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夏威夷的清明節
地方性遺產
您如何緬懷您的祖先？假如您是中國人，您也許會慶祝清明節。
3,000年前，世界各地的中國家庭仍舉行清明祭祖儀式。清代表純潔或未受污染，而明則代表光亮。將這兩個字連起來並應用在中國傳統裡，就有助於解釋為什麼尊敬長者在中國文化中佔了極為重要的一部分。許多中國人相信個人的好運或不幸源自於他／她的祖先，而這些已經逝世的祖先仍像在世時一樣，擁有一些物質上的需求，因而這些已經辭世的祖先能幫助他們活在世上的後代子孫。
現在每年4月4日，夏威夷就會舉行清明節活動，內容則包括了清理、修復祖先的墓地並在其周圍種植新樹。夏威夷境內所舉辦的清明節較美國其他各州更為明顯。祭典儀式包括了準備用來做為陽世貢品的食物，祭拜者會將這些食物放在墳墓前祭拜。這些食物可能包含了水果、米飯、雞肉、豬肉、蛋糕及茶。而前來祭拜的人則會在墓地進餐，此一行為是與逝者共食的象徵。其他的習俗還包括了焚香、祈禱及焚燒象徵性的紙錢。清明節並不一定代表了哀傷，它比較像是一個反省、懷念及與祖先交流的日子。
How do you honor your ancestors? If you were Chinese, you might celebrate Ching Ming.
Dating back 3,000 years, the practice of Ching Ming is still observed worldwide by Chinese families. Ching means "pure" or "clean"; ming means "brightness." The words together are applied to a Chinese tradition that helps explain why respect for elders is such an important part of the Chinese culture. Many Chinese believe that a person's good fortune or misfortune comes from his or her ancestors; that all departed ancestors still have the same physical needs they had when alive; and that the departed can assist their relatives on Earth.
Today, Ching Ming is celebrated every April 4 in Hawaii and involves the cleaning, repairing and replanting of ancestral gravesites. In Hawaii, the practice has a stronger presence than in other parts of the United States. Ceremonies involve preparing foods as a symbol of earthly possessions and laying them out on the grave. These foods may include fruit, rice, chicken, pork, cakes and tea. A meal may be eaten at the gravesite as a gesture of sharing with deceased relatives. Other customs include burning incense, offering prayers and burning symbolic paper. It is not necessarily a time of sadness, but one of reflection, remembrance and communion with past generations.
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