| Traditional Chinese holidays |
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| Monday,May 19,2008 Posted: 01:23 BJT(1723 GMT) |
| From:Economic and Commercial Counselor's Office Article type:Original |
The Traditional Chinese holidays have been part of Chinese tradition for thousands of years; they 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). 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).
1. Chinese New Year Eve and Spring Festival (Last day of 12th lunar month and 1st day of 1st lunar month)
Cleaning the house, putting up new posters of "door gods" on front doors, fireworks before the family union dinner, which should be at least 10-course meal with a whole fish entrée symbolizing the abundance of the coming year. (The fish entrée should not be consumed completely because the leftover symbolizes the abundance)
2. Lantern Festival (15th day of 1st lunar month):
Lantern parade and lion dance celebrating the first full moon.
3. Qing Ming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day/Mourning Day, at the jie qi known as qing ming, around April 5)
Visiting, cleaning, and make offerings at ancestral gravesites, spring outing.
4. Dragon Boat Festival (5th day of 5th lunar month)
Dragon boat racing, eat rice wrap Zongzi, commemorating the ancient poet Qu Yuan; drink yellow rice wine, related to the White Snake Lady legend.
5. Qi Xi (The Night of Sevens /Magpie Festival, 7th day of 7th lunar month)
According to legend, the goddess "Zhi Nü" (the star Vega) 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 and could only meet once a year on this night.
6. Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival, 15th day of 8th lunar month)
Autumn outing and mountain climbing, some Chinese also visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects.
7. Chung Yeung Festival (Double Ninth Festival, 9th day of 9th lunar month)
Autumn outing and mountain climbing, some Chinese also visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects.
8. Winter Solstice Festival (Mid-Winter Festival, Day of the winter solstice, around December 22)
Have Tangyuan and Jiuniang and perform ancestor worship, Feast day, family gatherings, also named "Chinese Thanksgiving".
9. Laba Festival (Congee Festival, 8th day of 12th lunar month)
It is the day the Buddha attained enlightenment. People usually eat Laba congee, which is usually made of mixed grains and fruits.
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