Traditional Chinese holidays
Encyclopedia
The traditional Chinese holidays are an essential part of Chinese culture. Many holidays are associated with Chinese mythology
and folklore tales, but more realistically, they probably originated from ancient farmer rituals for celebrating harvests or prayer offerings. The most important Chinese holiday is the Chinese New Year
(Spring Festival), which is also celebrated in Korea
, Vietnam
, and other Asia
n countries. All traditional holidays are scheduled according to the Chinese calendar
(except the Qing Ming and Winter Solstice days, falling on the respective Jie qi in the Agricultural calendar).
, Qingming Festival
, the Dragon Boat Festival
and Mid-Autumn Festival
are statutory public holidays. This is the case in both mainland China and Taiwan, whilst Hong Kong and Macau also observe Buddha's Birthday
and Chung Yeung Festival. In Singapore, Chinese New Year
is the only traditional Chinese public holiday likewise with Malaysia
Each region has its own holidays on top of this condensed traditional Chinese set. Mainland China and Taiwan observe patriotic holidays, Hong Kong and Macau observe Christian holidays, and Singapore celebrates Malay and Indian festivals.
Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology is a collection of cultural history, folktales, and religions that have been passed down in oral or written tradition. These include creation myths and legends and myths concerning the founding of Chinese culture and the Chinese state...
and folklore tales, but more realistically, they probably originated from ancient farmer rituals for celebrating harvests or prayer offerings. The most important Chinese holiday is the Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
(Spring Festival), which is also celebrated in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, and other Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n countries. All traditional holidays are scheduled according to the Chinese calendar
Chinese calendar
The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures as well...
(except the Qing Ming and Winter Solstice days, falling on the respective Jie qi in the Agricultural calendar).
| Date | English Name | Chinese Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last day of lunar year | Chinese New Year Eve | 除夕(chúxī)，大年夜 | |
| 1st day of 1st lunar month | Spring Festival (Chinese New Year Chinese New Year Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration... ) |
新年(xīnnián), 农历新年, 春節, 春节,大年初一 | More fireworks after midnight, visit family members. |
| 15th day of 1st lunar month | Lantern Festival Lantern Festival The Lantern Festival ; is a festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar year in the Chinese calendar, the last day... |
元宵節(yuánxiāojié)/元宵节，小年 | Lantern parade and lion dance celebrating the first full moon. Eating tangyuan. This day is also the last day of new year celebration. |
| 2nd day of 2nd lunar month | Zhonghe Festival Zhonghe Festival Longtaitou Festival , also known as the Eryueer Festival（二月二）, is a traditional Chinese festival held on the second day of the second month of the Chinese calendar. The festival is a reflection of the ancient agrarian Chinese culture. In the tradition of Chinese culture, the dragon is believed to... (Zhong He Jie), Blue Dragon Festival |
中和節(zhōnghéjié)/中和节, 青龙节 (qinglong jie)/青龙節 | Eat Chinese pancakes (Chun bing, 春饼) and noodles, clean the house. Also known as Dragon Raising its Head |
| 3rd day of 3rd lunar month | Shangsi Festival (Shang Si Jie) | 上巳節 (shàngsìjié)/上巳节, | Traditional Chinese Women's Day, also known as 妇女节(fùnǚjié) |
| At the jie qi known as qing ming, solar longitude Solar time Solar time is a reckoning of the passage of time based on the Sun's position in the sky. The fundamental unit of solar time is the day. Two types of solar time are apparent solar time and mean solar time .-Introduction:... 15 degrees, 104 days after winter solstice Winter solstice Winter solstice may refer to:* Winter solstice, astronomical event* Winter Solstice , former band* Winter Solstice: North , seasonal songs* Winter Solstice , 2005 American film... (around April 5) |
Qing Ming Jie (Tomb Sweeping Day)/Mourning Day / Ching Ming Festival | 清明節(qīngmíngjié)/清明节 | Visit, clean, and make offerings at ancestral gravesites, spring outing |
| 5th day of 5th lunar month | Duanwu Festival (Dragon Boat Festival) / Tuen Ng Festival | 端午節(duānwǔjié)/端午节 | Dragon boat race, eat dumplings wrapped in lotus leaves Zongzi Zongzi Zongzi is a traditional Chinese food, made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. They are cooked by steaming or boiling. Laotians, Thais, and Cambodians also have similar traditional dishes. In the Western world, they are also known as rice... . This festival commemorates the ancient poet Qu Yuan Qu Yuan Qu Yuan was a Chinese poet who lived during the Warring States Period in ancient China. He is famous for his contributions to the poetry collection known as the Chu-ci... ; drink yellow rice wine, related to the White Snake Lady legend |
