丽的衣服，；妇女则要脱去身上的装饰品，脱下彩色衣服。孝子在居丧期间不能理发，不能同房，不能会晤亲友、参加宴会、进寺庙等。

吊唁

死者子女在接到讯息以后，首先要哭悼，然后尽快上路奔丧。亲朋友邻也要尽量表现得比较哀痛一些。亲友前往吊唁时，一般都要携带礼品或礼金。

接三

在死者去世三天灵魂离去的时候，为他请僧众念经礼忏就能使死者赎罪积德，到天上。送三时，要用纸扎一些车马，以供死 者上路时用。

出殡

出殡又叫”出山“，出殡要先请阴阳先生选择吉日吉时，叫做”开殃榜"。

落葬

到达墓地后，再次整理墓坑，然后 将棺木放下，由丧主铲土掩棺，并堆土成坟堆。

居丧

在亲人去世之后的一段时间里，必须要在生活的许多方面进行节制，以表示对亲人的哀悼和思念。

第三篇：中国传统葬礼

中国传统葬礼

中国传统葬礼编辑老人生命垂危之时，子女等直系亲属守护在其身边，听取遗言，直到亲人去世，这在习俗中 称为“送终”，是葬礼的第一步。目录1送终2报丧3入殓4守铺5搁棺6居丧7吊唁8接三9出殡10落葬11居丧1送终编辑老人生命垂危之时，子女等直系亲属守护在其身边，听取遗言，直到亲人去世，这在习俗中 称为“送终”。送终是一件大事，能为老人送终是表明子女尽了最后的孝心，未能为老人送 终常常成为人们一生中的一大憾事。有没有子女送终，是不是所有子女都来送了终又是老人是否有福的一个判别标准。在老人临危之时，家人要将其从卧房移到正庭中临时铺设有板床上，板床在较穷的地方就用 临时卸下的门板做成。因为民俗以为人若在床上死。灵魂就会被吊在床中，无法超度。有的 地方也把死老是否在板床上死看作是子女是否尽了孝道的标准，老人在床上咽的气，子女往 往会受人非议。夭折的人，家人虽不会将其移入正庭，但也会将其移至床前地上。如果死者 之上还有长辈，死时，也不移入正庭。在许多地方，人死之后，家人都会烧纸钱，称为“烧倒头纸”，有的地方更明白，叫：“烧 落气纸”。此外，还人鸣放鞭炮，一是表示死者归西，二是向邻居报丧。人死之后，家人要围在死者身边恸哭，未死时，则禁止哭泣。2报丧编辑死者咽气后，家人应尽快向亲友发出报丧贴，或登门通报死讯，对远方的亲友，要告诉其开吊下葬的日期。报丧的孝子要穿孝服，戴孝帽，到了别人家，不能进门，有人来迎接时，无论长幼，都要叩首。3入殓编辑死者入棺前，要为之整容，如剃头、刮脸、换擦洗身、穿寿衣等，然后再以白绸(有的地方 也用纸钱)掩面。民俗以为，不能给死老穿皮衣皮裤，否则死者会转世为兽；为死者穿衣时，不要将眼泪滴到死者身上，否则以后做梦就见不到死者。有的地方要求为死老配木梳一把，镜子一面。在死者死后的二十四小时内，要由专人选择好时刻，正式将尸体移入棺中，入棺时，死者一 般是头朝里脚朝外。4守铺编辑死者家人在老人死后到正式放入棺材期间，要昼夜轮流守护在死老铺侧，以示服孝，叫做“ 守铺”。死者入棺之后，家人守护、睡卧在棺旁，叫“守灵”，也叫“困棺材”。5搁棺编辑因为要选择吉日吉地安葬死者，因此，可能要停枢在家，称为“搁棺”或“停棺”。“搁棺 ”的风俗，在古代常见，一般要搁七天，有的甚至搁棺十几天，几个月，现今则不常见，即 使搁棺，时间也不长。6居丧编辑居丧是指死者家人后辈自死者断气时起服丧。男子不穿华丽的衣服，穿草鞋(现在已不常见)；妇女则要脱去身上的装饰品，脱下彩色衣服。男女各依其与死者关系的远近，穿孝服，戴孝帽。孝子在居丧期间(一般为一月或百日)不能理发，不能同房，不能会晤亲友、参加宴会、进寺庙等。尤其是在安葬之前，这些习俗必须严守，否则不吉。7吊唁编辑吊唁是丧葬礼俗中比较重要的内容，吊唁的方式因各地风俗不同而有区别。吊唁时，与死者 关系的远近不同，吊唁的礼数，方式也不同。死者子女在接到讯息以后，首先要哭悼，然后问明死因，尽一切努力尽快上路奔丧。临到家时，要“望乡而哭”，出嫁的女儿，有的甚至一路哭来。到家后，先要在灵前跪叩，哭悼，直到有人安慰才停止。亲朋友邻，虽不至于和孝子一样悲痛，但也要尽量表现得比较哀痛 一些。亲友前来吊唁的时候，孝子要陪同。