The Spring Festival begins in China. Moon Festival - full moon festival in China How music festivals are held in China

Holidays and events of China 2020: the most important festivals and exciting events, National holidays and events in China. Photos and videos, descriptions, reviews and timings.

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March 3, 2020 Carnival Chavannes
The Shawan Carnival, whose origins lie in the rich culture and special art of enjoying the life of the inhabitants of the nearest suburb of Guangzhou Shawan, is held annually on the third of March in Chinese lunar calendar. This colorful, noisy and fun carnival is dedicated to spring.
April 20 - 25, 2020 Dragon Festival
June 25, 2020 Dragon Boat Festival
August 12, 2020 King Pangu Festival
November 4, 2020 Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong
November 11, 2020 Singles' Day in China
December 8, 2020 Changchun Snow Sculpture Festival
December 31, 2020 New Year in Hainan
December 31, 2020 New Year in Hong Kong
January 15 – 21, 2021 Guangzhou Temple Fair
11 - 13 February 2021 Boluo Temple Festival
February 14, 2021 Chinese Valentine's Day

A country of ancient traditions, secrets and age-old wisdom, mysterious China attracts the attention of many tourists. And it’s not surprising - many things are unique here, including holidays. Lovers of European traditions are in for a cultural shock; it is not customary to celebrate here New Year- only in large shopping centers you can see a decorated spruce. No fireworks, no noisy feasts. And all because the Chinese New Year - also known as the Spring Festival - has long been celebrated on the second new moon after winter solstice, mass celebrations and fairs last for several days and end with the Lantern Festival - an analogue of St. Valentine's Day.

The Chinese use light, noise and red decorations to scare away the ancient monster Nian. The defeat of the monster symbolizes the coming of the new year.

International Women's Day in China also passes unnoticed, all attention is focused on Arbor Day - on this day, March 12, plants are planted en masse, paying tribute to the revolutionary Sun Yat-sen. No less interesting is Qing Ming, a holiday of purity and clarity, with walks through the first greenery and respectful visits to the graves of the dead.

In mid-April it is held international festival kites, in color and scale not inferior to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. For a long time, the Chinese have revered these wise, noble and merciful creatures towards people.

In mid-April, China hosts an international kite festival, which is as colorful and large-scale as the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

The May holidays are rather perceived as a reason to relax - and in China on May 1st they have a 7-day vacation - and to get together with friends. On these same days, the Feast of the Heavenly Empress Mazu and China's Youth Day are celebrated. Mother's Day traditionally falls on the second Sunday in May, and Father's Day on the third Sunday in June.

The summer period opens with one of the most significant traditional holidays - the Dragon Boat Festival, which in China is celebrated on a grand scale for 3 days. The grateful Honoring of Heaven towards the end of summer is replaced by the most romantic holiday - Valentine's Day, otherwise Double Seven Day, the best time for fortune telling for your betrothed.

Another tribute to European traditions - Teacher's Day, September 10 - also symbolizes the country's desire to raise the intellectual level of youth. And again the attention of all residents and guests of China turns to traditions - the Moon and Harvest Festival is coming. On September 28, the Chinese honor the memory of the ancient philosopher Confucius, who had a tremendous influence on the worldview of civilization as a whole.

The most important national holiday is Chinese Education Day. People's Republic- falls on October 1st.

New traditions are not alien to China - for several years now, November 8 has been celebrated as Journalist's Day. And one of the happiest days is the winter solstice, December 22, when the memory of ancestors is honored and traditional dishes are prepared.

Chinese holidays are divided into national official and traditional. Here, for example, as in many post-Soviet countries, Workers' Day is celebrated - May 1, and March 8 - International Women's Day. Traditional ones celebrate according to the lunar calendar, on certain days. The list includes the official state and New Year according to European traditions - this day is a day off.

There are seven Chinese holidays in the local calendar, when the country's population has legal days off. For hardworking citizens, whose workweek lasts sixty hours and only ten days are given for vacation per year, this is time for trips to see relatives, travel and additional rest with family.

Holidays. What are there in this country?

Holidays on Chinese calendar:

Traditional New Year is January 1st.
Chinese Spring Festival (according to the lunar calendar, the dates are different every year, ranging from January 21 to February 21).
Qingming - Memorial Day, April 4th or 5th.
Workers' Solidarity Day - May 1st.
The beginning of summer is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month.
Gray Autumn Festival - 15th day of the 8th lunar month.
The founding day of the People's Republic of China is October 1.

There are other significant dates in the calendar dedicated to traditions, national heroes of the country, children, and language. But these days the local residents do not rest and do not organize magnificent celebrations.

Chinese New Year - Chunjie

The celebration of the New Year in the generally accepted sense is not given much importance. The most popular, longest lasting and bright holiday is Chinese New Year. It is celebrated for two weeks, but there are only 7 official days off. The working population for the most part lives in large cities of the country and tries to get home to their relatives on this weekend. Chinese new year holidays- purely family event. Celebrate the occasion with family.

The arrival of the new year marks the beginning of spring. Its name - chunjie - is translated from Chinese as spring festival. Many myths and legends, various superstitions are dedicated to this celebration, which modern Chinese still stick to it.

According to legend, the new year began with the coming of a mythical animal to the villages, which ate food supplies, livestock and even small children. To protect themselves from this beast, people left a large number of food on the threshold of their homes. It was believed that the more the mythical animal ate, the calmer it would become and would not eat children. One time people saw that the animal got scared and ran away from the child, who was dressed in red clothes. Then they decided: in order to scare away the mythical animal, they should hang garlands, lanterns and scrolls of all shades of red on houses and streets. It was also believed that the beast could be frightened by loud noise. Before the invention of gunpowder, kitchen utensils were used to make noise and drive away the uninvited guest. Later in the country, during the celebration, it became customary to set off firecrackers, firecrackers and fireworks.

During the Chinese New Year holidays, houses and streets are decorated with red lanterns and garlands. The beginning of the year is celebrated with family feasts, giving each other gifts in red bags with wishes of health and prosperity.

