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Festivals in Beijing

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Qingdao Beer Festival

Qingdao Beer Festival

Paul W. Davies

China Festivals are celebrated throughout the year. Chinese, unlike most of the western countries, follow the lunar calendar, so the festival dates vary from year to year when looking at a Roman calendar. Festivals are an integral part of Chinese tradition, and these festivals are celebrated with great joy and grandeur. Some of the Chinese festivals are decribed below:

Chinese New Year 

Chinese New Year is the most colorful of all the festivals of China, and it is celebrated for about two weeks. Celebration starts on the eve of New Year, when people buy new clothes, decorate their houses, and then pray to "Tso Kwan" (The Stove master). Chinese believe that Tso Kwan goes to heaven on this day to report the behavior of humans for the year. New Years Day is celebrated with people wearing new clothes and exchanging small red pouches with money in them.

The third day of the year is known as "Kai Nien." On the fifteenth day of the New Year, a spectacular lantern festival begins, and it continues for three days. Colorful lanterns bearing the signs of wealth and fortune are bought and hung on walls of people's homes. During the two weeks of New Year Festival period, you will find Lion dancers (dancers masked as lions) performing all over China.

Ching Ming

Ching Ming, celebrated in early April, is a festival known as "Remembrance of Ancestors day." On this day, the Chinese people visit their ancestors' graveyards and clean them. They also hang willow twigs and branches in the doorways to ward off evil spirits. It is believed that if anyone does not hang willow twigs, then they will be born as yellow dog in their next life.

Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival

It is an exciting festival in the southern part of China. This festival is held in June to honor the great Chinese poet and patriot Wut Yuan. Wut Yuan was a high-ranking official in State of Chu who tried to clean the corrupt system and wrote many poems against the evil officials. Despite his many attempts, he could not change the system, and eventually got frustrated and committed suicide by jumping into Milo River. When his followers heard the news of his death, they rushed to the river and took the boats and beat the river water with paddles so that the fishes would go away and not eat the body of Wut Yuan. Today the Dragon boat, usually 45 to 120 feet long, has a fierce dragon head in front of the boat. Races are held to commemorate the death of Wut Yuan.

Mid Autumn Festival

This is the second most popular festival in China. The Tang Dynasty kings started the practice of moon watching, and autumn was the best time for moon watching. This day is celebrated only to watch the moon. People take colorful lanterns and travel to vast, open spaces or high areas to watch the moon. The lanterns used on this occasion are found in many shapes such as sharks, kites, speedboats, yachts and airplanes. People also exchange pastries and cakes on this day.

 

 

 


Contributors
April 06, 2010 change by ashmita
October 26, 2005 change by out of the grey

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Festivals of Ethnic Minority Peoples

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Chinese ethnic minority peoples also have their own unique festivities.
Mongolian People' s Nadam Fair

The Nadam Fair is a traditional festival celebrated in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the 7th lunar month."Nadam" is the Mongolian word for"recreation" or"games"."It was first held by the Mongolians in the or"games. Han Dynasty. (206 B.C.--220 A.D.)

The Mongolians are a people fond of sports activities. The three main kinds are: horse racing, wrestling, and archery (regarded by the local people as men's three events)

The Mongolians grow more..

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tel:Festivals of Ethnic Minority Peoples
url:www.china-tour.cn
date:2007/3/13
address:xi'an
email:yayawilliam@gmail.com

Lantern Festival

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The Lantern Festival (also called Yuanxiao Festival) is on the 15th day of the first Chinese lunar month. It is closely related to Spring Festival.In the old days, people began preparing for the Spring Festival about 20 days before. However, After the Lantern Festival,everything returns to normal. Yuan literally means first, while Xiao refers to night. yuanxiao is the first time when we see the full moon in the new year. It is traditionally a time for family reunion.

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url:www.chinahighlights.com
date:Jan 15th of Chinese Lunar Calender

Spring Festival

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Spring Festival is the most important festival in China. All the traditional festivals in China are based on the Chinese lunar calendar. The Spring Festival marks the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year. In Chinese, we also say Guo Nian, meaning keeping off the monster of Nian.

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url:www.chinahighlights.com
date:Jan 1st of China's Lunar Calendar

Qingdao Beer Festival

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Qingdao Beer Festival
Qingdao Beer Festival
 photo by: Paul W. Davies

First Launched in 1991, the Qingdao Beer Festival is the largest of its kind in Asia.  Thousands of people descend on Qingdao every August to enjoy the tastes and smells of this amazing event. It opens in the second weekend of August.

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url:www.easytourchina.com
date:August every year

The Moon Festival

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The Moon Festival is one of the major widely celebrated festival in China. It is on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Since it falls in mid-autumn in Chinese lunar calendar and celebrated on the 15th of the month, it is also called “Mid-Autumn Festival”. The moon plays a significant role in this festival. Chinese people love to climb up to an open space or the top of the mountain to get a clear view of Autumn’s auspicious full moon.

 

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url:www.allchinanet.com
date:15th day of the eighth lunar month

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