| 7th day of 7th lunar month | The Night of Sevens /Magpie Festival/ Qi Xi Qi Xi Qixi Festival , also known as Magpie Festival, falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar; thus its name. It inspired Tanabata in Japan, Chilseok in Korea, and Thất Tịch in Vietnam... |
七夕(qīxī) | According to legend, the goddess "Zhi Nü" (the star Vega Vega Vega is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, the fifth brightest star in the night sky and the second brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus... ) fell in love with the farmer boy "Niu Lang" (the star Altair), but was disapproved by the her mother goddess. As punishment, they were separated by the Milky Way Milky Way The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky... and could only meet once a year on this night. |
| 15th day of 7th lunar month | Spirit Festival (Ghost Festival Ghost Festival The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival and holiday celebrated by Chinese in many countries... ) |
中元節(zhōngyuánjié)/中元节 | Burn fake paper money and make offerings to ancestors and the dead to appease them, so they will not come and trouble the living. |
| 15th day of 8th lunar month | Mid-Autumn Festival Mid-Autumn Festival The Mid-Autumn Festival , also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival or Zhongqiu Festival, is a popular lunar harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people. A description of the festival first appeared in Rites of Zhou, a written collection of rituals of the Western Zhou... (Moon Festival) |
中秋節(zhōngqiūjié)/中秋节 | Eat mooncake Mooncake Mooncake is a Chinese bakery product traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival / Zhongqiu Festival. The festival is for lunar worship and moon watching; mooncakes are regarded as an indispensable delicacy on this occasion. Mooncakes are offered between friends or on family gatherings... , family union meal, related to the legend of Chang E |
| 9th day of 9th lunar month | Double Ninth Festival Double Ninth Festival The Double Ninth Festival , observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar, is a traditional Chinese holiday, mentioned in writing since before the East Han period .... /Dual-Yang Festival/ Chung Yeung Festival |
重陽節(chóngyángjié)/重阳节 | Autumn outing and mountain climbing, some Chinese also visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects. |
| 15th day of the 10th lunar month | Spirit Festival/ Water Lantern Festival | 下元節 (xiayuanjie)/下元节 | Set flower shaped lanterns adrift in a stream or river at sundown, give offerings to deceased whose wandering spirits/ghosts may return at night to visit. |
| 21st or 22nd of December | Winter Solstice Festival/Mid-Winter Festival | 冬至(dōngzhì) | Have Tangyuan and Jiuniang Jiuniang Jiuniang is a sweet, soup- or pudding-like dish in Chinese cuisine made by fermenting glutinous rice with a starter containing yeast and Aspergillus oryzae... and perform ancestor worship, Feast day, family gatherings, also named "Chinese Thanksgiving" |
| 8th day of 12th lunar month | Laba Festival Laba Festival The Laba Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the eighth day of the twelfth month of the lunar Chinese calendar... /Congee Festival |
腊八节(làbājié) | This is the day the Buddha attained enlightenment. People usually eat Laba congee, which is made of mixed grains and fruits. |
Dates for Chinese Traditional Festivals (2008-2015)
| Spring (New Year) | Lantern | Azure Dragon | Shangsi | Qing Ming Qingming Festival The Qingming Festival , Pure Brightness Festival or Clear Bright Festival, Ancestors Day or Tomb Sweeping Day is a traditional Chinese festival on the 104th day after the winter solstice , usually occurring around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar... |
Dragon Boat Dragon boat A dragon boat is a human-powered watercraft traditionally made, in the Pearl River delta region of southern China - Guangdong Province, of teak wood to various designs and sizes. In other parts of China different woods are used to build these traditional watercraft... |
Double Seventh | Ghost | Mid-Autumn | Double Ninth | Water Lantern | Winter | Laba | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Feb. 7 | Feb. 21 | Mar. 9 | Apr. 8 | Apr. 4 | Jun. 8 | Aug. 7 | Aug. 15 | Sept. 14 | Oct. 7 | Nov. 12 | Dec. 4 | Jan. 3* | |