On the eve of the holiday, according to tradition, it is customary to do a general cleaning of the home, throwing away everything old and unnecessary that has accumulated over the year. Stagnant energy is thrown out of houses with garbage and rubbish, and new and clean qi will take the vacated space.

It is not customary for the Chinese to put up a Christmas tree. It is replaced by tangerines and oranges, laid out on trays in the amount of eight pieces. Eight is a symbol of infinity. And citrus fruits symbolize well-being and prosperity. All shades of red are present not only in New Year's decorations, but also in clothes.

Mass processions and performances are held on city streets, and fireworks are set off at night.

Yuanxiaojie

The festivities conclude with the Chinese Lantern Festival - Yuanxiaojie. It is believed that this celebration marks the arrival of spring. On the night of the 15th day of the first lunar month, millions of lanterns light up all over China.

Sky lanterns are a real work of art. Traditionally, they are made of paper and a lightweight frame. And they are launched into the night sky with the help of hot air from small candles on the frame. Modern models made from plastic bags. Lantern festivals are held in major cities of the republic.

Festival of Pure Light - Qingming

These days, the Chinese remember the dead. The holiday begins on the 15th day after the spring equinox, on the 108th after the winter solstice. In 2018, this day falls on April 5th.

Two to three days are allocated for these events. When do they start chinese holidays, dedicated to the memory of their deceased ancestors, local residents go to cemeteries to restore order near the graves, decorate them with wreaths and flowers, and update the inscriptions on the tombstones. Afterwards they pray. Local residents also burn incense and perform bows. The Chinese believe that money exists in the afterlife. One of the rituals involves burning banknotes over the grave. To do this, people use fake money, and their copies with a non-existent denomination.

These days in China they not only commemorate deceased relatives and loved ones, but also celebrate the onset of spring. It is customary for families to go on a picnic or gather for a festive dinner. According to tradition, there should be special Chinese dishes on the table. Depending on the region of the country, they may differ.

March 8. Is it celebrated in China?

The Chinese holiday March 8th is not considered a day off in the country. But, as in other countries where it is customary to celebrate International Women’s Day, men try to buy gifts and present flowers in advance. The Chinese are practical people; they believe that a gift should be useful, even if not very expensive. Men give women:

flowers;
sweets;
fashionable clothes;
cosmetics;
gift certificates to spas or beauty salons.

For the girls who work here, most employers give a short working day on March 8th.

May 1 - Workers' Solidarity Day

Workers' Solidarity Day in China dates back to 1918. The country's revolutionary-minded intelligentsia distributed leaflets announcing this day. The first demonstrations took place in China in 1920. dedicated to the Day labor. In 1949, the government declared May 1 an official holiday.

Traditionally, the country rests for 3 days, from May 1 to May 3. In 2018, due to the postponement of May holidays, the May holidays will last from April 29 to May 1.

These days, speeches by party leaders are held on the streets, and business leaders at festive meetings reward the best workers. People attend concerts with their families and go on short trips out of town.

Beginning of Summer - Duanwu Dragon Boat Festival

This celebration is also called the double five holiday. Because it is celebrated in months. Traditional Chinese holidays usually mark the beginning of summer. Three days off are allotted for the celebration. Most Chinese people use their weekends to visit their relatives. Therefore, there is a large influx of passengers on all types of transport.

The main tradition of the holiday is dragon boat racing. Competitions are held throughout the country on such water transport, whose shape resembles dragons. The distance the boats travel is about 1.5 kilometers. The number of rowers is up to 20 people, one of them sits on the bow of the boat and beats the drum. On this day, it is customary to serve tsunzi as a treat. These are rice balls with various fillings, wrapped in sheets of reed or bamboo, tied with ribbons.

Where does this tradition come from?

It was on this day during the Warring States era that Qu Yuan, a wise minister who served in the royal court, died. Having many ill-wishers, he was sent into exile more than once, where he met his death. According to some sources, he committed suicide out of despair. According to another version, his enemies killed him and threw his body into the river. People, having learned about this, began to look for him.

They threw rice into the water. They did this in order to feed the fish, which could harm the body. According to legend, the spirit of an official who appeared to people said that all the rice was eaten by a river dragon. To scare him away, the cereal must be wrapped in bamboo leaves and tied with ribbon, and you must also make noise. Thus, rice balls and boat races accompanied by drumming became the symbol of this celebration.

Mid-Autumn Festival - Zhongqiujie

One of the most important Chinese holidays, second in importance only to the New Year, marks the middle of the annual cycle. This year it falls on September 24th. On the day dedicated to the celebration, it is customary to treat each other to mooncakes. What are they? Let's figure it out now. Yuebin - mooncakes various shapes filled with a mixture of nuts, fruits, lotus or bean paste. These products depict hieroglyphs, flowers and ornaments.

There are several legends on the basis of which this Chinese holiday originated in China. One of them says that the wife of an earthly man drank a magic elixir, given to him by a sorceress for his merits. After which the latter sent the girl to the moon as punishment. After her death, her husband went to the Sun. They are allowed to meet only once a year, on a mid-autumn day. Wife bakes for husband's arrival

However, there is a more prosaic explanation for this holiday. For residents in rural areas, this celebration occurs at the end of September - beginning of October. At this time, the harvest has already been harvested. And this is a reason to gather with your family and celebrate.

People gather with close relatives at the festive table. At the same time, they admire the night light at night. It is believed that the moon is especially beautiful on this day. Those who are away from home and were unable to join their relatives also look at the moon at this time and think about their family.

The beginning of spring (New Year) and the Mid-Autumn Festival are the most important Chinese national holidays. They symbolize turning points in terms of weather conditions and the calendar. New Year is celebrated at the very beginning of spring. That is, when cold winds are still blowing, but you can feel the approach of spring. And the day of mid-autumn occurs at a time when nature begins to prepare for winter.

