Festivals of China
1. Traditional Festivals
1.1 Spring Festival
The Spring Festival (Chunjie), also known as the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important holiday in China. For Chinese people, it is as important as Christmas to people in the West. The dates for this annual celebration are determined by the lunar calendar, varying from late January to early February.
For the Chinese people, the festival actually begins on the eve of the lunar New Year’s Day and ends on the fifth day of the first month of the lunar calendar. But the 15th of the first month, which normally is called Lantern Festival, marks the end of Spring Festival in many parts of the country.
Preparations for the New Year start from the last few days of the last month, when houses are thoroughly cleaned, debts are paid, hair is cut and new clothes are purchased.
On New Year’s Eve, family members all come together to feast. At midnight at the turn of the old and new year, many people set off fire-crackers to greet the coming New Year. The Most important activity during the Spring Festival is visiting relatives and friends with gifts and sending New Year’s Greetings.
1.2 The Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival (Yuanxiaojie) falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, which is the first full moon of the lunar new year. On this important day, lanterns of different shapes and sizes will be hung in families and streets to celebrate the festival. People often consume Yuanxiao (or Tangyuan) and play puzzle games on this day, which denotes union, harmony and happiness for the family.
1.3 Tomb-sweeping Day
The Tomb-sweeping Day is one of the 24 seasonal division points in China, falling on April 4-6 each year. After the festival, the temperature will rise up and rainfall increases. It is the high time for spring plowing and sowing.
Tomb-sweeping Day is not only a seasonal point to guide farm work, it is more a festival of commemoration. This is the most important day of sacrifice. Both the Han and minority ethnic groups at this time offer sacrifices to their ancestors and sweep the tombs of the diseased. Also, they will not cook on this day and only cold food is served.
The customs have been greatly simplified today. After slightly sweeping the tombs, people offer food, flowers and favorites of the dead, then burn incense and paper money and bow before the memorial tablet.
On this day, people also enjoy hope of Spring. Activities such as Spring outings, Kite flying, tree planting and swing playing are held.
1.4 Duanwu Festival
Duanwu Festival, also known as Dragon Boat Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Dragon boat races are the most popular activity during the festival, especially in southern China. On this day, people usually eat zongzi, to memorialize a great ancient Chinese poet, Qu Yuan (339-278 BC). Zongzi is a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice what comes wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, the flavor of which varies greatly across China.
1.5 Mid-Autumn Day
The Mid-Autumn Day falls on the 15th of the eighth lunar month, right in the middle of autumn usually around mid-September. At this time, the moon’s orbit is at its lowest angle to the horizon, which makes it appear brighter and larger than at any other time of the year. Moon cakes are necessary for the festival. It is also an occasion for outdoor reunions.
1.6 National Day
This holiday, called Guoqing by Chinese, celebrates the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1st, 1949. It is the most important Gregorian holiday in China.
2. Other Traditional Chinese Festivals
Qixi: known as the Chinese lovers’ day, falling on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar.
Chongyang Festival (Double Ninth Festival): on the ninth day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
Labajie: Eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.
3. Other Festivals
New Year’s Day: January 1st
Women’s Day: March 8th
International Labors’ Day: May 1st
Children’s Day: June 1st
Teachers’ Day: September 10th
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中国节日
（一）法定传统节日
1、春节
春节也称旧历新年。春节在中国如同西方的圣诞节，是民间最隆重、最热闹的传统节日，根据阴历而定，通常为1月低和二月初之间。春节从除夕开始到正月初五，正月十五的元宵节标志着春节的结束。远在他乡工作的人，在除夕大多会回家与家人团圆，人们大都会放烟花爆竹，以迎接新年的到来。春节最重要的活动就是相互拜年，互致新年的期望与问候。
2、元宵节
春节一过，人们就要为农历正月十五的元宵节而忙碌了。正月十五是一年中第一个月圆之夜，人们对此加以庆祝，也是庆贺新春的延续。按中国民间的传统，在这皓月高悬的夜晚，人们要点起盏盏彩灯，以示庆贺。燃灯猜谜、共吃元宵，合家团聚、同庆佳节，其乐融融。
3、清明节
公历四月五日前后为清明节， 是二十四节气之一。在二十四个节气中，既是节气又是节日的只有清明。 清明一到，气温升高，雨量增多，是春耕春种的大好时节。同时，清明节也是最重要的祭祀节日，是祭祖和扫墓的日子。清明节的习俗是丰富有趣的，除了讲究禁火、扫墓，还有踏青、荡秋千、放风筝、打马球、插柳等一系列风俗体育活动。
4、端午节
端午节又称龙舟节，因为赛龙舟是端午节传统活动，特别是在中国的南方。端午节的来由说法很多，但最为人们津津乐道的是为了纪念爱国诗人屈原（约公元前339年--约公元前278年）。端午节为农历五月初五，这一天人们通过吃粽子来纪念屈原。各地的粽子馅料都不仅相同，风味各异。
5、中秋节
中秋节在农历八月十五，因其恰值三秋之半，故名。此夜月亮最大最圆最亮，所以从古至今都有饮宴赏月的习俗。中秋节一定要吃月饼，月饼的种类很多，包装也很精美，其目的是祈盼阖家团员。
6、国庆节
1949年10月1日是中华人民共和国成立的日子，10月1日因此被定为国庆节，是中国最重要的公历节日。
（二）其他传统节日
七夕节：农历七月初七（又称中国的情人节）
重阳节：农历九月初九
腊八节：农历十二月初八
（三）其他公历节日
元旦：1月1日
妇女节：3月8日
劳动节：5月1日
儿童节：6月1日
教师节：9月10日
