Traditional Chinese holidays: description. Spring Festival starts in China How are music festivals held in China

Traditional holidays in China are celebrated according to the lunar calendar, and state holidays are celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar. The most important Chinese public holiday founding day of the People's Republic of China.

Other important traditional holidays include: Chinese New Year, lantern festival, dragon boat festival and mid autumn festival.

The Chinese are serious about their cultural heritage, the most important component of which are holidays. The most significant holidays in China are marked by several days off in a row, and the most important holidays have a week of non-working days.

Usually, during the holidays in China, there is a noticeable increase in traffic excitement, an increase in the demand for tickets and tourism services, as the Chinese living in cities go on tours, and the Chinese from the provinces return from their jobs in big cities to their native places to spend time. with relatives and friends.

Public holidays in China in 2020, according to the decision of the State Council of the People's Republic of China:

New Year in China 2020 ( Chinese New Year, he is the Spring Festival, he is the New Year according to the lunar calendar, he is also the New Year according to the Chinese calendar) - non-working days from January 24 to January 30 (7 days). January 19 Sunday and February 1 Saturday - working;

Labor Day- 5 non-working days from May 1 to May 5. April 26 Sunday and May 9 Saturday - working;

dragon boat festival- 3 non-working days from 25 to 27 June. June 28 Sunday - working;

mid autumn festival- in 2020 combined with PRC Day, see next paragraph;

Founding Day of the People's Republic of China- in 2020 combined with the Mid-Autumn Festival, non-working days from October 1 to 8 (8 days). September 27 Sunday and October 10 Saturday - working.

In January

1. New Year 元旦 (January 1). Borrowed holiday. In China, it goes unnoticed, the main New Year celebrations fall on the New Year according to the lunar calendar. Many Chinese companies hold New Year's corporate parties.

In February

2. Chinese New Year or Spring Festival 春节 (the first day of the year according to the lunar calendar, falls on a day from the interval of January 21 - February 21 according to the Gregorian calendar). Traditional holiday. Week off. For the Chinese, this is the first day of spring, the awakening of nature. It is customary to launch fireworks and blow up crackers. On the New Year's table, there must be Jiaozi 饺子 (dumplings), it is believed that they look like gold or silver ingots, therefore they bring wealth. On the second day of the new year, it is customary to eat noodles. Since the noodles are long and smooth, it is believed that life will be just as long and the year will go just as smoothly. On New Year's Eve, the Chinese buy new clothes and put them on after midnight. Chinese New Year is usually celebrated with family.

3. Lantern Festival 元宵节 (15th day of the 1st lunar month, according to the Gregorian calendar - February-early March). Traditional holiday. It is the end of the Chinese New Year. People hang lanterns on the streets, cultural events are held in parks (dances, vocal performances, etc.). On this day, Yuan Xiao 元宵 cakes made from rice flour with sweet filling are eaten.

In March

4. When the Dragon raises its head 龙抬头 (2nd day of the 2nd lunar month, beginning of March in the Gregorian calendar). Traditional holiday. According to legend, the dragon helped the villagers and sent them the long-awaited rain, but the dragon himself was punished for this and imprisoned downhill. Once a year, the dragon wakes up and raises its head to look at the world. In honor of this, the Chinese do not cut their hair from the Chinese New Year until this day, it is believed that this will bring good luck for the whole year. On the day of this holiday, there is a large influx in hairdressing salons, queues line up from the very morning.

5. International Women's Day 国际妇女节 (March 8). Half-holiday. In China, as well as around the world, on this day, men give gifts to the fair sex.

6. Tree planting day (March 12). It is not a day off. In 1981, a resolution was adopted in China, which ordered every resident of China from 11 to 60 years old to plant at least 3 trees a year. Although it is not fully implemented, it was actively supported by the majority of Chinese citizens.

In April

7. Fool's Day (April Fool's Day) 愚人节. April 1st. Borrowed. In China, it is celebrated, as elsewhere, by joking with each other.

8. Day of Remembrance of the Dead 清明节 (104th day after the winter solstice, April 7). Traditional holiday. Day off. Also referred to as Pure Light Festival or Soul Day. On this day, it is customary to visit the graves of ancestors, lay flowers and paper money in honor of the memory of the deceased. Also on this day, it is customary to go out of town to nature.

In May

9. Labor Day 劳动节 (May 1). Day off. Various sports and entertainment events are held in parks and squares. Honorary and meritorious workers are also awarded on this day.

11. Mother's Day 母亲节 or 妈妈节. A borrowed holiday, it was first celebrated in Greece. It is celebrated every year on the second Sunday of May. In 2014, it falls on May 11th. It is customary to give mothers gifts, flowers, cards.

In June

12. World Children's Day 儿童节 [ér tong jié] (June 1). Various events are organized for children (concerts, free cinema visits).

13. Father's Day 父亲节. Third Sunday in June. In 2014, it falls on June 15th. Borrowed holiday. It is customary to give gifts to fathers.