Founding Day of the People's Republic of China

Public Holiday. The process of celebrating it lasts five days. This is exactly the period for the celebration that the government of the country has allocated. For this day, it is customary to erect huge compositions of fresh flowers on the main streets of the capital. The main square of Beijing - Tiananmen - is decorated with special pomp every year. Here, on October 1, 1949, after the ceremony of raising the national flag, Mao Zedong announced the creation of the People's Republic of China. The scenario of this celebration is similar to the celebration of Workers' Day - folk festivals, concerts and events are held, and a grandiose fireworks display is held in the evening.

Dragon Festival. What kind of celebration is this?

Residents of China consider themselves descendants of an ancient and wise dragon. Unlike Western mythology, where such a creature is considered evil and merciless, in Chinese legends it is a great ancestor. It was he who gave birth to the whole world.

The Chinese Dragon Festival is held at the end of winter. Residents of the country pay homage to their ancestor. The most spectacular thing is the kite festival. Its program includes not only festive performances, but also competitions. Tourists and festival guests are told about the history of the origin of paper kites and are offered to take part in master classes on making the most incredible flying structures.

Festival of language. Where did it come from?

The founder of Chinese writing is Cang Jie. He developed a set of signs that became the basis for hieroglyphs. Chinese is considered one of the oldest languages on the planet. The artifacts found confirm the existence of hieroglyphs in the fourth-fifth century BC.

In honor of the founder of hieroglyphs, Cang Jie, a Chinese language holiday was invented. It is celebrated on the twentieth of April. This holiday was founded by the UN in 2010, when different countries The same days of national languages were established.

A little conclusion

Now you know the Chinese holidays. As you can see, there are not very many of them, but they are there. For Chinese citizens, each of these holidays is incredibly important. Therefore, local residents carefully prepare for the celebration.

The Spring Festival in China is one of the largest holidays on the planet. Every year, tens of thousands of Chinese return to their homeland to celebrate the Lunar New Year with their families. Tourists should take into account all the features of the busy festival time and plan their movements around China during this period in advance.

Chinese New Year begins on February 3rd. The holiday period lasts 40 days in China - from January 19 to February 27. This allows the country's citizens to get home on time, and the transport system to cope with the influx of people. According to experts, during this period 230 million trips will be made in the country. railway and about 2.56 billion bus trips. Major transport hubs such as Shanghai Airport have already increased ticket sales, writes the Independent.

Those who are afraid of large crowds should avoid visiting the cities of Sanya (Hainan Island), Lijiang (Yunnan Province), Xiamen (Fujian Province) and Harbin: they are especially popular with the Chinese during the Spring Festival. Also, many residents of the country have expressed their desire to attend the celebrations in Hong Kong, and there is a possibility that the city will be literally packed with tourists.

Celebrating the New Year in China is an ancient tradition. These days, thousands of fireworks are launched into the sky, various processions and carnivals take place. The Chinese carefully decorate their homes for the holiday, and shops and restaurants offer traditional New Year's dishes.

Traditionally, every year, at the end of the winter season, on the eve of spring, the Chinese people solemnly and joyfully celebrate the first holiday of the year - the Spring Festival. This holiday is accompanied by posting pairs of red paper inscriptions on both sides of the entrance to the house, and the inside is decorated with New Year's paintings. The night before the Spring Festival is called "yushi". On this night the whole family gets together. A rich festive dinner is being prepared, the traditional dish of which is dumplings.

At eight o'clock in the evening, the broadcast of the annual New Year's Eve begins from Beijing, which continues for four hours. This program is watched by all residents of China. Dinner begins around midnight. After dinner there are conversations different topics, games are held. Many people prefer to stay up all night. This is called "shousui" - waiting for the New Year. The next day, in the morning, it is customary to go to relatives and friends with congratulations. Nowadays, with the help of phones, there is no longer a need to go to someone, because it can be done over the phone. Because of this, relationships between people began to change. During the spring festival, concerts are held on the streets of the city with lion dances, dragon dances, round dances of land boats, and performances on stilts.

According to local traditions that have been observed for many hundreds of years, the New Year holiday is celebrated twice in China. The first time is on January 1, as in most Christian countries, and then, again, on another day, which is calculated according to the Chinese lunar calendar. The holiday can fall on any day between January 23 and February 19.

According to tradition, the festive dinner should be prepared several hours before midnight: after all, in the kitchen you inevitably have to use knives, and you can accidentally cut them off and lose the happiness already destined by fate. The New Year's table is almost always served with dumplings, which are usually made by yourself.

IN New Year's holiday Red color predominated everywhere - the color of the sun, the color of joy. Cleanly tidied houses were hung with cheerful New Year pictures, drawn on red paper, as well as two sayings (dui zi) with New Year wishes. In the villages of Northern China, many women and children dressed in all red, down to their stockings and shoes. Women wore red flowers made of velvet or silk on their heads. Even in the poorest families, parents gave their daughters a red braid cord.

There was a belief that evil spirits were afraid of the color red, so before the New Year, red strips of paper were glued to a variety of objects. A few days before the New Year, peasants bought square sheets of red paper on which hieroglyphs with wishes of happiness and wealth were written in gold ink. Such pieces of paper were glued to house doors, household utensils, and also to agricultural implements: plow, harrow, hoe, etc.

Before the New Year, all the old paper talismans were removed from the walls and new ones were pasted in their place. Five long strips of paper were hung on the door lintel, symbolizing the “five types of happiness”: luck, honor, longevity, wealth and joy.

Decorative lanterns of various shapes were considered a mandatory attribute when celebrating the New Year. Particularly popular were four- and hexagonal lanterns and gas lamps covered in colored fabric with various patterns. On the eve of the holiday they were hung in every house. The Chinese were very fond of lanterns with images of dragons; they were held in their hands when performing the dragon dance.

At the end of the old year and at the beginning of the new year, superstitious people took all measures to prevent the influence of evil spirits and win over the good ones. On the first day of the new year, it was forbidden to throw anything on the floor, it was forbidden to use a knife or needle, since these objects were metal and could cause harm; words such as “demon”, “illness”, “death”, etc. were not allowed to be uttered. If someone carelessly broke a cup, it darkened the general mood: the whole year could turn out to be gloomy. To intimidate evil spirits Images of the spirit of animals, as well as a tiger, were pasted onto the gates of houses.

