List of observances set by the Chinese calendar

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The traditional Chinese holidays are an essential part of harvests or prayer offerings. The most important Chinese holiday is the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), which is also celebrated in overseas ethnic Chinese communities (for example in Malaysia, Thailand or the USA). [1] [2] Traditional holidays are varied from region to region but most are scheduled according to the Chinese calendar (exceptions, like the Qing Ming and Winter Solstice days, fall on the respective Jie qi (solar terms) in the Agricultural calendar).

Contents

Chinese lunar calendar
date (every year)
Gregorian date
(for the current year)
English NameChinese NameDescription
1st day of the 1st monthSaturday, 10 February 2024 Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) 農曆新年 / 农历新年

(Nóng Lì Xīn Nián)
 春節 / 春节

(Chūn Jié)
 大年初一

(Dà Nián Chū Yī)

Set off fireworks after midnight; visit family members
15th day of the 1st monthSaturday, 24 February 2024 Lantern Festival  元宵節 / 元宵节(Yuán Xiāo Jié)Lantern parade and lion dance celebrating the first full moon. Eating tangyuan. This day is also the last day of new year celebration. This is Tourism Day in Taiwan.
2nd day of the 2nd monthMonday, 11 March 2024 Zhonghe Festival

(Blue Dragon Festival)

 中和節 / 中和节(Zhōng Hé Jié)
 青龍節 / 青龙节(Qīng Lóng Jié)
Eat Chinese pancakes (Chūn Bǐng, 春餅) and noodles, clean the house. Also known as Dragon Raising its Head This is Earth God's Birthday in Taiwan.
19th day of the 2nd monthThursday, 28 March 2024 Guanyin's Birthday觀音誕 / 观音诞 (Guān Yīn Dàn)Pray to Guanyin, make offerings to the bodhisattva, some households will also cleanse themselves by eating vegetarian on this day.
At the Qingming solar term, solar longitude of 15°, 15th days after Chunfen Thursday, 4 April 2024 Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day, Clear and Bright Festival)清明節 / 清明节

(Qīng Míng Jié)

Visit, clean, and make offerings at ancestral gravesites, spring outing
105th day after Dongzhi Friday, 5 April 2024 Cold Food Festival 寒食節 / 寒食节 (Hán Shí Jié)?
3rd day of the 3rd monthThursday, 11 April 2024 Shangsi Festival 上巳節 / 上巳节 (Shàng Sì Jié)Traditional Chinese Women's Day, also known as 婦女節 / 妇女节 (Fù Nǚ Jié).
Beginning on the 15th day of the 3rd monthTuesday, 23 April 2024 Third Month Fair 三月街 (Sānyuè Jiē)Festival celebrated by the Bai people of Yunnan.
8th day of the 4th monthWednesday, 15 May 2024 Buddha's Birthday 佛誕 / 佛诞

(Fó Dàn)

Visit Buddhist temple, offer food to the monks
5th day of the 5th monthMonday, 10 June 2024 Duanwu Festival (Dragon Boat Festival)端午節 / 端午节

(Duān Wǔ Jié)

Dragon boat race, eat sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves Zòng Zi (粽子). This festival commemorates the ancient poet Qu Yuan; drink yellow rice wine, related to the White Snake Lady legend
6th day of the 6th monthThursday, 11 July 2024 Double Sixth Festival 天贶节 / 天貺節

(Tiān Kuàng Jié)

Belongings are brought into the sun to receive heaven's blessings
7th day of the 7th monthSaturday, 10 August 2024 Qixi Festival (The Night of Sevens, Magpie Festival, Chinese Valentine's Day)七夕

(Qī Xī)

According to legend, the goddess "Zhi Nü" (the star Vega) fell in love with the farmer boy "Niu Lang" (the star Altair), but was disapproved by her mother goddess. As punishment, they were separated by the Milky Way and could only meet once a year on this night.
15th night of the 7th month (14th in parts of southern China)Sunday, 18 August 2024 Ghost Festival 中元節 / 中元节

(Zhōng Yuán Jié)

