Chinese
Festivals
Festivals are
an important part of Chinese culture and tradition. Chinese festivals,
both traditional and modern, are generally happy and colorful
affairs that reaffirm both ancient and new customs and beliefs.
Chinese festivals occur
throughout
both
the Chinese Lunar year and the Gregorian calendar year. Each
Chinese festival, both old and new, is unique and rich in culture
and tradition. Festival activities can include fireworks,
lion dancing, loud drums and cymbals music
(to ward off evil spirits), and many other forms of festive celebrations.
Most Popular
Festivals
The Spring
Festival
(Chinese New Year) is the most important and largest of
all Chinese festivals. It's a time to honor family, ancestors,
friends, and the gods and the hope of a auspicious future.
Other important Chinese festivals include the Dragon
Boat Festival,
and the Mid-Autumn
Festival (Moon
Festival). Calendar
of Chinese Festivals
Festival
Food
Each
festival has its own unique food. Many festival foods are served only
during festival time and not available throughout the year. Some festival-only
foods include mooncakes, cake with sweet fillings served during the
Mid-Autumn
Moon Festival and
zongzi, a pyramid shaped sticky rice food wrapped in bamboo leaves
served during the Dragon
Boat Festival.
Festival
Decorations
Each
festival has it's own form of decoration that can range from displaying
fruit and fresh flowers to symbolize good luck and a prosperous
future to displaying banners to ward off evil spirits. During the
new year red paper banners with the word "happiness" written
on them are hung around the house and on the front doors. These
banners are usually hung upside down so that the Chinese character
appears similar to the character for "arrive." This is done to bring
good luck
and happiness to the entire household for the coming year.
Fireworks
Firecrackers
and other fireworks are set off to celebrate the coming New Year. In
ancient China fireworks were set off to ward off evil spirits and wake
up the dragon to create rain for the coming year's harvest. It is tradition
in China and Taiwan to welcome the New Year with loud and bright fireworks.
At midnight on New Year day, fireworks are set
off to symbolize the coming of the new year and the passing of the
previous year.
Related Links:
Chinese
Festivals Articles
Calendar
of Chinese Festivals
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