Other means were also used to get rid of evil spirits. For example, the mistress of the house poured a vinegar solution into a saucepan with a long handle and placed it on a clay stove heated by burning charcoal. The vinegar solution evaporated and filled the air with acrid smoke. Then the hostess took the pan by the handle and swung it, like a censer, around the corners of the room and under the table, thus driving out evil spirits.

Buddhist and Taoist monks were specially invited for the same purpose. Dressed in bright robes, they went around the houses and cast various spells. It was especially difficult to fight obsessions in those families that suffered from misfortunes in the old year. To help them, the spellcasting monk resorted to a variety of techniques. Dressed in a red robe and a black cap, he stood with a sword made of peach wood in front of an improvised altar on which wax candles were burning and smoldering incense candles.

Having placed the sword on the altar, the monk poured the ash into a cup filled with spring water, after which he took it into the right hand sword, and with his left hand he raised his cup and said a prayer: “Gods of heaven and earth! Entrust me with the heavenly seal so that I can drive out evil spirits from people’s homes.” Having received powers from the gods, the caster made a call to the demons: “Leave the abode of people at the speed of light.” Then he took willow twigs, dipped them in a cup and sprinkled them on the east, west, south and north corners of the house. When this ceremony ended, the caster loudly said: “Death to the earthly spirits who came from the unlucky stars, or let them go home!” Walking around the room, he said: “Death to the red fire spirits in the southern corner; death to the white spirits in the western corner; death to the yellow spirits in the center of the room,” etc.

The ceremony of expelling evil spirits did not end there. To the accompaniment of a gong and a drum, the exorcist shouted: “Evil spirits of the East, go to the East; evil spirits of the South and North, go to the South and North. Let all the spirits disappear immediately!” Having completed the ritual, the caster approached the door of the house, uttered mysterious spells, and waved his sword in the air, thereby preventing the return of evil spirits.

The caster's work ended with him congratulating the residents of the house on expelling the uninvited guests and receiving an appropriate reward for this.

New Year in China is one of the most colorful holidays in the world: the glow of lanterns, parades, fireworks... The traditions of celebrating the year according to the lunar calendar are somewhat different in China and Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, but the holiday motto knows no geographical boundaries and everywhere is the same - wishes of peace and happiness to family and friends and welcoming the coming spring. This is a time for relaxation and meetings with family and friends.

History of Chinese New Year celebrations dates back many centuries and comes, oddly enough, from the ancient celebration of welcoming spring. Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the lunar new year.

The New Year celebration begins on the first day of the new moon and lasts 15 days until the full moon. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival. In the evening of this day, lights are lit everywhere.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in China are considered family holidays. It is customary to spend this time with family, traditionally paying tribute to the memory and respect of deceased ancestors, for whom it is traditional to set a separate festive table. IN last night This year, children strive to come to their parents to show them their respect. The youngest try their best to stay awake for as long as possible in New Year's Eve: According to Chinese belief, the longer they stay awake, the longer their parents will live. A traditional dish for celebrating the New Year in China is dumplings.

In preparation for the New Year celebration, the Chinese decorate their homes with vases of fresh flowers and dishes full of oranges and tangerines. A tray with eight types of candied fruit is also required. Posters with wishes of happiness, good luck, and holiday poems are hung on the walls and doors - always on red paper.

One of the traditional Chinese New Year cards depicts the hieroglyph "fu", meaning happiness, luck, prosperity. And only on New Year's holidays the image of this hieroglyph can be seen upside down - this is the custom.

Celebrations officially begin on New Year's Eve (February 2), and one of the good ways To create a special mood for yourself if you find yourself in Hong Kong, go to the Chinese New Year Flower Market in one of the largest and most beautiful parks in Hong Kong - Victoria Park. Calligraphers, street performers, face painters and vendors of all sorts of goods vie for your attention here. Many Chinese buy plants, flowers and the obligatory oranges here to take with them on New Year's Day.

Every Chinese home must have flowering living plants as a symbol of rebirth, the beginning of a new life. Flowers are considered the key to wealth and a successful career. Particularly lucky will be a family where any flower will bloom on New Year's Eve. indoor plant. Such an event predicts prosperity for the entire next year. A composition of plum blossom branches, bamboo and pine needles signifies friendship. Plum flowers are a symbol of perseverance and perseverance, bamboo - flexibility and compatibility, pine - longevity and reliability. Also prized for the New Year are willows, azaleas, peonies, water lilies, and daffodils. The Chinese firmly believe that without flowers there will be no fruit, that’s why great importance attached to decorating the house with flowers. Yes and New Year's Greeting Cards in China they are decorated with images of flowers.

The festive color in China is red.. On the streets at this time you can see a lot of red paper decorations. According to legend, the color red and loud noise scare away a scary and violent mythological creature called "Nian". Many people paint the doors and window frames of their houses red. At the time of buying new clothes Preference is also given to red and in no case to black and white (the colors of mourning). Like any country, China has its own signs and customs of celebrating the New Year, as well as harmless superstitions.
Before the holiday, the house must be thoroughly cleaned. On New Year's Eve, all brushes, brooms, rags, and trash cans are carefully hidden. On the first day of the New Year, you should never sweep, so as not to sweep good luck out of the house. On the second day, the floors should be washed, with all debris collected from the doors to the center of the home, and then distributed in the corners. You can take out the trash from the house no earlier than the fifth day, and even then - through the back door.

In China old year chased away with fireworks on the eve of a new one. On New Year's midnight, all doors and windows of the house should be wide open to allow the old year to leave the home.

Before the New Year, all debts must be repaid. On the first day of the new year, you cannot borrow anything or even just ask for anything - even a fire for a cigarette. You should refrain from using swear words and under no circumstances pronounce the name of the number 4, which in Chinese is consonant with the word “death.” It is forbidden to mention death even figuratively; it is forbidden to talk about spirits, to tell Mystic stories. Also, you should not remember the past year; all words and thoughts should be directed to the future.

