Chinese festivals and holidays

[sun888_99]

Dear cecil,
What other festivals and holidays chinese people celebrate besides the lunar year. Thanks.

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Anon,
Yes, there are many festive holidays in the Chinese calendar.
In fact, too many to be listed out on this page. Practically each season has a few festive holidays.
As China in the past is more an agricultural country, many of the festivities are to `celebrate' e.g. the start of harvests etc...
In the near future, we will provide dates for each particular festivities celebrated.
A few of the more common festivities are:
1. The festival of the hungry ghosts - To applease these ghosts so that they do not make trouble for individuals on the earth. As in every 7th month of the Lunar Year, ghosts were said to be let out of the underworld and they may cause havoc.
This period is a NO NO for marriage, going `outdoors', renovations, buying /selling a house etc...
2. Cheng Meng
This is the day where family members visit the grave of a dear and beloved. Prior to this, the caretakers of the gravesite would be paid to clear the weeds and grass and tidy each grave.
When the family members pay a visit at the gravesite, they would offer offerings e.g. food, buring jost sticks, `underground' money or `fake money' where these are burned and `hoping' that the dead would receive it and use them.
3. Dragon Boat Festival and eating `dumplings' i.e. glutonious rice filled with meat fillings.
Besides the above, there are many many more festivities. But of course, there is no `public holidays' other than for Chinese Lunar New Year in countries like Singapore and Malaysia.
I believe, if you are really interested in such details can search the web for such books or browse your local library or book store on " Chinese Festivities ".
At a later date, once Robert has completed most of the program enhancements will make a program to highlight a specific festivity and duration.
For example, as the 7th month is an important taboo, this will be highlighted for those logging into the web.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

Quote

On 11/1/99 4:24:14 AM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear cecil,
What other festivals and
holidays chinese people
celebrate besides the lunar
year. Thanks.
 

[Cecil Lee]

2018/2019 Happy Dumpling Festival Whatsapp exhange

[Cecil Lee]

2 June 2023 - Vesak Day

[Cecil Lee]

TRIVIA

Not all countries celebrate Vesak Day on the same day!

Source & Credit:

[Cecil Lee]

 Duanwu in Mandarin Chinese
Tuen Ng in the Cantonese dialect
Hokkien dialect as Bak Chang Festival

The Chinese Dumpling festival or or Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. 
In 2023, this day is 22 June 2023 

[Cecil Lee]

Major Chinese Festivals

Lunar Date	Name of Festival	Description
Last day of the 12th month	Eve of Chinese New Year	Keeping brooms out of sight. To prevent what one wishes for in the new year being swept away. Chinese family gather together to have their `reunion' dinner in the evening. All family members (including daughter-in-law) have a feast together.
1st Month, 1st Day	Chinese Lunar New Year	Chinese celebrate the 1st day of Chinese New Year Traditionally (in the past) the picture of the two door gods are pasted on doors:- . General Qin Shu Bao and General Yuchi Jingde of the early Tang Dynasty. Both Generals hold golden axes in their hands and held a sword, bow and arrows on their waist. Some people instead prefer to write their names on the doors instead of hanging their pictures. Make offerings (food) and offer incense to ancestors. Traditionally Fire crackers were let off to drive away evil and illnesses. Chinese couples and their children would visit relatives especially their parents and elders and present them with two mandarin oranges and a `Red packet' or Ang Pow.
1st Month, 2nd Day	2nd Day of Chinese New Year	The daughter-in-law returns to her home to renew ties with her parents, brothers and sisters.
1st Month, 3rd Day	3rd Day of Chinese New Year	Faithful dog day. This day, some Chinese are superstitious and will stay at home to relax and do not visit relatives.
1st Month, 4th Day	4th Day of Chinese New Year	Only after 12.00pm, burning pictures of deities, gods and their bodyguards in the hope that they receive the invitation to visit earth.
1st Month, 5th Day	5th Day of Chinese New Year	The day to bring out rubbish to throw away. The day to remove offerings to the deities and gods. For businesses, offerings to the gods and hang a red cloth over the shop front.
1st Month, 8th Day	8th Day of Chinese New Year	Day of the Heavenly stars or God of Stars. At night, place an altar outdoors and make offering to the stars.
1st Month, 9th Day	9th Day of Chinese New Year	Birthday of the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor was considered a supreme deity who had created Heaven and Earth. He lived in the Jade Capital Mount and thus was known as the Jade Emperor. He is also known as Ti Kong or Heaven God. On this day, some Chinese offer incense and pay their respects to him.
1st Month, 15th Day	Last day of Chinese New Year.	This is the last day of Chinese New Year. In Northern China, originated from the reign of Emperor Wu Di of the Han Dynasty; a pair of lanterns are hung outside the home. Fire crackers were allow let off.

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