比较亲近的亲友，一般要在灵前正式举哀哭悼，直至有人劝慰。如果不是较亲近的亲友，则可以在灵前烧化几张纸钱即可。亲友前往吊唁时，一般都要携带礼品或礼金。礼金用黄色、蓝色签封好，在正中的蓝签上写 上“折祭×元”。“奠敬×元”的字样。礼品有匾额、挽联、挽幛、香烛、纸钱等。8接三编辑接三也叫“迎三”、“送三”。民俗认为，人死了三天，他的灵魂要正式去阴曹地府，或者 被神、佛或神、佛的使者迎接去了。并不是每一个人死后都能升天或者西天，但若在死者去世三 天灵魂离去的时候，为他请僧众念经礼忏或者放焰口救度恶鬼，就能使死者赎罪积德，到天上。相对于神来说，是迎接死者的灵魂到天上；相对于死者亲友，是送别死者的灵魂到天上。因此，这个仪式叫“迎三”，也叫“送三”。送三时，要用纸扎一些车马，以供死 者上路时用。放焰口是接三中最重要的礼俗。据说焰口就是饿鬼饿鬼，在地狱受苦受难。民间举行仪式，摆放三宝，即佛、法、僧，便可以让饿鬼得到救助，脱离苦海。焰口有佛教《瑜伽焰口》，比较常用。还有道教的《缸罐焰口》。在丧葬礼仪中，还有做道场的。其作用与放焰口类似，这种道场常由僧人、道士一起做。9出殡编辑出殡又叫“出山”，出殡要先请阴阳先生选择吉日吉时，叫做“开殃榜”。出殡之前，先要 辞灵。先装“馅食罐”，把最后一次祭奠的饭食装在瓷罐里，出殡时，由大媳妇抱着，最后 埋在棺材前头。然后是“扫材”，即把棺材头抬起，孝子放些铜钱在棺下，然后用新笤帚、簸箕扫棺盖上的浮土，倒在炕席底下，取“捎财起官”的意思。出殡的程序为：先转棺，将棺材移出门外，再抬起棺材头，备好祭祀用口，由礼生主持礼仪，丧主跪拜，礼生读完祭文后，由僧道引导孝男教妇“旋棺”，在棺材周围绕行三圈之后，再用绳索捆好棺材，盖上棺盖。抬棺即将起行，送葬队伍也要准备好，一般是长子打幡在前，次子抱灵牌，次子以下的孝属 们持裹着白纸的“哭丧棒”，大儿媳抱“馅食罐”。准备妥当后，即可起杠，伴随起杠，还 有两项礼仪：一项是把死者生前所用的枕头拆开，把里边的荞麦皮等和枕头套一起烧掉；另 一项礼仪是“摔瓦”，即把灵前祭奠烧纸所用的瓦盆摔碎。这个盆叫“阴阳盆”俗称“丧盆子”，不过也叫“吉祥盆”。这个仪式很重要，摔盆者一般是死者的长子或长孙，是关系非 常近的人，如果无儿无孙，而不得不由别人来摔盆，这一仪式就会使摔盆者与死者的关系变近，甚至确立财产继承关系。摔盆讲究一次摔碎，甚至越碎越好，因为按习俗，这盆是死者的锅，摔得越碎越方便死者携带。瓦盆一摔，杠夫起杠，正式出殡。送葬队伍随行。出殡的顺序一般为： 草龙--铭旗--孝灯--吉灯--放生笼--铭旌--香亭--像亭--魂轿--纸桥--乐队--灵柩--遗族--僧道--金童玉女--送葬亲友。当然，各地风俗不同，出殡的队列、形式也有差别。富裕人家仪式隆重讲究，冥器齐全，穷人家的葬礼，则可能要简单得多，讲究也会少一些。在传统丧礼出殡路上，还有几项礼仪。如扬纸钱，摆茶桌路祭等。扬纸钱是扬撒由白纸做成的状如铜钱的纸钱，一般由专人在孝子前面扬撒。在起杠后，遇有 路祭，经过十字路口，河沿，桥梁祠庙，城门，以及下葬时，都要扬撒纸钱。茶桌和路祭棚多为丧家的亲朋摆设，对丧家表示哀悼和慰问。茶桌供孝子和亲友饮水，孝子 要跑下叩谢。路祭是指在出殡队伍所经之路设供桌或祭棚，祭奠亡灵，遇有路祭，送葬队伍 一般要停柩进行祭奠和答谢，祭奠完毕即起棺继续前行。10落葬编辑到达墓地后，再次整理墓坑，把随葬的馅食罐、长明灯放在墓坑壁上龛内，扫去脚印，然后 将棺木徐徐放下，由阴阳先生用罗盘仪矫正方向，由丧主铲土掩棺，并堆土成坟堆。11居丧编辑在亲人去世之后的一段时间里，必须要在生活的许多方面进行节制，以表示对亲人的哀悼和 思念。这就是居丧。居丧之礼节，对于孝子要求更严。在古时候，孝子要居丧三年。为什么 是三年呢?因为按惯例，小孩子在出生以后三年不离母亲的怀抱，因此，父母死后，孝子应 服丧三年，以示回报。三年之间还会有很多小的礼仪，礼仪繁多，要求严格。在现代，人们 生活节奏加快，工作繁忙，但有人仍要居丧，只不过比古时短得多了。

