Talking About Qingming Festival
Grace: Michael, are you doing anything special next week? We have three days off for Qingming Festival, so I'm heading back to my hometown.
Michael: Three whole days off? That's nice! Is that the Tomb-Sweeping Day I've heard about?
Grace: Exactly. It's also called Qingming Festival. Most Chinese families go to cemeteries to honor their ancestors. We clean the graves, burn paper offerings, and leave flowers or food.
Michael: That sounds so meaningful. Do you have to travel far?
Grace: About three hours by high-speed train. My parents and I will tidy up my grandparents' tomb together and burn some incense. It's our way of remembering them.
Michael: I really like that tradition. We don't really have a tradition like that in the States.
Grace: It's pretty meaningful. We also fly kites and eat qingtuan—those green rice balls made of glutinous rice. They're delicious! And since the holiday runs from Saturday to Monday this year, I'll leave Friday evening and come back Monday night so I won't feel rushed.
Michael: That's a smart plan.
讨论清明节
格蕾丝：迈克尔，你下周有什么特别的安排吗？我们有三天清明节的假期，所以我要回一趟老家了。
迈克尔：放整整三天假？真不错！是我听说的扫墓节吗？
格蕾丝：没错。它也叫清明节。大多数中国家庭会去墓地祭拜祖先。我们清理坟墓、烧纸钱，并留下鲜花或食物。
迈克尔：这听起来很有意义。你需要走很远的路吗？
格蕾丝：坐高铁大约三个小时。我和父母会一起清扫爷爷奶奶的坟墓，并烧些香。这是我们缅怀他们的方式。
迈克尔：我真的很喜欢这个传统。我们美国没有这样的传统习俗。
格蕾丝：这很有意义。我们还会放风筝，吃青团——那种用糯米做的绿色团子。超级好吃！而且今年假期从周六到周一，我周五晚上出发，周一晚上回来，这样就不会觉得赶。
迈克尔：这是个聪明的计划。
