Traditional Chinese Festivals and Celebrations

Last Updated : 19 Mar, 2024

Traditional Chinese festivals and celebrations: Traditional Chinese festivals and celebrations are an important part of Chinese culture and heritage. These festivals are based on lunar calendar dates and have been celebrated for centuries. Every year people celebrate events like Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, the Qingming (Tomb Sweeping) Festival, the Double Seven Festival, and the Winter Solstice.

These festivals are chosen because they are very traditional Chinese celebrations. The dates may change each year because they follow the Chinese calendar.

In this article, we will discuss 10 vibrant festivals celebrated in China.

List of Traditional Chinese Festivals

Festival	Importance	Date 2024
Dongzhi Festival	Celebrates the arrival of winter and marks the increase of positive energy and the growth of yang.	21 December 2024
Chinese New Year Festival	Marks the beginning of the lunar new year and is the most important traditional festival in China.	10th February 2024
Yuan Xiao Festival	Also known as the Lantern Festival, it marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations.	24 February 2024
Qingming Festival	Also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, it is a time to honour ancestors and visit their graves.	4 April 2024
Labor Day	Celebrates the achievements of workers and is a public holiday in China.	1 May 2024
Duanwu Festival	Also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, it commemorates the death of poet Qu Yuan.	10 July 2024
Qixi Festival	Celebrates the annual meeting of the cowherd and weaver girl in Chinese mythology.	10 August 2024
Hungry Ghost Festival	Honours the deceased and appeases their spirits, ensuring they don’t bring misfortune.	18 August 2024
Mid-Autumn Festival	Also known as the Mooncake Festival, it celebrates the harvest and family reunion.	17 September 2024
National Day Of China	Celebrates the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1st, 1949.	1 October 2024

1. Dongzhi Festival

In 2022, the Dongzhi Festival is one of the most celebrated Chinese festivals, happening every December. It is also known as the Winter Solstice. This festival is famous in China and centres around the balance and harmony in the cosmos.

After the festivities, days become longer with more daylight. Nowadays, people celebrate by visiting each other and enjoying delicious dishes like Tangyuan, a colourful treat made from rice flour.

2. Chinese New Year Festival

The Chinese New Year Festival also known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most important and celebrated events in China. With a history spanning over 4000 years, this festival marks the beginning of the lunar new year.

The celebrations last for 7 days, but festivities can continue for over 2 weeks, starting from the eve of the festival. It is a time for families to come together, exchange gifts, enjoy feasts, and participate in various traditional activities and customs. The date of the Chinese New Year varies each year as it follows the lunar calendar, falling on the first day of the first lunar month.

3. Yuan Xiao Festival

The Yuan Xiao Festival also known as the Lantern Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day after the Chinese New Year. It marks the end of the New Year celebrations. During this festival, people gather to admire colourful lantern displays of various shapes and sizes. It is a time of joy and festivity with families coming together to enjoy delicious traditional foods like Tangyuan, a sweet glutinous rice ball. The Lantern Festival is an opportunity for people to appreciate the beauty of the lanterns and spend time with loved ones.

4. Qingming Festival

Qingming Festival also known as Tomb Sweeping Day is a significant Chinese holiday where families honour their ancestors by visiting their graves, tidying up the burial sites, and making offerings. It usually falls on April 4th or 5th each year.

During this time, people also enjoy outdoor activities like flying kites and having picnics to welcome the arrival of spring. The festival serves as a time for remembrance and paying respects to departed family members.

5. Labor Day

Labor Day, celebrated on May 1st each year, is an important holiday in China to honour the contributions of workers. It is a time to recognize the achievements and hard work of labourers across various industries. On this day, many workers have a day off to relax and spend time with family and friends. Labour organizations may also hold events or demonstrations to advocate for workers’ rights and better working conditions.

It’s a time to recognize the contributions of workers and relax with family and friends.

6. Duanwu Festival

The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, which usually falls in June. It celebrates the life and death of the ancient Chinese scholar Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Miluo River to protest against government corruption.

People celebrate this festival by racing dragon boats, eating sticky rice dumplings called zongzi, and hanging aromatic herbs like mugwort and calamus on their doors to ward off evil spirits. It’s a time for families to come together, enjoy traditional foods, and participate in cultural activities.

7. Qixi Festival

The Qixi Festival also known as China’s Valentine’s Day, is a special day when girls display their artwork and crafts, hoping to find a good husband. Boys, meanwhile, send flowers to girls they like. Young couples often go shopping and have fun together on this day.

It is like a Chinese version of Valentine’s Day, where young people celebrate love and enjoy spending time with each other.

8. Hungry Ghost Festival

The Hungry Ghost Festival is important in the Chinese festival calendar. It originated in Daoism, an ancient folk religion in China. According to Daoist beliefs, special rituals and ceremonies are needed to honour ancestors during the seventh month of the lunar calendar.

Celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, this festival is a time when people pay respects to their deceased ancestors and appease wandering spirits known as “hungry ghosts.” It’s an important tradition in Chinese culture, highlighting the reverence for ancestors and the spiritual beliefs of the community.

9. Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is among the top three most significant Chinese celebrations. It’s rooted in moon worship, symbolizing harvest and family togetherness. Like Thanksgiving, families gather to enjoy this occasion. They admire the full moon, seen as a sign of good fortune and unity, and savour tasty mooncakes together.

10. The National Day Of China

The National Day is a big celebration in China. It marks the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. This festival is very important and celebrated all across the country, including in Macau and Hong Kong. The Government organizes concerts and fireworks to make the day special.

Conclusion

Traditional Chinese festivals and celebrations are special festivals that happen at certain times of the year. They are important because they help people remember their history and culture. These festivals bring families and communities together to celebrate and have fun.

It includes festivals like the Chinese New Year, where people welcome the new year with fireworks and special meals and the Qingming Festival, where people remember their ancestors. Each festival has its traditions and customs but they all share the goal of bringing people closer and making them happy.

FAQs on Traditional Chinese festivals and celebrations

What are traditional Chinese festivals?

Traditional Chinese festivals are special occasions celebrated by Chinese people to mark important events, seasons or cultural traditions.

How many traditional Chinese festivals are there?

There are many traditional Chinese festivals but some of the most well-known ones include the Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Qingming Festival.

How many celebrations are there in China?

There are currently seven official public holidays on Mainland China.

What is the biggest Chinese celebration?

Spring Festival is the biggest Chinese celebration.

Do the Chinese celebrate 100 days?

In traditional Chinese culture, the number 100 is seen as lucky and represents long life and wealth.

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