第四篇：英文葬礼演讲稿

篇一：演讲短片--《坚不可摧》中英文演讲稿 仅供参考！

你无法把点滴与未来联系，只能通过回顾才能看见。所以你必须相信过的点击能串联未来。你必须有信念，不管那是你的胆识、命运、人生还是因果报应，因为把过去点滴串联起来，才能有信念忠于自我。即使你的选择和别人不一样，这会使你与众不同。

你的时间是有限的，不要浪费在其他人的生命当中,别受教条约束，别活在其他人对你的期望之中，别让批评抹去了你内心的声音。你得找到你所爱的东西，包括你热爱的事业和你的伴侣。

你的工作将会占据你生命的大部分，相信你做的工作是对的，你才能发自内心得到满足。而只有爱你所有的事，才能成就不凡。如果你还没找到，那继续找，别安逸下来。有勇气顺从自己的内心和直觉，你的内心早就知道你未来的梦想。

但是你不可能一帆风顺，大多数人轻易放弃，但你知道人的意志有多强大吗？意志是无可比拟的坚强又富有任性的！任何人在财务、感情生活、健康良好的环境中都能感到幸福，任何人都能自得其满，任何人都能有伟大的理想，任何人在任何的环境下都能有信念。真正试验你的信念、信仰和意志，是当你被击倒的时候。起身而行需要勇气，被击倒仍能谦虚，需要有勇气放下并重新开始。

恐惧，扼杀梦想，恐惧，扼杀希望，恐惧，使人一蹶不振，恐惧使你苍老，阻止你去做能做到的事。但是，它也会使你麻木不仁。

每个情绪起伏，仍然一无所成。但是每个原则，是自我的承诺。你的喜怒哀乐，最后也许什么都没有。但是每次下决心，都是一种承诺。你们有些人，至今尚未成功，那是因为你们过于情绪化。你被情绪所主导，像是早上心情不好，不想起床？谁想？每天你不面对自己的梦想，你也许会把目标延后整整六个月，或是一年！就是没有起身鞭策自己的那一瞬间。你不晓得自己退后了多少！

别让你的情感控制你！我们是情感的动物，但是你必须管理你自己的情感！你要是不能管理情感，你将会被吞噬！你想要全力以赴，毫不保留。当你想改变的时候，不会很容易，如果很容易的话，每个人都做到啦！但是你认真，全力以赴！

