China Festivals are celebrated throughout
the year. Chinese, unlike most of the western countries, follow the lunar
calendar, so the festival dates vary from year to year when looking at a
Roman calendar. Festivals are an integral part of Chinese tradition, and
these festivals are celebrated with great joy and grandeur. Some of the
Chinese festivals are decribed below:
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is the most colorful of all the festivals of China, and it
is celebrated for about two weeks. Celebration starts on the eve of New
Year, when people buy new clothes, decorate their houses, and then pray to
"Tso Kwan" (The Stove master). Chinese believe that Tso Kwan goes to heaven
on this day to report the behavior of humans for the year. New Years Day is
celebrated with people wearing new clothes and exchanging small red pouches
with money in them.
The third day of the year is known as "Kai Nien." On the fifteenth day of
the New Year, a spectacular lantern festival begins, and it continues for
three days. Colorful lanterns bearing the signs of wealth and fortune are
bought and hung on walls of people's homes. During the two weeks of New Year
Festival period, you will find Lion dancers (dancers masked as lions)
performing all over China.
Ching Ming
Ching Ming, celebrated in early April, is a festival known as "Remembrance
of Ancestors day." On this day, the Chinese people visit their ancestors'
graveyards and clean them. They also hang willow twigs and branches in the
doorways to ward off evil spirits. It is believed that if anyone does not
hang willow twigs, then they will be born as yellow dog in their next life.
Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival
It is an exciting festival in the southern part of China. This festival is
held in June to honor the great Chinese poet and patriot Wut Yuan. Wut Yuan
was a high-ranking official in State of Chu who tried to clean the corrupt
system and wrote many poems against the evil officials. Despite his many
attempts, he could not change the system, and eventually got frustrated and
committed suicide by jumping into Milo River. When his followers heard the
news of his death, they rushed to the river and took the boats and beat the
river water with paddles so that the fishes would go away and not eat the
body of Wut Yuan. Today the Dragon boat, usually 45 to 120 feet long, has a
fierce dragon head in front of the boat. Races are held to commemorate the
death of Wut Yuan.
Mid Autumn Festival
This is the second most popular festival in China. The Tang Dynasty kings
started the practice of moon watching, and autumn was the best time for moon
watching. This day is celebrated only to watch the moon. People take
colorful lanterns and travel to vast, open spaces or high areas to watch the
moon. The lanterns used on this occasion are found in many shapes such as
sharks, kites, speedboats, yachts and airplanes. People also exchange
pastries and cakes on this day. |
