There are a number of traditional festivals in China, which fall at different times of the year depending on the lunar calendar. Each festival has its own unique origins and customs. The biggest and most popular events include the following:
Spring Festival – 1st day of the first lunar month (next festival date: Jan 23, 2012). Customs at the Spring festival include pasting scrolls, making paper-cuts pictures, letting off firecrackers and fireworks, paying New Year visits, and eating jiaozi (dumplings).
Lantern Festival – 15th day of the first lunar month (next festival date: Feb 6, 2012). Customs include watching lanterns and fireworks, guessing lantern riddles, performing folk dances, and eating yuanxiao dumplings.
Qingming Festival – April 4th or 5th of the solar calendar (next festival date: April 4, 2012). You can expect to see tomb sweeping, spring outings, and kite flying at this traditional festival.
Qingming Festival - Photo courtesy of Red Candy UK
Dragon Boat Festival – 5th day of the 5th lunar month (next festival date: Jun 6, 2011). Watch Dragon boat racing, eat zongzi (a dumpling made from glutinous rice and bamboo leaves), wear a perfume pouch and tie five-color silk threads.
Double Seventh Festival – 7th day of seventh lunar month (next festival date: Aug 6, 2011). The Double Seventh festival is about praying for skilful hands, appreciating the stars, eating noodles, jiaozi, and wontons.
Mid-autumn Festival – 15th day of the 8th lunar month (next festival date: Sept 12, 2011). Customs include appreciating and offering sacrifice to the moonlight and eating moon cakes.
Chongyang Festival – 9th day of the 9th lunar month (next festival date: Oct 5, 2011). Feast on Chongyang cake, drink chrysanthemum wine, climb mountains and appreciate the beautiful chrysanthemums.
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July 15, 2011 by Viator
Festivals & Events, Things To Do