我是主导者，主宰着自我。我不会被外在事物打击我，摧毁我，我重新站起来，而我会变得更好、更加坚强。你必须下定决心，这是你的意义。如果这时你想要的梦，不论那是健康或是功成名就，对你的人生负完全的责任。接受现在的自己，并且相信自己能做的更好。

你可以把每一天当做最后一天在过！活出你的激情来！拿出魄力来！每天不断鞭策自己做的更好！人生的最后一章尚未写下，昨日种种的事情并不重要，你发生了什么也没关系。重要的是，你要怎么做？

今年我要使梦想成为现实！我甚至不想再讲了。我可以的！我可以的！我可以的 我觉得坚持对每个人都重要，不要放弃，不要妥协，每件事都有方法。you can’t connect the dots looking forward;you can only connect them looking backwards.so you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.you have to trust in something: your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.because believing that the dots will connect down the road, will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it lead you off the well worn path.and that will make all the difference.don’t allow your emotions to control you.we are emotional, but what you want to begin to discipline your emotion.if you don’t discipline and contain your emotion, they will use you.you want it, and you are going to go all out to have it.it’s not going to be easy, when you want to change.it’s not easy.if it were in fact easy, everybody would do it.but if you’re serious, you’ll go all out.to persevere i think is important for everybody, don’t give up, don’t give in.there’s always an answer to everything.篇二：在葬礼上的讲话 在葬礼上的讲话

各位亲友，各位乡亲：

今天，我们在叶家宗祠举行集会，借助传统的祭祀道场，沉痛悼念叶更生老人。在此，我谨代表作家叶伯禄的文友们，代表各位来宾，向叶老的逝世表现深切的哀悼，向伯禄兄及其亲属表示诚挚的慰问。

叶更生老人生前虽然我没有见过他，但我刚刚从伯禄兄的口中得知，他是一个养育了七个子女的父亲。我们也是做了父亲的人，虽然我们只有一个孩子，但是我们仍然在各种各样的场合，感叹养育孩子的艰难。由此可见，一个抚养了七个儿女的父亲，一个为人类繁衍七倍贡献于我们的人，今生今世到底经历了多少折磨，多少痛楚，多少艰辛，恐怕只有他老人家自己清楚，只有这里的一草一木、一砖一瓦清楚，是我等后辈们永远所无法想象和无法企及的。如果说，我们这些独生子女的父亲们的一生是一次短跑，那么，叶更生老人的一生，毫无疑问是一场长跑。从他年纪轻轻开始迈步的那一刻起，命运就决定了他将永不停歇地奔跑下去，并剥夺了哪怕给他一次喘气的机会。直到他含辛茹苦地把七个儿女抚养成人，他才跑到了人生的终点。而这个时候，他就是想喘息，也没有力气了，他就是想歇气，也没有机会了。他有的只是一身的病痛，有的只是满头的白发和满脸的皱纹，以及距离死亡越来越近的踉跄脚步。说到这里，我想到自己已经去世多年的父亲，我突然意识到自己的父亲与叶老是那么相似。正是因为他们充满苦痛的命运，才造就了我们相对不那么苦痛的人生，正是因为他们永不停歇的人生奔跑，才给我们创造了张弛有度、从容自如的闲庭信步。我们为有这样的父亲而感到骄傲，我们更为自己曾经伤害过自己的父亲而感到羞愧。

最后，让我们衷心祝愿叶更生老人的在天之灵安息。篇三：英文演讲稿 colors and personalities ralph waldo emerson said:”nature always wears the colors of spirit.” believe it or not, each color has its own personality, and the person who likes this kind of color has something similar to these personalities.but, what can personalities do in our lives? let’s see, whatever you do, personalities can affect your own decision.that is, personalities have a great influence in your daily life.and now, i’ll tell you about colors and personalities.i want to begin at blue because it’s my favorite color.judy scott-kemmis, an author who wrote a book on color psychology and personal relationships, said someone who likes blue is wary in the beginning until he is sure of others, and has a deep need to be trusted.they take responsibilities serious and worry about everything.but, each coin has two sides;they may lack self-confidence and be stubborn.marc chagall said:”all colors are the friends of their neighbors and the lovers of their opposites.”so the next one is red.people who like red may be warm-hearted, energetic, active, and warmth.but, as the saying goes,”people’s personalities, like buildings, have various, facades, some pleasant to view, some not.”they can be impulsive and reckless, too.in conclusion, colors are the smiles of nature, colors are mysterious, colors are the designers of our lives.in the future, we may find more about how colors influence the way we think.

