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Spring Festival, which is also known as Chinese New Year in many parts of the world, is perhaps the most important and grandiose among many Chinese traditional festivals. Falling on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month (which can be between late January and early February) of each year, the Spring Festival is celebrated extensively until the 15th day.
People celebrate this Chinese traditional festival in many ways. Family members do some intensive house cleaning – sweeping and polishing the floor, scrubbing the walls, wiping dust off almost everything in their houses. They then decorate their houses with creatively cut pieces of red paper onto which they write wishes for fortune, happiness, and good health. By doing these practices, Chinese people believe that they would be able to drive away bad luck and invite good luck into their households.
During the Spring Festival, fireworks, dragon and lion dances, and other traditional performances are staged in the parks or on the streets. Indeed the most important of all Chinese traditional festivals, Spring Festival brings together Chinese families together to start a brand new year.
| Dragon and Lion Dances | Red Cut Paper |
Lantern Festival is one of the major Chinese traditional festivals that culminates the two-week Spring Festival. It falls on the first night of the year that has a full moon.
On this Chinese traditional festival, people mark the beginning of spring by eating sweet dumplings served in soup called Yuanxiao or Tangyuan, a symbol of staying together. They also watch fireworks – believed to drive away evil spirits – and lighting lanterns – symbols of bright future.
This important Chinese traditional festival is also an occasion for the Chinese to exhibit their modern creativity by making lanterns of various shapes, sizes, colors, and designs. Some lanterns are also plastered with curious riddles to be solved by revelers of this Chinese traditional festival.
| Lantern Festival | Yuanxiao/Tangyuan |
The Mid-autumn Festival is perhaps the most highly anticipated Chinese traditional festival next to the Spring Festival. On the night of this Chinese traditional festival, the moon is said to be at its most beautiful, fullest and roundest than any other day of the year. Thus, people feast on mooncakes of many varieties and round pomelos under the bright full moon.
There have been many legends about the Moon Festival. However, many consider it as a Chinese traditional festival that people started celebrating in ancient times to observe the end of the fall harvest in agricultural China.
| Mid-autumn Festival | Mooncakes |
A significant Chinese traditional festival, the Dragon Boat festival is a day for many Chinese people to rediscover peace in their lives and drive off pestilence. Among the many Chinese traditional festivals, the Dragon Boat festival is said to have the longest running history, as it continues to be celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar for centuries.
The highlights of this day are the dragon boat races, where competing groups of rowers paddle their boats swiftly to the pulse of pounding drums. The most popular dish on this traditional Chinese festival is the zong zi , which is sweet rice wrapped in bamboo leaves and filled with varied fillings like pork, nut, or egg.
| Dragon Boat Festival | Zong zi |
On the 12th day of the 3rd lunar month, Chinese people observe a Chinese traditional festival called Qingming, called Tomb Sweeping Day. Falling on either April 4 or April 5 when snow has melted and plants have began to sprout, the Tomb Sweeping Day is a time to pay respects to deceased ancestors.
People tend to the graves of their loved ones who passed away and offer them food. They also burn Bank of Hell banknotes to offer money to their ancestors who might need the money in after-life. On this Chinese traditional festival, Chinese people also fly colorful kites into the sky.
Among the many Chinese traditional festivals, the Tomb Sweeping Day is an occasion on which people remember the dead and have a good time with the living.
| Tomb Sweeping Day | Flying Kites |
You may also want to browse:
>> Guide to China's Best and Attractive Unique Festivals
>> Modern Chinese Festivals
