The Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, is an important festival in China. On that day, people sweep the tombs, mourning(悼念) their dead relatives.
Qingming means clear and bright in Chinese. As one of the 24 seasonal division points(节气) in China，it is thought to1 farm work. It falls on April 4th to 6th each year. After the festival, the sun shines brightly and the2 rises up. There will be more rain. The trees and grass become green and nature is3 of life. It is a great time for farmers to plant.
4 the climate(气候) is agreeable, a lot of people prefer to go out to enjoy nature. Flying kites and planting trees are popular activities5 that period.
The willow (柳树) is an important plant in the festival. perhaps the most common and familiar one. People6 insert willow branches (插柳) under their roofs or make garlands (花环) out of the willow branches and wear them on their heads. on their heads. The willow, with strong power of life, is believed to 7 ghosts. With the fact that the8 of willow in Chinese is liu，9 to that of staying, willow is expected to make ancestors' souls(祖先的灵魂)10 .
In ancient times, during the festival, people would go outing11 sweeping the tombs. poets would write about their12 , as well as interesting or unforgettable experiences they had during this time. Many 13 are still popular today. The Mourning Day, written by Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu (803-852), is a most14 one. Even a kid knows it. It reads:
A drizzling rain(毛毛雨) falls like tears on the Mourning Day;
The mourner's heart is going to15 on his way.
Where can a wine shop be found to kill the sad hours?
A cowherd points to a village afar in apricot(杏) flowers.
