Chinese Festivals and Holidays
There
are a plenty of traditional and modern Chinese festivals and
holidays, based on the lunar calendar as well as solar calendar. The
traditional Chinese calendar was created on the basis of a lunar
cycle, which means all dates were based on the regular appearance of
the full moon. But in spite of this, the equinox and solstice were
required to decide on the seasons for agrarian society in China.
Later, the Gregorian calendar was created which was frequently used
internationally, which had dated modern holidays such as birthdays
of national leaders and so on.
The
traditional Chinese festivals boast of rich and decade-ago Chinese
culture with a long history, and are considered an essential element
of Chinese culture. A majority of these festivals came into being
during the Qin Dynasty between 221 and 206 BC. During the era of
Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), the traditional Chinese festivals were
freed away from any restrictions, ancient sacrifices and mysteries,
and were made more exciting. Since then, all Chinese occasions have
turned out to be entertaining along with more folk customs to have
developed in the recent past.
Given
below is a list of Chinese holidays and festivals based on lunar and
solar calendars:
Lunar-based Festivals and Holidays
1st
Moon
DAY
1 Chinese New Year (on Feb 7, 2009)
DAY 9 Birthday of the Jade Emperor
DAY 15 The Lantern Festival (on Feb 21, 2009)
2nd
Moon
DAY 2
The
Dragon-Head-Raising Festival (Birthday of Tudigong, Lord
of the Earth)
DAY 3 Birthday of Wenchang, God of Literature
DAY 15 Birthday of Lao Zi, Founder of Taoism
DAY 19 Birthday of Guanyin, Goddess of Mercy
3rd
Moon
DAY 3
Birthday of Xuantian Shangdi, God of Rain
DAY 23 Birthday of Mazu, Goddess of the Sea
4th
Moon
DAY 4
The Hanshi (Cold Meal) Festival
DAY 8 Birthday of Siddhartha, Founder of
Buddhism
DAY 14 Birthday of Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight
Immortals
DAY 18 Birthday of Huato, Patron Saint of Medicine
5th
Moon
Day 5
Dragon Boat Festival (on June 8, 2009)
6th
Moon
DAY 6
Aunt's Day
/ The Tian Zhu Day
DAY 24 Birthday of Guan Gong, God of Warriors
7th
Moon (Ghost Month)
DAY 7
Double-Seven Day
DAY 15
Hungry Ghost
Festival
DAY 30 Birthday of Dizang Wang, King of the
Underworld
8th
Moon
DAY
15 Mid-Autumn Festival (on Sep 14, 2009)
DAY 16 Birthday of Sun Wugong, the Monkey King
DAY 27 Birthday of Confucius 9th Moon
DAY 9 Double Ninth Day
10th
Moon
DAY 1
The Ancestors' Sacrifice Festival (Sending off
the Winter Clothes)
DAY 5 Birthday of Damo, founder of Chan
Buddhism
12th
Moon
DAY 8
Celebration of Siddhartha achieving
enlightenment
DAY 23 Kitchen God reports to the Jade Emperor
Solar-based Festivals and Holidays
April
4, 5, or 6 Qingming Festival/Tomb Sweeping Day
September 28 Teacher's Day (Taiwan -- Confucius' Birthday)
October 1 National Day (People's Republic of China)
October 10 National Day (Taiwan -- "Double Tenth")
From
the above, festivals such as Chinese New Year, The Lantern Festival,
Aunts Day, Double-Seven Day, Hungry Ghost Festival, Double Ninth
Day, The Ancestors Sacrifice Festival, Kitchen God reports to the
Jade Emperor, and Qingming Festival are some of the major Chinese
festivals and holidays celebrated in China, Taiwan and other Chinese
communities.
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