Burn fake paper money and make offerings to ancestors and the dead to comfort them in the afterlife and keep them from troubling the living.
15th day of the 8th monthTuesday, 17 September 2024 Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival)中秋節 / 中秋节

(Zhōng Qiū Jié)

Eat mooncake, family union meal, related to the legend of Chang E, the Jade Rabbit and The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, also called "Chinese Thanksgiving".
9th day of the 9th monthFriday, 11 October 2024 Double Ninth Festival (Chongyang Festival)重陽節 / 重阳节

(Chóng Yáng Jié)

Autumn outing and mountain climbing, some Chinese also visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects.
1st day of the 10th monthFriday, 1 November 2024 Winter Clothes Day 寒衣節 / 寒衣节

(Hán Yī Jié)

?
At the Dongzhi solar term, solar longitude of 270°, the day of winter solstice (around 21-23 Dec.)Saturday, 21 December 2024 Dongzhi Festival (Winter Solstice Festival)冬至

(Dōng Zhì)

Have Tangyuan and Jiuniang and perform ancestor worship, Feast day, family gatherings, also named "Chinese Thanksgiving"
8th day the 12th monthThursday, 18 January 2024 Laba Festival 臘八節 / 腊八节

(Là Bā Jié)

This is the day the Buddha attained enlightenment. People usually eat Laba congee, which is made of mixed grains and fruits. Beginning of the preparation for Chinese new year.
Last day of lunar yearFriday, 9 February 2024 Chinese New Year’s Eve  除夕

(Chú Xī)
 大年夜

(Dà Nián Yè)

?

Public holidays

Traditional holidays are generally celebrated in Chinese-speaking regions. For the most part however, only Chinese New Year, Qingming Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival are statutory public holidays. This is the case in both mainland China and Taiwan whilst Hong Kong and Macau also observe Buddha's Birthday and Chung Yeung Festival. In Singapore, Chinese New Year is the only traditional Chinese public holiday, likewise with Malaysia.

Each region has its own holidays on top of this condensed traditional Chinese set. Mainland China and Taiwan observe patriotic holidays, Hong Kong and Macau observe Christian holidays, and Malaysia and Singapore celebrate Malay and Indian festivals.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese calendar</span> Lunisolar calendar from China

The traditional Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, combining the solar, lunar, and other cycles for various social and religious purposes. More recently, in China and Chinese communities the Gregorian calendar has been adopted and adapted in various ways, and is generally the basis for standard civic purposes, but incorporating traditional lunisolar holidays. However, there are many types and subtypes of the Chinese calendar, partly reflecting developments in astronomical observation and horology, with over a millennium plus history. The major modern form is the Gregorian calendar-based official version of the Mainland China, although diaspora versions are also notable in other parts of China and Chinese-influenced cultures; however, aspects of the traditional lunisolar calendar remain popular, including the association of the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac in relation to months and years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vesak</span> Buddhist festival marking the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha

Vesak, also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Buddha Day, is a holiday traditionally observed by Buddhists in South Asia and Southeast Asia, as well as Tibet and Mongolia. It is the most important Buddhist festival. The festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Nibbāna), and passing (Parinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha in Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism and Navayana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Day of the Republic of China</span> National holiday in the Republic of China

The National Day of the Republic of China, also referred to as Double Ten Day or Double Tenth Day, is a public holiday on 10 October, now held annually as national day in the Republic of China. It commemorates the start of the Wuchang Uprising on 10 October 1911 which ultimately led to the collapse of the imperial Qing dynasty, ending 2,133 years of imperial rule of China since the Qin dynasty and establishment of the Republic of China on 1 January 1912. The day was once held as public holiday in mainland China during the Mainland Period of the ROC before 1949. The subsequent People's Republic of China continues to observe the Anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution at the same date but not as a public holiday, which put more emphasis on its revolutionary characteristics as commemoration of a historical event rather than celebration to the founding of the Republic of China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Double Ninth Festival</span> Traditional Chinese holiday

The Double Ninth Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar. According to Wu Jun, it dates back to the Eastern Han dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lunar New Year</span> Beginning of a year in a lunar calendar

