中国清明节VS墨西哥亡灵节：原来死亡可以是多彩的
又是一年清明时，在中国人的传统观念里，“死亡”是比较避讳谈及的，情感上也带有些许的伤感、沉重。然而在大洋彼岸的墨西哥，人们对于死亡的理解却大不相同。同样是祭祀祖先的节日，中国清明节和墨西哥亡灵节有何不同呢？且听小编来给你说说！
It is Qingming Festival again! Traditionally, "death"was more of a taboofor Chinese people during daily chats,and was also associated with sorrowful and heavy emotions.But across the Pacificin Mexico,the understanding of death is quite different.Both are holidaysfor worshiping ancestors, how aretheQingming Festival and the Day of the Deaddifferent?Let’s find outtogether!
清明节在每年的4月5日左右，正值春季万物复苏之时。亡灵节则在11月初，分为11月1日“幼灵节”和11月2日“成灵节”。
The Qingming Festival takes place around April 5theveryyear, a time when spring brings life back to all beings.The Day of the Deadis traditionally observed at the beginning of November, including the Day of the Little Angelson November 1st, and the Day of the Deadproper on Nobember 2nd.
哀思VS喜乐
Sorrowful thoughts vs. Joyful celebration
清明节，祭祀是重要的习俗，人们来到逝者的坟墓前，进行供奉祭品，焚烧纸钱，叩头祭拜等仪式活动。小到一个家庭扫墓、一个家族祭祖，大到国家范围缅怀先烈，向逝者表达哀思。
A crucial part of the Qingming Festival is the worshipping of ancestors. As a tradition, people would visit the graves of the dead. The observance might include placing offerings, burning spirit money,kneeling down to offer prayers, and so on. From members of family or ancestors of a clan, to martyrs of the country, our thoughts are with all of those we respect.
亡灵节则更像是一场庆祝生命和死亡循环的狂欢。正如电影《寻梦环游记》中，亡灵节当天，人们在家里精心布置祭坛，用万寿菊为亡灵铺路，寓意指引亡灵回家，营造一种愉快的节日氛围。
Meanwhile, theDay of the Deadis more like a carnival celebrating the cycle of life and death. As in the movie "Coco", onthat day, people carefully arrange altars at home, which are decorated with marigolds.These flowers are thought to attract the souls of the dead home, while also creating a joyful festive atmosphere.
值得一提的是，两种迥异的祭祀文化中，却隐藏着一个共同点，祭祀品中都以菊花表达情感寄托，你发现了吗？
Interestingly, one hidden similarity connects thetwostarklydifferentworshipping cultures.That is, both use chrysanthemumsasofferingsto express the loving emotions for the dead.Did younotice it?
亡灵面包VS青团
Bread of the dead vsQingtuan
墨西哥人庆祝亡灵节不可或缺的美食就是“亡灵面包”。面包上的长条状装饰代表着“骨骼”，顶部中心的小圆球代表着“头颅”。骷髅和骨头是亡灵节的标志，在墨西哥人眼里，骷髅是生命的起源，缔造新的生命。
When celebrating theDay of the Dead, an indispensable program is to bake the bread of the dead. The elongated dough decorations on the bread represent bones. The ball of dough in the center is the skull. Both the skeletons and the skulls are symbols of the festival. Actually, in the eyes of Mexicans, skeletons are the origins of new lives.
而在中国人看来，骷髅多少有点儿“吓人”。中国清明节的传统美食是“青团”，采用青艾汁液拌进糯米粉里，包裹豆沙馅而成。青团寓意着团圆，也是为了纪念先人，表达思念。
For Chinese however, skeletons are more of less“creepier”. During the Qingming Festival, they traditionally make Qingtuan, a glutinous rice ball,dyed green with mugwort juice, and stuffed with red bean paste. Qingtuan shares a character with the Chinese word“tuanyuan”, or reunion. Therefore, it is also a way to commemorate the ancestors and express our love.
踏青VS游行
Spring outing vs. Parade
清明节不仅是中国传统节日，也是中国二十四节气之一。这一天，春回大地，一派生机勃勃的景象，因此，踏青是清明节另一个重要的习俗，寓意着生机和希望。
Qingming is not only a traditional Chinese festival, but also one of the twenty-four solar terms. It is when spring brings back life to all. That’s why people considertaqing, or spring outing, as another essential tradition of the festival, as it symbolizes vitality and hope.
墨西哥人则在这一天，穿着五彩缤纷的服饰，装扮成骷髅的样子，载歌载舞，表达着对生命的敬畏。
Whereas on the Day of the Dead, the Mexicans would put on colorful costumes or disguise themselves as skeletons. They pay their respect and appreciation to life through singing and dancing.
虽然清明节和亡灵节在习俗上有很大差异，但仔细想来，两个节日都表达了对逝者的怀念和对生命的敬意，也都体现着家族的凝聚和文化的传承。值此中国清明节之时，道一声“安好”，可否？
Despite the stark differences, the Qingming Festival and the Day of the Dead both convey our thoughts and respect to the deceased, and represent unity in kinship and inheritance of cultures. At this traditional Chinese holiday, please accept our sincerest regards. May you have a peaceful and healthy Qingming Festival.