第五篇：Chinese festival中国传统佳节英文介绍（本站推荐）

Chinese Valentine's Day（七巧节）

Raise your head on August 19 and gaze at the stars, you will find something romantic going on in the sky.VALENTINE'S Day in China, the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, falls on August 19 this year.That is, on Sunday evening, Niu Lang and Zhi Nu will meet on a bridge of magpies（鹊桥）across the Milky Way（银河）.Chinese grannies will remind children that they would not be able to see any magpies on that evening because all the magpies have left to form a bridge in the heavens with their wings.Chinese ceremonies

The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the only Chinese festival devoted to love in the Lunar calendar.Unlike St.Valentine's Day in Western countries there is not so much emphasis on giving chocolates, flowers and kisses.Instead, Chinese girls prepare fruits, melons and incense（熏香）as offerings to Zhi Nu, the weaving maiden, praying to acquire high skills in needlecraft（裁缝）, as well as hoping to find satisfactory husbands.In the evening, people sit outdoors to observe the stars.Chinese grannies would say that, if you stand under a grapevine, you can probably overhear what Zhi Nu and Niu Lang are talking about.Hungry Ghost Festival（中元节）The 14th and 15th of the seventh lunar month Unlike other celebrations of the dead in Eastern cultures that seek to honor dead ancestors, the Hungry Ghost Festival seeks to pacify the hungry ghosts, the ghosts of strangers and the un-cared-for dead.These are the ghosts of those who died by their own hands, by accidents, by drowning or hanging who have been denied entry into heaven.Angry because they are forced to dwell in hell without food or comfort, when released, they search for souls to take their place in misery.The most important days of this month are the 14th and 15th, the days of the great feasts.On the 14th, a great feast would be held to honor family ancestors.Prayers and offerings would be made at family altars.On the following night, the 15th, they would feast for the hungry ghosts.Held outside under the full moon, these feasts feed the evil spirits so that they will leave the living alone and bribe（贿赂）the ancestors for luck with money and the harvest.Chong Yang Festival重阳节

The 9th day of September in the lunar calendar is “the Chinese Chong Yang Festival” and a happy occasion in autumn.According to the traditional theory of “Yin” and “Yang”, both the 9th month and the 9th day of the month belong to “Yang”, which means positive and masculine, and “Chong” means double, thus it is called “Chong Yang”.People often gather for a party, appreciate chrysanthemums, pin the leaves of Cornus on clothes.And the custom of climbing mountains and eating a special cake also features the day.In the golden September, chrysanthemum blooms, reminding people of the folktale.And later a special cake with dates, chestnuts and meat was made to add more festivity to the special day.Winter solstice（冬至）

Winter solstice is a very important solar term in Chinese Lunar calendar.Being a traditional holiday as well, it is still now celebrated quite often in many regions.Early during the Spring and Autumn period, 2500 odd years from now, Winter solsticewas first determined as the Chinese traditional solar term among the total 24 terms.In Gregorian calendar, it is around Dec 22nd or 23rd.Ancient china did pay great attention to this holiday, regarding it as a big event.There was the saying that “Winter solstice holiday is greater than the spring festival”.Nowadays, many regions still celebrate it as a big holiday.Northerners may have dumplings and raviolis that day while southerners may have dumplings made by rice and long noodles.Some places even have the tradition to offer sacrifices to the heaven and earth.Spring Festival（春节）