New Year's Day- happy time for children. On this day they will never be punished, because, according to superstitions, if you cry on the first day of the year, you will cry the whole year. Therefore, parents steadfastly endure the most desperate pranks of their children, so as not to cause tears with punishment.

On the first day of the year, you should not wash your hair so as not to wash away your good luck. You should only dress in red. Children and relatives are given small red envelopes with small bills enclosed - for good luck.
The most superstitious Chinese, before leaving home on the first day of the year, always check the calendar to find out the best time to leave and where to direct their steps.

The first person you meet on the way, the first words you hear - everything is of great importance in determining the luck of the coming year. It is considered especially auspicious to hear birds singing, to see swallows or birds with red plumage.

It's a bad omen in China- congratulate a person lying in bed on New Year. Therefore, on the first day of the New Year, everyone - even the sick - must get out of bed, put on festive clothes and settle down in the living room.

On the first day of the year, you should not pick up scissors so as not to accidentally cut off your luck...

The Chinese may or may not believe in these signs, but, nevertheless, most of them religiously observe the customs. Traditions in the East are passed on from generation to generation, uniting old people and young people, strengthening the inextricable link between the past and the future...

Mid-Autumn Festival is a unique event celebrated in China and Vietnam. Its other name, the Lunar Festival, fully corresponds to the specifics of the celebration. The festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar, which falls in September or early October of the Gregorian calendar, when the full moon can be seen in the sky. On this night, residents of big cities go out into the streets to admire the night light and taste unusual delicacies - “mooncakes” (round cupcakes with various fillings).

By the full moon, the Chinese complete the harvest, and the round disk of the night luminary (correlated in the Chinese tradition with the feminine principle) symbolizes fertility and prosperity. Following ancient beliefs, a lot of incense is burned to please Chanye, the mythical woman of the moon. Her companion is a rabbit who poundes the potion of immortality in a mortar. According to legend, the beautiful Chang'e mistakenly drank the potion of immortality, which served as a reward for her lover Hui. A well-aimed archer managed to shoot down nine stars, the light of which could overheat the earth, for which the Emperor gave him an elixir, which he was supposed to drink in small sips. Having drunk the forbidden drink in one gulp, Chang'e flew to the moon, and Huoi, after death, ascended to the sun. Since then, lovers can meet only once a year, on the 15th day of the eighth month.

During the lunar festival, the streets are lively - families walk until the morning, which children are especially happy about. They are not averse to eating “mooncakes”, which are abundant everywhere. By the way, it is believed that these sweets played a special role in the history of China. With their help, in the 14th century, public figures managed to raise a rebellion against the Yuan dynasty. Despite the ban on holding meetings, activist Liu Futong distributed many gingerbread cookies, each of which contained a note calling for the overthrow of the government.

Since ancient times, the Chinese people have been known for their great hard work, but at the same time there are a considerable number of holidays in their calendar. Of these, we can distinguish traditional ones, rooted in ancient history, and borrowed ones, which came from other countries. The first category is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, with the exception of significant historical events, while borrowed ones have fixed dates.

The ancient Chinese attached great importance to ritual, which is reflected in the written monuments that have survived to our time. This concept had a very deep meaning for them. It was based on the imitation of celestial phenomena, such as the change of seasons, weather, etc. They believed that if you follow a routine and do everything in a timely manner, there will never be confusion, and people will always live in harmony with heaven and earth. Therefore, national holidays in China have many interesting and beautiful traditions, which are followed by all Chinese people, young and old.

The most significant national holidays

Since ancient times, the Chinese have used their own calendar system. Their months coincide with the alternation of lunar phases, that is, they begin and end on the new moon. Even birthdays in China are celebrated according to the phases of the moon, for example, on the 5th day of the 2nd lunar month. The Gregorian calendar was introduced in China only at the beginning of the 20th century.

In addition, from time immemorial the Chinese have had a system of counting time according to the sexagesimal cycle, based on changes in the phases of Qi energy and which has no analogues in other cultures. It is called the solar calendar. It is used much less frequently than the lunar one and is the basis of Chinese astrology. Even in ancient sources, basic astrological categories are described - 10 heavenly trunks and 12 earthly branches. Each day, month and year in the solar calendar is indicated by two hieroglyphs, one of which denoted the heavenly trunk, and the other the earthly branch. The years add up to large cycles that repeat every 60 years.

The favorite holidays with ancient traditions in the Middle Kingdom are Chun Jie (Chinese New Year), Duanwu (Dragon Boat Festival), Qingming and Mid-Autumn Festival. It is worth talking about them in detail.

Chinese New Year (春节 chūnjié) or Spring Festival in China

Literally translated, Chun Jie means “spring festival” and represents the awakening of nature, the beginning of growth. It begins to be celebrated on the 1st day of the 1st month, which according to the European calendar falls on one of the days from January 21 to February 21, and ends on the 15th day with the Lantern Festival. At the same time, only the first 7 days of the new year are declared official holidays. Each new lunar year traditionally has a correspondence with one of the 12 animals and one of the five elements of Wu Xing (wood, fire, earth, metal, water). 2017 begins on January 28 and is called the year of the Red Fire Rooster.

Before the holiday begins, Chinese families gather together, and people return home from all over the world. Business activity in China is at a standstill these days. And since the Chinese simply do not have official holidays, many of them use these holidays to travel. All this leads to the fact that it is not possible to get train or plane tickets in China during this period, and train stations and airports are crowded with people.

Mythology

According to myths, in ancient times there was an evil monster Nian, who came out to people at the beginning of the new year and devoured their supplies, livestock, and sometimes people. To save themselves and their children, people placed more food on their doorstep, locked the door and prayed. But one day the monster met a boy dressed in red and was very scared. People decided that the monster was afraid of this color, and began to use red lanterns to decorate their homes and wear scarlet clothes.

There is another legend according to which an old man appeared in the village before the New Year. He promised that if he was allowed to spend the night, the animal would no longer come out to people. Before going to bed, he hung red lanterns at the entrance and set up firecrackers. The monster, seeing this decoration, got scared and ran away. In subsequent years, it no longer bothered people.