Lunar New Year is the beginning of a new year based on lunar calendars or, informally but more widely, lunisolar calendars. Lunar calendars follow the lunar phase while lunisolar calendars follow both the lunar phase and the time of the solar year. The event is celebrated by numerous cultures in various ways at diverse dates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dragon Boat Festival</span> Chinese holiday

The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday which occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, which corresponds to late May or June in the Gregorian calendar. The holiday commemorates the ancient poet Qu Yuan, and is celebrated by holding dragon boat races and eating sticky rice dumplings called zongzi. Dragon Boat Festival integrates folk practice, including the worship of gods and ancestors, praying for good luck and to ward off evil spirits, celebrating, entertainment, and eating.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mid-Autumn Festival</span> Chinese harvest festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is a harvest festival celebrated in Chinese culture. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night, corresponding to mid-September to early October of the Gregorian calendar. On this day, the Chinese believe that the moon is at its brightest and fullest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of autumn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qingming Festival</span> Chinese festival honouring ancestors

The Qingming Festival or Ching Ming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English, is a traditional Chinese festival observed by ethnic Chinese in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. A celebration of spring, it falls on the first day of the fifth solar term of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. This makes it the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, either 4, 5 or 6 April in a given year. During Qingming, Chinese families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the gravesites and make ritual offerings to their ancestors. Offerings would typically include traditional food dishes and the burning of joss sticks and joss paper. The holiday recognizes the traditional reverence of one's ancestors in Chinese culture.

Public holidays and statutory holidays in Hong Kong are holidays designated by the Government of Hong Kong. They allow workers rest from work, usually in conjunction with special occasions. Public holidays in Hong Kong are typically associated with traditional Chinese festivals, such as Lunar New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Dragon Boat Festival. Other public holidays include National Day, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day, and Christmas Day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">September equinox</span> When sun appears directly over equator

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddha's Birthday</span> Birthday of Siddhartha Gautama

Buddha's Birthday or "'Buddha Day"' is a primarily Buddhist festival that is celebrated in most of South, Southeast and East Asia, commemorating the birth of the prince Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Gautama Buddha and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition and archaeologists, Gautama Buddha, c. 563-483 BCE, was born at Lumbini in Nepal. Buddha's mother was Queen Maya Devi, who delivered the Buddha while undertaking a journey to her native home, and his father was King Śuddhodana. The Mayadevi Temple, its gardens, and an Ashoka Pillar dating from 249 BCE mark the Buddha's birth place at Lumbini.

Religion in Hong Kong is characterised by a multi-faith diversity of beliefs and practices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UTC+08:00</span> Identifier for a time offset from UTC of +8

UTC+08:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of +08:00.

Holiday stamps are a type of postage stamp issued to commemorate a particular religious festival or holiday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macao Special Administrative Region passport</span> Passports issued to Chinese citizens of Macau

The Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of Chinapassport is a passport issued to Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Macau.

Events and festivals in Macau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cross-Strait charter</span> Charter flights flying directly between Taiwan and Mainland China

The cross-strait charters are special flights between Taiwan and mainland China, across the Taiwan Strait. After the Chinese Civil War, no direct flights were allowed between Taiwan and mainland China; this remained the case until 2003. Passengers had to transfer in a third city, such as Hong Kong, to complete their trip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese New Year</span> Traditional Chinese holiday

Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring, observances traditionally take place from Chinese New Year's Eve, the evening preceding the first day of the year, to the Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the year. The first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February.

Confucius’ Birthday, falls on the 27th day of the eighth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. It is officially celebrated on Taiwan as "Teachers' Day" on September 28, and in Hong Kong on the third Sunday of September as "Confucius Day", though the traditional date is also often observed. Mainland China observes a "Teachers' Day" on September 10 to celebrate the efforts of today's teachers, and there is a legislative effort underway to move that to September 28.

References

  1. Hui, Vikki (2022-01-31). "Lunar New Year is celebrated across Asian communities, but each has their own traditions". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
  2. "Lunar New Year 2022: What does the holiday and the Year of the Tiger represent?". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2022-07-24. The United States is also home to some celebrations. Overall, over about 1.5 billion people across the world will take part in the festivities.