FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS IN CHINA

DIFFERENT FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS IN CHINA

CALENDAR FOR CHINESE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

NATIONAL HOLIDAY:

Longest holiday in China

Chinese Name: 国庆节

Date: October 1st-7th 

Duration: 7 days

History: October 1st 1949 A.D.

October 1st is the national day of china, which is a public holiday for the whole country. It's an important day that marks the beginning of PRC. 

Activities:

Plenty of celebrations holding throughout the country, from the central government to the general people.And public places, including big squares, parks are decorated in festive theme. In recent year the national holiday means the golden week as well, which is a short holiday that all people expect to enjoy.With the improvement of living standards, people have more money and desire to travel and the golden week is a good chance for them. Besides, for those people who would not go out, it’s a good time to have a good rest as well. Therefore, the national day means a lot to the Chinese.

 

CHINESE NEW YEAR

Grandest and Most important Festival For Chinese People

Chinese Name: 春节 Chūn Jié

Date: 27th Jan- 2nd Feb 2017 ( Date changes every year according to Chinese calendar)

Duration: 7 days

History: 4000 years ago

Chinese New Year celebrations, also known as the Spring Festival, in China start on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The festival lasts for about 23 days, ending on the 15th day of the first lunar month in the following year in the Chinese calendar.

Activities:

Many people clean their homes to welcome the Spring Festival. They put up the red posters with poetic verses on it to their doors, Chinese New Year pictures on their walls, and decorate their homes with red lanterns. It is also a time to reunite with relatives so many people visit their families at this time of the year.

In the evening of the Spring Festival Eve, many people set off fireworks and firecrackers, hoping to cast away any bad luck and bring forth good luck. Children often receive “luck” money. Many people wear new clothes and send Chinese New Year greetings to each other. Various activities such as beating drums and striking gongs, as well as dragon and lion dances, are all part of the Spring Festival festivities.

Dragon Boat Festival:

Chinese: 端午节[duān wǔ jié]

Date: 28th May-30th May ( Date changes every year according to Chinese calendar)

Main Day: May 30th

History: more than 2,000 years

Traditions: eating Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), dragon boat race

Activities:

The Dragon Boat Festival is a celebration where many eat rice dumplings (zongzi), drink realgar wine (xionghuangjiu), and race dragon boats. Other activities include hanging icons of Zhong Kui (a mythic guardian figure), hanging mugwort and calamus, taking long walks, writing spells and wearing perfumed medicine bags.

All of these activities and games such as making an egg stand at noon were regarded by the ancients as an effective way of preventing disease, evil, while promoting good health and well-being. People sometimes wear talismans to fend off evil spirits or they may hang the picture of Zhong Kui, a guardian against evil spirits, on the door of their homes.

QINGMING FESTIVAL

Pure Brightness Festival or Tomb-sweeping Day

Chinese: 清明节 

Date: April 4th

Duration: 2 days  ( Date changes every year according to Chinese calendar)

History: 2500 years

Tradition: Opportunity for celebrants to remember and honor their ancestors at grave sites

Activities:

Qingming Festival is a time of many different activities, among which the main ones are tomb sweeping, taking a spring outing, and flying kites. Some other lost customs like wearing willow branches on the head and riding on swings have added infinite joy in past days. It is a combination of sadness and happiness.

MID AUTUMN FESTIVAL

MOON CAKE FESTIVAL, HARVEST FESTIVAL, LANTERN FESTIVAL

The second most important (traditional) Chinese Festival after Chinese New Year

Chinese: 中秋节, Zhongqiujie /jong-chyoh-jyeah/

Date: October 4th 

Duration: 1 day during national holiday 

History: over 3000 years

Celebrations: admiring the full moon, eating mooncakes

MEANING AND ACTIVITIES:

• gathering, such as family and friends coming together, or harvesting crops for the festival. It's said the moon is the brightest and roundest on this day which means family reunion. And this is the main reason why people think mid-autumn is important.
• Thanksgiving, to give thanks for the harvest, or for harmonious unions
• Praying (asking for conceptual or material satisfaction), such as for babies, a spouse, beauty, longevity, or for a good future

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In addition to these festivals, there are other public holidays such as New Year, Christmas, May day[ Labour Day]. Students at universities also get Summer and Winter holidays which last for 2 months and 1 months respectively during July-August and Jan-Feb each year.

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