Preparatory activities

Before the attack of Chun Jie, the Chinese thoroughly clean their homes. It is believed that after the arrival of the New Year, you cannot clean for the next 2 weeks so as not to frighten away your luck, so you need to do this in advance. After cleaning, people get rid of everything they don’t need, throw the trash in the trash, making room for something new and good.

Having thus cleaned their houses, the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire begin to decorate them. The dominant color in home decor, as well as in clothing, is red: it is believed to ward off misfortunes and troubles. Paired strips with good wishes, as well as an image of the hieroglyph 福 fú "happiness". Sometimes this hieroglyph is hung upside down. The explanation for this oddity lies in a play on words: the characters 到 dào “to reach” and 倒 dǎo “to turn over” have similar spellings, and the character 福 fú, attached upside down, symbolizes the arrival of happiness.

Red lanterns are hung in the house, and the walls are decorated with special paintings. An important attribute of the holiday are oranges and tangerines: there should be strictly 8 of them in each house, and they are laid out on a tray in the shape of a circle. For the Chinese, the number eight symbolizes prosperity, wealth and spiritual growth, this is their favorite number. An image or figurine of an animal, a symbol of the year, is also required to be placed in the house.

After cleaning the house and decorating it, one should not forget about the soul. It is believed that on New Year's Eve one should forgive all grievances, complete unfinished business, that is, put a kind of full stop and enter the new year without old baggage.

Spring Festival Treats

At other times, residents of the Middle Kingdom like to go to restaurants, but New Year's dishes must be prepared with their own hands. On the last day of the year, traditionally the whole family gathers at the kitchen table and cooks. different dishes. During the cooking process, family members share their achievements with each other and make plans for the future.

To New Year's table was plentiful and satisfying, as it should be according to tradition, local residents prepare many different dishes: chicken, pork, fish, salads, sausages. Mandatory attributes of the festive table are Chinese dumplings, which are called jiaozi (饺子 jiǎozi), as well as rice and beans. Dumplings are always made by the whole family, sometimes a coin is placed inside one of them.

Don't forget about sweets, which should also be on the table a lot. Niangao rice cookies, considered a symbol of good luck, are a traditional sweet dish. This is explained by the fact that the phrases “sweet cookies” and “successful year” are pronounced the same in Chinese.

Events calendar

The New Year in the Celestial Empire is celebrated cheerfully and as noisily as possible: the Chinese believe that noise will drive away evil spirits. For this purpose, crackers, fireworks, drums, firecrackers, loud music and dancing are used. If you immediately fall asleep after a festive dinner, you will sleep through your luck. On the first day of the new year, it is customary to go to visit, as well as to the cemetery - to pay tribute to the memory of deceased relatives.

Morning next day start with prayer. People pray for health, wealth, prosperity. Then the Chinese go to visit older relatives: parents, grandparents. Children receive gifts, and beggars receive alms; on this day no one refuses them.

The next two days are dedicated to friends, all those whom you want to see next to you all year. This is a period of visits, exchange of congratulations, and warm communication. After this, the business life of the country begins to slowly revive, large and small businesses resume work.

The seventh day is called the day of the creation of man. It begins with glorifying God. To attract wealth and success in business, Singaporean Yu-Shen salad is prepared from raw fish. The number of ingredients in the salad reaches 27; when mixing them, you need to try to throw the products as high as possible in order to attract luck. This is the last official day off.

In the second week, the Chinese return to work, but in the evenings the celebration continues. On these days, gala dinners with prayer are held. Rice flour balls called yuanxiao are served on the table.

In the second half of the second week of the New Year, active preparations are underway for the Lantern Festival, which concludes the series festive events. On this day, concerts and performances are held, families walk the streets with burning lanterns. A mandatory attribute is firecrackers and fireworks. Chinese dumplings and sweet rice dishes should be on the table.

Present

First of all, in China they give gifts to children, just like here. But it is not customary to buy toys or clothes there, traditional gift is a red envelope with banknotes. They are placed under the pillow of sleeping children immediately after the festive dinner or given immediately after the feast. Envelopes with money are also given to adults.

It is not customary to give expensive gifts in China. But attention to detail is very important - color, number, symbolism. Anything associated with the number 4 should be avoided, as it is consonant with the hieroglyph for “death”. Lucky numbers are two, eight and nine. In addition to money, you can give: figurines of the symbol of the year, cards with wishes, souvenirs, talismans, etc. The owner of the house is usually given a couple of tangerines.

Qingming (清明 Qingmíng)

This holiday is celebrated according to the solar calendar, so it has a fixed date - April 4 or 5. It is celebrated on the 15th day after the vernal equinox. The name “qingming” means “pure light” in Chinese. The holiday is also called "All Souls' Day." On this day, all Chinese residents visit the graves of close relatives and pay tribute to them.

The legend about the origin of the holiday

In the ancient written source “Zuo Zhuan”, covering the period from 770 to 476. BC, a beautiful and sad legend is described, thanks to which the Qingming holiday appeared.

The heir to the throne of the Jin kingdom, whose name was Chong Er, was expelled at the behest of his father's concubine and wandered around the world for 19 years. He was accompanied by his faithful comrade-in-arms, Jie Zitui. When the prince was already dying of hunger, Jie Zitui cut a piece from his thigh and cooked it into a stew. The prince promised in response that when he came to power, he would generously thank his faithful friend. In response, he said that the best reward for him would be a wise, pure and fair ruler.

But it so happened that having received the throne, Chong Er thanked everyone who remained faithful to him, forgave all his enemies, but forgot about the one who once saved his life. Remembering him, he went to look for him, but found out that Jie had gone with his mother to live in the mountains. On the advice of others, Chong Er set fire to the forest on the mountain from 3 sides to force his faithful comrade-in-arms to come out. But after a 3-day fire, Jie Zitui’s body was found near a willow tree that was half burned, and in its hollow there was a note. In it, Jie wrote that he did not regret anything and hoped that the prince would become a pure and wise ruler.