The New Moon on the first day of the new year--the full moon 15 days later Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon（新月）on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon（满月）15 days later.The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival（元宵节）, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.The Origin of Chinese New Year The Chinese New Year is now popularly known as the Spring Festival because it starts from the Begining of Spring(the first of the twenty-four terms in coodination with the changes of Nature).Its origin is too old to be traced.Several explanations are hanging around.All agree, however, that the word Nian, which in modern Chinese solely means “year”, was originally the name of a monster beast that started to prey on people the night before the beginning of a new year.Traditional New Year Foods Probably more food is consumed during the New Year celebrations than any other time of the year.Vast amounts of traditional food is prepared for family and friends, as well as those close to us who have died.On New Year's Day, the Chinese family will eat a vegetarian dish called jai.Although the various ingredients in jai are root vegetables or fibrous vegetables, many people attribute various superstitious aspects to them.Other foods include a whole fish, to represent togetherness and abundance, and a chicken for prosperity.The chicken must be presented with a head, tail and feet to symbolize completeness.Noodles should be uncut, as they represent long life.In south China, the favorite and most typical dishes were nian gao, sweet steamed glutinous rice（糯米）pudding and zong zi(glutinous rice wrapped up in reed（芦苇）leaves), another popular delicacy.In the north, steamed-wheat bread(man tou)and small meat dumplings were the preferred food.The tremendous amount of food prepared at this time was meant to symbolize abundance and wealth for the household.Lantern Festival元宵

The 15th day of the 1st lunar month is the Chinese Lantern Festival because the first lunar month is called yuan-month and in the ancient times people called night Xiao.The 15th day is the first night to see a full moon.So the day is also called Yuan Xiao Festival in China.According to the Chinese tradition, at the very beginning of a new year, when there is a bright full moon hanging in the sky, there should be thousands of colorful lanterns hung out for people to appreciate.At this time, people will try to solve the puzzles on the lanterns and eat yuanxiao(glutinous rice ball)and get all their families united in the joyful atmosphere.Besides entertainment and beautiful lanterns, another important part of the Lantern Festival,or Yuanxiao Festival is eating small dumpling balls made of glutinous rice flour.We call these balls Yuanxiao or Tangyuan.Obviously, they get the name from the festival itself.It is said that the custom of eating Yuanxiao originated during the Eastern Jin Dynasty in the fourth centuty, then became popular during the Tang and Song periods.The fillings inside the dumplings or Yuansiao are either sweet or salty.Sweet fillings are made of sugar, Walnuts（胡桃）, sesame, osmanthus flowers（桂花）, rose petals, sweetened tangerine peel, bean paste, or jujube paste（枣泥）.A single ingredient or any combination can be used as the filling.The salty variety is filled with minced meat, vegetables or a mixture.The way to make Yuanxiao also varies between northern and southern China.The usual method followed in southern provinces is to shape the dough of rice flour into balls, make a hole, insert the filling, then close the hole and smooth out the dumpling by rolling it between your hands.In North China, sweet or nonmeat stuffing is the usual ingredient.The fillings are pressed into hardened cores, dipped lightly in water and rolled in a flat basket containing dry glutinous rice flour.A layer of the flour sticks to the filling, which is then again dipped in water and rolled a second time in the rice flour.And so it goes, like rolling a snowball, until the dumpling is the desired size.The custom of eating Yuanxiao dumplings remains.This tradition encourages both old and new stores to promote their Yuanxiao products.They all try their best to improve the taste and quality of the dumplings to attract more customers.Qing Ming（Tomb Sweeping Day）

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.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 family's 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.Duan Wu Festival The 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar year is an important day for the Chinese people.The day is called Duan Wu Festival, or Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated everywhere in China.The customs vary a lot in different areas of the country, but most of the families would hang the picture of Zhong Kui(a ghost that can exorcise), calamus and moxa in their houses.People have Dragon Boat Races, eat Zong Zi(dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves)and carry a spice bag around with them.Dragon Boat Race The main event of the festivities is the Dragon Boat Race.These boats are long and thin with dragon heads on the bow of the ships.The boat races are said to represent the search for Qu's body, with racing boats in a forward rowing motion, to the rhythm of beating drums.The Culture of Zongzi Qu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 BC.Since ancient times, Chinese people threw into the water dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves on the day.Therefore the fish would eat the rice rather than the hero poet.This later on turned into the custom of eating Zong Zi.Realgar Wine It is a very popular practice to drink this kind of Chinese liquor seasoned with realgar at the Dragon Boat Festival.This is for protection from evil and disease for the rest of the year.