![]() How long do Chinese holidays last?ĭifferent Chinese holidays have different lengths. During this festival, it's customary to gift mooncakes to friends and acquaintances.ĭuring China's National Day, patriotism is on full display throughout the country. A bakery product made with fillings such as lotus seed paste or red beans, mooncakes are a delicacy. Celebrants either carry the lanterns around or send them to the skies in their floating form.Īnother iconic activity associated with this festival is eating mooncakes. For Chinese families, this is a time of coming together with loved ones to pray and be thankful for a good harvest and good fortune.įamously, people often celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival using paper Chinese lanterns. Occurring on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar-the night of the full moon-Mid-Autumn Festival serves as China’s harvest celebration.įamily gatherings are an essential part of the Mid-Autumn Festival, somewhat akin to American Thanksgiving. The sixth public Chinese holiday is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves are a popular Dragon Festival treat. This is the origin of the festival’s most famous activity: dragon boat races. He was popular with the local people, and after his death, they rushed to their boats to save him or at least recover his body. In despair, he committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River. Legend says that Qu Yuan was accused of treason and banished from political office. ![]() However, the best-known legend behind the Dragon Boat Festival is that it commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a poet and politician who lived circa 340 to 278 BCE. Thus, one legend says that the festival was born to keep bad luck and evil spirits away. The fifth month of the year is considered bad luck, especially on its fifth day. There are two common origin stories for the Dragon Boat Festival: one is superstitious, and the other historic. With over 2,000 years of history, this is one of the most traditional Chinese festivals, and also one of the ones that involves the most superstitions (迷信 míxìn). ![]() This holiday falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, typically in June on the Gregorian calendar. The fifth yearly public holiday in China is the Dragon Boat Festival. Once families have completed the ritual tomb sweeping, the rest of the day is dedicated to family outings and there may even be singing and dancing. The Qingming Festival allows the living to honor the departed by performing maintenance on their graves and praying for them. On this day, Chinese families traditionally visit their ancestors’ tombs to clear and sweep them. Many also burn offerings of imitation paper money, also known as “ hell money,” on or near their ancestors’ tombs so that their loved ones can make purchases in the afterlife. Qingming Festival falls on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, which can be either April 4th, 5th or 6th in any given year. Dating back 2,500 years, Qingming Festival symbolizes the Chinese people’s deep-rooted respect for their ancestors. The year’s third Chinese public holiday is Qingming Festival, also called the Pure Brightness Festival or Tomb-Sweeping Day. Malls and shops throughout China are now often decorated for this grand occasion, and it’s also turned into a great time to enjoy major discounts.Ĭhinese New Year is a time for family reunions. Nevertheless, New Year's Day has gained popularity over the past few years. It's based on the Gregorian calendar and is the least traditional of the yearly Chinese holidays. Some people refer to New Year's Day as “International New Year” to help distinguish it from the Chinese Lunar New Year. People celebrate this holiday on January 1st and schools and public offices are closed for a day. The first Chinese holiday (节日 jiérì) of the year is the same as in the Western world: New Year’s Day. What are the seven major Chinese holidays? 1. While some ancient traditions remain, most modern-day Chinese holidays differ significantly from their early counterparts. Because of this, it should come as no surprise that certain Chinese festivals date back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) and many originate from ancient harvest rituals. China is one of the world's oldest civilizations, with a vast history spanning virtually every area of human endeavor.
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