Chong Er ordered Jie to be buried under this willow tree, and he himself swore to fulfill his covenant and become the best sovereign. He forbade lighting a fire on this day and called it Cold Food Day (Hanshi). A year later, the ruler returned to honor the memory of his friend and with a joyful feeling saw that the tree had come to life and green leaves appeared on it. And then he gave this day the name Qingming, which means “pure light.”

Chong Er went down in history as one of the most just and wise sovereigns. Under his rule, people lived in peace and prosperity.

Food

Before the reign of the Qing dynasty, it was forbidden to light a fire on this day, so cold snacks were placed on the festive table. This custom has not been preserved, but some cold dishes are still popular: boiled eggs, steamed pies.

Now the main holiday treat is Tsingtuan dumplings. The dough for them is made from rice flour with the addition of wormwood and barley shoots, and the filling is sweet bean paste. These green dumplings look quite exotic.

Customs

Today, the Qingming Festival is celebrated for only one day, but in the old days it lasted a week. People visited the graves of their ancestors, took walks outside the city, and organized sports competitions. This period was also considered the time of the arrival of spring, when the trees turn green.

Nowadays, one of the main customs of the holiday remains the veneration of deceased relatives. Old plants are removed from their graves and flowers are planted. There is a tradition of bringing the favorite foods of the deceased and leaving them at the grave. Wooden sticks for food, they are stuck vertically, according to the old custom. But at the table such actions are unacceptable: it is tantamount to wishing death on the owner.

In Qingming, Chinese families go out into the countryside for picnics where they fly kites into the sky. At night, lanterns are tied to them and released to attract health and good luck.

Dragon Boat Festival 端午节 (duān wǔ jié)

Duanwu is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. His middle name is Double Five Day. Traditional entertainment includes fun competitions on long boats shaped like a dragon. In 2017, Duanwu falls on May 28th.

The history of the holiday

From time immemorial, the Chinese have revered dragons, and on Double Five Day they made sacrifices in their honor. And later this holiday was dedicated to Qu Yuan, a poet who lived in the 3rd century BC. during the Zhangguo era.

This wise and fair man fought with all his might against corruption in the state of Chu. Having earned the full trust of the sovereign, he became his adviser. But due to the intrigues of his enemies, Qu Yuan was expelled.

The ruler, not listening to his advice, was captured and died in captivity. Qu Yuan was accepted as his successor, but history repeated itself exactly. The kingdom fell, and the inconsolable Qu jumped from a cliff into the river. His compatriots tried to find him by sailing along the river in long boats. To scare the fish away from his body, they slammed their oars on the surface of the water and threw food - rice balls - into the river, but they could not save the poet.

One day the spirit of the deceased minister came to his comrades and said that he died due to the fault of the dragon. He said that you can scare away the dragon with rice balls packed in triangular bags made of silk fabric.

Food and customs

A traditional treat for the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom are zongzi, which is made from sticky rice with a variety of fillings. Zongzi is wrapped in palm or bamboo leaves.

In all cities of China, people form teams for boat races. One boat can accommodate up to 20 people.

The bright image of the poet Qu Yuan is forever associated among the Chinese people with the fight against corruption. The Chinese authorities continue this good deed, and holidays are no exception.

Amulets against evil spirits and diseases

As the heat sets in, the Chinese are taking measures to protect themselves from summer illnesses. Bags of food are hung at the entrance medicinal herbs, which not only repel insects, but also protect against evil spirits. Children are given bags made of fabric in five colors, corresponding to the five elements. Dried herbs placed in them serve as a talisman for them.

Another talisman is a bracelet woven from threads of five colors. You need to wear it on your wrist until the first rain, and then take it off and throw it into a puddle. Children had a hieroglyph painted on their foreheads 王 (van), which translated means “prince.”

Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋 (zhōngqiū)

Zhongqiu in China is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month. The symbol of the holiday is the Moon: according to the observations of the Chinese, it is in this month that it seems to be the largest and brightest. In 2017, Zhongqiu falls on October 4 according to the European calendar.

Legends associated with Zhongqiu

Legend of the 10 suns. In ancient times, there were 10 suns in the sky, and people suffered terribly from the heat. But a hero appeared, whose name was Hou Yu, and shot down 9 luminaries with a bow. He became famous and had many students. One day he visited the Lady of Heaven, and she gave him an elixir, by taking which, you can become immortal and live in heaven. Hou Yu gave it to his wife Chang Yi for safekeeping, but a vile student tracked him down and tried to take the elixir from Chang Yi. She had no choice but to accept it herself. She became a goddess, but out of love for her husband she abandoned heaven and settled on the moon to be closer to him. After this, Hou Yu began to worship the Moon and sacrificed his wife’s most favorite dishes to her. Gradually this tradition took root.
The Legend of Mooncakes. In the 14th century, the Chinese could not set a date for the uprising against the Yuan dynasty, since the authorities forbade them to gather, and no agreement could be reached. And then one of the organizers of the uprising came up with such a trick. He baked a lot of mooncakes and asked permission to distribute them to the population in honor of the Zhongqiu holiday. Notes were hidden in the gingerbread cookies, which reported the date and time of the uprising - it was the 15th day of the 8th month. As a result, the Yuan Dynasty was overthrown and the Ming Dynasty began.

Food and traditions

On this holiday, it is customary to worship the Moon: sacrifices are made to her in the form of round pies called Yuebing (moon cake). Any product will do round shape– fruits, vegetables and others. People recite poems and sing songs dedicated to the moon. And, of course, they launch traditional lanterns.

Families gather again at the festive table, as they do when celebrating the New Year. Mooncakes are always served on the table, and if one of the household is absent, a piece is left for him. These gingerbread cookies are sold in gift boxes - they are traditionally given to loved ones as a sign of friendship and love.

Public holidays

Founding Day of the People's Republic of China

This historical date for the Chinese people is celebrated on October 1. On this significant day in 1949, the formation of the People's Republic of China was announced in the capital's Tiananmen Square. For the first ten years, on October 1, grandiose parades were held annually with the participation of military equipment, then it was proposed to hold them only on anniversary dates, and after 1984 they were abolished completely.

