Qingming Festival

Qingming is popularly associated with Jie Zidui in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), who saved his starving lord’s life by serving meat cut from his own leg. The lord, known as Jinwengong, was later able to take power and decided to reward Jie but he declined. Jinwengong tried to force Jie out of a forest by fire but instead burned him to death and felt deep regret. He ordered all his people to ban the use of fire and eat cold food that day to mark Jie’s death. It is the origin of the Cold Food Festival, which starts one or two days before Qingming and later merges with it. Qingming, originally a solar term important to farming, then became a festival.

Orchid Basin Festival

Falling on July 15 according to the lunar calendar, Orchid Basin Festival is one of the biggest events in Japan that all people observe. Japan usually gives people three days off to go back to their hometowns to pay respect to their ancestors. It is said that the ancestors’ spirits will return home, so each household put fire basins outside at the gate and hang lanterns for the spirits to find their way back.

Diwali — Festival of Lights

Diwali or Deepavali, the festival of “rows of lights,” is one of the most important of all Hindu festivals. People place candles on the stairs, hallway and balcony at home when night falls that day to pay respect to the deceased and pray for the family. Lighting lamps and candles during the festival is also considered auspicious by bringing light, knowledge and eternal life while driving away darkness, ignorance and death.

All Soul’s Day

All Soul’s Day is a traditional festival in Mexico. Also called the “Day of the Dead,” it usually occurs Nov. 2, when families fondly remember the deceased by praying before an altar. It’s also a time marked by festivities, including parades of skeletons. In one notable tradition, revelers lead a mock funeral procession with a live person inside a coffin.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a U.S. national holiday observed on the last Monday of May. It commemorates those who died while in military service to their country. Soldiers in service and veterans go to cemeteries to pay respect to their dead peers by firing guns and blowing trumpets. First enacted to honor American soldiers and casualties in the civil war, the two World Wars and other military actions, it later evolved as a popular civil festival for each family to commemorate the passing of their loved ones.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【死亡】 sǐwáng decease die

【永恒的】yǒnghéng de eternal without beginning or end, lasting for ever

清明节

春秋时期，介子堆曾割下自己腿上的肉让晋国公子重耳充饥。重耳执政后，也就是晋文公，要封赏他，但介子堆隐居山林拒绝封赏。无奈，晋文公放火烧山想逼他出山，不料却烧死了恩人，非常后悔。自此，晋文公下令每年的这一天禁止生火，只吃冷食，这就是寒食节的来历。因寒食节在清明前一两天，久而久之，寒食的习俗被移到清明中，清明便从单纯的农业节气变为重要节日了。

盂兰盆节

盂兰盆节是日本最盛大的节日之一，每年农历7月15日举行。日本全国放假3天，让城里人返乡祭祖。据说在这段时间，逝去的祖灵都会回到家中，为防止祖灵找不到家，人们会在家门口摆放欢迎的火盆，并挂上灯笼。

排灯节

排灯节为印度每年最大的节日。节日当天，夜幕降临后，人们会在楼梯、走廊、阳台及屋里都放上点燃的蜡烛，为死者祈祷，并期盼亡灵保佑家人平安。点灯还被视为带来光明、知识、永恒，驱走黑暗、无知和死亡。

万灵节

万灵节是墨西哥的传统节日之一，又称扫墓节，定在每年11月2日。人们在家里摆祭坛，供上祭品，悼念死去的亲人。气氛浓厚的节日传统还包括化妆骷髅的盛大游行，以及把活人放进棺材里的“假葬礼”。

阵亡烈士日

美国的阵亡烈士日通常在每年5月的最后一个周一，是法定假日。每逢这个日子，美国现役军人和老战士便前往墓地，鸣枪并吹响军中熄灯号，让死难将士安息。节日最初用来纪念在南北战争和两次世界大战中战死的兵士，后来逐渐发展为一般家庭祭奠逝去的亲人的节日。

(chinadaily.com.cn)