| 2009 | Jan. 26 | Feb. 9 | Feb. 26 | Mar. 29 | Apr. 4 | May 28 | Aug. 26 | Sept. 3 | Oct. 3 | Oct. 26 | Dec. 1 | Dec. 22 | Jan. 22* | |
| 2010 | Feb. 14 | Feb. 28 | Mar. 17 | Apr. 16 | Apr. 5 | Jun. 16 | Aug. 16 | Aug. 24 | Sept. 22 | Oct. 16 | Nov. 20 | Dec. 12 | Jan. 11* | |
| 2011 | Feb. 3 | Feb. 17 | Mar. 6 | Apr. 5 | Apr. 5 | Jun. 6 | Aug. 6 | Aug. 14 | Sep. 12 | Oct. 5 | Nov. 10 | Dec. 1 | Jan. 1* | |
| 2012 | Jan. 23 | Feb. 6 | Feb. 23 | Mar. 24 | Apr. 4 | Jun. 23 | Aug. 23 | Aug. 31 | Sept. 30 | Oct. 23 | Nov. 28 | Dec. 19 | Jan. 19* | |
| 2013 | Feb. 10 | Feb. 24 | Mar. 13 | Apr. 12 | Apr. 4 | Jun. 12 | Aug. 13 | Aug. 21 | Sept. 19 | Oct. 13 | Nov. 17 | Dec. 9 | Jan. 8* | |
| 2014 | Jan. 31 | Feb. 14 | Mar. 2 | Apr. 2 | Apr. 5 | Jun. 2 | Aug. 2 | Aug. 10 | Sept. 8 | Oct. 2 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 28 | Jan. 27* | |
| 2015 | Feb. 19 | Mar. 5 | Mar. 21 | Apr. 21 | Apr. 5 | Jun. 20 | Aug. 20 | Aug. 28 | Sept. 27 | Oct. 21 | Nov. 26 | Dec. 17 | Jan. 17* | |
| * denotes the following Gregorian Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter... civil year |
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Public holidays
Traditional holidays are generally celebrated in Chinese speaking regions. For the most part, however, only Chinese New YearChinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
, Qingming Festival
Qingming Festival
The Qingming Festival , Pure Brightness Festival or Clear Bright Festival, Ancestors Day or Tomb Sweeping Day is a traditional Chinese festival on the 104th day after the winter solstice , usually occurring around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar...
, the Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon Boat Festival
Duanwu Festival, also known as Dragon Boat Festival and the Double Fifth, is a traditional and statutory holiday originating in China and associated with a number of East Asian and Southeast Asian societies...
and Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival , also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival or Zhongqiu Festival, is a popular lunar harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people. A description of the festival first appeared in Rites of Zhou, a written collection of rituals of the Western Zhou...
are statutory public holidays. This is the case in both mainland China and Taiwan, whilst Hong Kong and Macau also observe Buddha's Birthday
Buddha's Birthday
Buddha's Birthday, the birthday of the Prince Siddhartha Gautama, is a holiday traditionally celebrated in Mahayana Buddhism.- East Asia except Japan :...
and Chung Yeung Festival. In Singapore, Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
is the only traditional Chinese public holiday likewise with Malaysia
Each region has its own holidays on top of this condensed traditional Chinese set. Mainland China and Taiwan observe patriotic holidays, Hong Kong and Macau observe Christian holidays, and Singapore celebrates Malay and Indian festivals.
- Public holidays in the People's Republic of ChinaPublic holidays in the People's Republic of ChinaThere are currently seven official public holidays in the mainland territory of the People's Republic of China. There was a major reform in 2008, abolishing the Labour Day Golden Week and adding three traditional Chinese holidays...
- Holidays in Hong KongPublic holidays in Hong KongPublic holidays in Hong Kong are holidays designated by the Government of Hong Kong. They allow workers rest from work, usually in conjunction with special occasions.-Public holidays:...
- Holidays in MacauPublic holidays in MacauThe following is a list of the public holidays in Macau , as set by the Ordem Executiva nº 60/2000 .- See also :* Traditional Chinese holidays* Public holidays in Hong Kong...
- Holidays in Hong Kong
- Public holidays in the Republic of ChinaPublic holidays in the Republic of ChinaThe following are considered holidays in the Republic of China . Some are official holidays, some are not:Gregorian calendarDateEnglish NameLocal NameRemarksJanuary 1Founding DayFounding of Republic of China on January 1, 1912...
- Holidays in Taiwan (including unofficial holidays)
- Holidays in SingaporeHolidays in SingaporeThe 11 major public holidays in Singapore reflect the cultural and religious diversity of the country. They include the Chinese New Year, the Buddhist holiday Vesak Day, the Muslim holidays Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji, the Hindu holiday Deepavali, and the Christian holidays of Good Friday...
- Holidays in Malaysia
External links
- Chinese Festivals - Traditional Festivals, National Holidays, Ethnic Minority Festivals, Tourism Festivals
- http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/Festivals/78131.htm