On this significant date for the Chinese people, the main streets and squares of Beijing are transformed beyond recognition. The city is decorated with huge flower arrangements in the form of pagodas, gazebos, animals and even the Great Wall of China. Fountains and pools are installed on the main square.

The celebration lasts for five days (3 holidays plus two days off). During the day, noisy folk festivals are held on the streets, and in the evening there are always fireworks displays.

Founding Day of the Communist Party of the People's Republic of China

On July 1, 1921, the Communist Party was founded in China. This happened under the influence of the ideas of Marxism-Leninism that spread in China at that time. The October Revolution had just taken place in Russia.

At first, July 1 was celebrated very widely in China, but now many simply do not notice it. The only mention of him on this day was political news reports in the media.

Day of Mourning and Remembrance (Nanjing Massacre) and Victory over Japan Day

In 2014, the Chinese government proclaimed September 3 as Victory Day over Japan, and a little later another one appeared memorable date– December 13, Day of Remembrance and Sorrow, dedicated to those killed in the Nanjing Massacre.

On July 7, 1937, Japan attacked China. This terrible war lasted until 1945, when the United States and the Soviet Union jointly defeated the occupiers.

On December 13, 1937, Japanese invaders captured the Chinese city of Nanjing. Over 300 thousand people were brutally killed. The streets were strewn with the bodies of killed civilians and military personnel. Life in the city has come to a standstill...

On this day, the Chinese people honor the memory of those killed in the Nanjing Massacre. In one of the historical museums in China there is a Book of Remembrance, in which people write down words of grief.

PLA Foundation Day

On August 1, 1927, in the city of Nanchang, more than 30 thousand people rebelled against the regime of Chiang Kai-shek and sided with the communists. The leaders of the uprising were Zhou Enlai, He Long, Zhu De, Ye Ting and Liu Bocheng.

Singles' Day

The authors of this unusual holiday are Nanjing students. It is celebrated on November 11, and this is no coincidence: four units in the date symbolize people who have not met their soulmate. Now the holiday has spread everywhere among Chinese youth and is considered very fashionable.

Young people organize parties and dates for single guys and girls on this day. It has also become a tradition to hold various sales on Singles' Day.

Double Seven Festival (Qixi Jie)

The origin of this holiday is told by a very touching legend about the love of the granddaughter of the Emperor of Heaven and a simple shepherd. According to it, the heavenly ruler was angry with the loving couple and separated them forever, drawing a stripe in the middle of the sky - the Milky Way. But later, moved by their suffering, he allowed them to see each other on the 7th day of the 7th month every year. Qixi Jie is often called the holiday of Chinese lovers.

On the night of double seven, fortune-telling is carried out among unmarried girls about their lover. One of them is to thread seven needles different colors. Those girls who succeed in this will have good luck in everything. There is also a tradition of watching the starry sky this night. A star falling exactly at midnight symbolizes the union of a shepherd with his beloved; seeing her is considered great luck.

The treat on the holiday of two sevens consists of dumplings, dumplings, and halva. But in some areas there is a custom of making a sweet figurine of the beautiful Zhinyu, the shepherd’s beloved. In 2017, the holiday is celebrated on August 28.

Double Nine Day 重阳节 (chóngyángjié)

According to ancient written sources, the 9th day of the 9th month was considered a dangerous day. To avoid danger, it was prescribed to climb a high mountain, drink wine from chrysanthemums and decorate yourself with dogwood branches. According to legend, such a custom first existed only at the imperial court. But thanks to the runaway maid, the tradition spread among the people.

Nowadays, on this day, Chinese residents treat themselves to five-layer pies and drink tea or wine made from chrysanthemums. Mountain climbing competitions have become traditional. The winners receive dogwood wreaths as a prize.

Winter Solstice 冬至 (Dōng Zhì)

In ancient times, the Chinese wore beautiful clothes and congratulated loved ones on the onset of winter. They divided winter into 9 nines, that is, 9 periods of 9 days, each of which was distinguished by its own weather conditions.

On this day, it was customary to draw a flower with 81 petals, each petal symbolizing one day of winter. With each passing day, the Chinese painted one petal.

This day is not an official holiday now, but it is still celebrated. Family members gather in the evening for a festive dinner and are treated to fish dishes with vegetables and beans, as well as rice dumplings. The younger ones bow to the elders, showing them respect. On the eve of the holiday, it is also necessary to tidy up the hearth of the house.

Longtaitou Festival

The name of this holiday translates as “the dragon raises its head.” There is a custom - in the first month after the New Year, you cannot cut your hair. Longtaitou is the first day to visit a hairdresser. Therefore, there is a rush in barber shops on this holiday - everyone is in a hurry to get a haircut.

Dishes served on the table must have the word “dragon” in the name. For example, dumplings were called “dragon ears”, etc. A must-have dish festive table- Chunbin pancakes.

Arbor Day

Every year on March 12, the day of the death of the Chinese revolutionary figure Sun Yat-sen, the government obliged every resident from 11 to 60 years old to plant trees - 3-5 seedlings. Sun Yat-sen actively promoted this idea and himself led by example. The population supported this initiative, and more than 500 million residents of the Celestial Empire annually on this day contribute to the greening of the country.

Borrowed holidays

These dates have no special meaning for the Chinese. There are several of them:

World New Year (January 1);
International Women's Day (March 8);
Labor Day (May 1);
Children's Day (June 1);
Youth Day (May 4);
Mother's and Father's Days are the 2nd Sunday in May and the 3rd Sunday in June, respectively.

Official holidays in China

8 holidays are recognized as non-working days in China. Chun Jie has the most weekends – a whole week. And one day off is allocated for the New Year on January 1, Qingming, Duanwu, May 1, Zhongqiu, Founding Day of the People's Republic of China and Tree Planting Day.

Holidays in China have a lot of interesting customs and beautiful legends. They are the cultural heritage of China. Adhering to numerous traditions, the Chinese people pay tribute to the memory of their famous ancestors and the rich history of their country.