谈到清明节，有点历史知识的人，都会联想到历史人物介子推。据历史记载，在两千多年以前的春秋时代，晋国公子重耳逃亡在外，生活艰苦，跟随他的介子推不惜从自己的腿上割下一块肉让他充饥。后来，重耳回到晋国，做了
国君（即晋文公，春秋五霸之一〕，大事封赏所有跟随他流亡在外的随从，惟独介子推拒绝接受封赏，他带了母亲隐居绵山，不肯出来，
晋文公无计可施，只好放火烧山，他想，介子推孝顺母亲，一定会带着老母出来。谁知这场大火却把介子推母子烧死了。为了纪念介子推，晋文公下令每年的这一天，禁止生火，家家户户只能吃生冷的食物，这就是寒食节的来源。
寒食节是在清明节的前一天，古人常把寒食节的活动延续到清明，久而久之，人们便将寒食与清明合而为一。现在，清明节取代了寒食节，拜介子推的习俗，也变成清明扫墓的习俗了。
译文:
The origin of tomb-sweeping festival
When talking about tomb-sweeping festival, people of some history knowledge will think of a historical character Jie Zitui. Legend has it that more than two thousand years ago, in the Spring and Autumn period, ChongEr was exiled and he lead a hard life. JieZitui, who followed him all the way, carved a piece of fresh from himself to allay his hunger. Later, ChongEr returned to kingdom Jin and became the lord. He prized his followers. However, Jie declined his invitation, preferring to lead a hermit's life with his mother in the mountains.
Chong had no better policy but to set fire on the mountain. He thought for sure that Jie would take his mother out because he was fealty. To his consternation, Jie was burnt to death with his mother. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all fires in every home to be put out on the anniversary of Jie's death. Thus began the "cold food feast", a day when no food could be cooked since no fire could be lit.
The "cold food" festival occurs on the eve of tomb-sweeping festival and the ancients just lasted it to tomb-sweeping festival. As time passes, people incorporated the two into one festival. And now the tomb-sweeping festival has replaced the "cold food" festival. And the practice of pay respects to Jie is changed into visit the ancestor’s grave.