14. Dragon Boat Festival 端午节 (5th day of the 5th lunar month, in June according to the Gregorian calendar, falls on June 2 in 2014). Traditional holiday. Day off. According to legend, Qu Yuan, who served as a minister at the court of the kingdom of Chu, opposed the hegemony of Qin. By this he aroused the indignation of the minister, who had great influence on the ruler and was expelled from the city. When the capital of Chu was nevertheless captured by Qin, the poet, having learned about this, committed suicide by throwing himself into the river on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. His body was searched for a long time on boats, but to no avail. One night, the spirit of Qu Yuan appeared to them and said that a dragon had taken his body and that rice wrapped in a triangular silk bag should be thrown into the river to scare away the dragon. Since then, on this day in China, river dragon boat races have been held and 粽子 is eaten glutinous rice wrapped in a cane leaf.

In July

15. Founding Day of the CPC (Communist Party of China) 共产党成立纪念日 (July 1) The party was founded in 1921 and came to power after the Chinese Civil War.

In August

16. Birthday of the PLA (People's Liberation Army of China) 建军节 (August 1). Day off for all military personnel. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927. There are various activities for military personnel.

17. Valentine's Day 七夕节 (7th day of the 7th lunar month, beginning - end of August). Traditional holiday. There is a legend about the love of a shepherd for a celestial. They were separated, but on the only day of the year they were allowed to meet. On this day, lovers give gifts to each other.

In September

18. Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节 (15th day of the 8th lunar month, beginning-end of September according to the Gregorian calendar, in 2014 - September 8). Traditional holiday. Day off. It is also called the Moon Festival or Full Moon Watching Evening. On this day, it is customary to eat Yue Bing 月饼 "Moon cake" with sweet filling.

In October

19. Founding Day of the People's Republic of China 国庆节 (October 1, Gregorian calendar). One of the main holidays in China. Weekend 5 days.

20. Festival of two nines 重阳节 [chóng yáng jié] (9th day of the 9th lunar month, beginning - end of October). Traditional holiday.

In November

21. Singles Day 光棍节 . Modern Chinese holiday. November 11 is celebrated by all who are not married. China also celebrates the day of the small (January 1) and the average bachelor (January 11 and November 1). The dates were chosen due to the fact that there are units in a row, which is associated with single people. This holiday became widespread in student circles in China, and then in the whole society. Now Singles Day is quite a fashionable holiday, especially among young people. On this holiday, it is customary to eat brushwood in the form of strips 油条, go to clubs and bars. There are interesting traditions associated with this holiday, for example, howling a wolf at exactly 11:11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month. In recent years, blind dates have become popular on this day in China. Attitudes towards the holiday are different: someone celebrates it in the hope of ending their bachelor life forever, while someone simply rejoices at the fact that they are independent and lonely.

December

22. Winter Solstice 冬至节 (December 22-23). Traditional holiday. On this day, the sun is farthest from the Earth. From this day forward, the nights become shorter and the days longer. It is believed that from this day the power of nature awakens. On this holiday, it is customary to visit each other and cook festive dishes.

About Chinese Culinary Culture

Public holidays in China

Traditional Chinese holidays are an integral part of Chinese culture that has evolved over thousands of years.Hardworking active Chinese love to have a good rest. Chinese holidays are often inseparable from Chinese festivals - very beautiful solemn entertainment events. The Chinese celebrate noisily, on a grand scale, carefully and for a long time preparing for each event. To visit such a festival is a chance to deeply feel the soul of China.

Although since the beginning of the 20th century, after the fall of the monarchy, China officially switched to the Western Gregorian calendar, the country traditionally continues to celebrate the biggest folk holidays according to the thousand-year lunar calendar. And the main holiday of the country remains Chinese New Year(New Year according to the lunar calendar). He is now called spring festival, spring festival to distinguish it from the Gregorian New Year, which is celebrated 1st of January.

Chinese New Year has no fixed date - it falls on first day of the first lunar month in the new year. This usually happens in late January - early February. In 2017, the first day of the New Year 28 January. Festive events and festivities last 15 days! The whole country is on vacation and noisily celebrates the main event of the year. On the eve of the first day of the Spring Festival, everyone does a thorough cleaning, buys a lot of food, buys new clothes, especially for children. Near the entrance to their homes, the Chinese hang paired scrolls on red paper with poetic statements, hang the hieroglyph 福 (“fu”, “happiness”) on the door and decorate the windows with carved paper figures. In the evening, all families gather at the table for a sumptuous dinner, and after it they communicate, have fun, play, some families stay up all night ... Continuous fireworks are especially intensified at midnight. The next morning, the Chinese begin visiting their relatives and friends to congratulate them on the Holiday, wish them good luck in the New Year, give them sweets and gifts wrapped in red paper. The annual solemn costume festivals and processions, traditional entertainment events are in full swing on the street.

Spring Festival Ends Lantern Festival, which falls on 15th lunar day of the first month. In 2017 this February 11th.

On this night, the first full moon of the year occurs and, according to Chinese tradition, in order to observe the bright full moon, you need to hang as many colorful lanterns as possible. They are hung in huge numbers on the streets, and at night they walk, admire them and solve the riddles written on them, which contain phrases about well-being, a bountiful harvest, family reunification, love and happiness.

According to an old tradition, on this day people eat rice balls with various sweet fillings(Yuanxiao, 元宵), whose round shape symbolizes harmony, reunion and good life. “Dragons” (people in dragon costumes) are dancing on the streets, costumed processions are moving, round dances are taking place ...

This is a beautiful sight - an ocean of lanterns in the night! Traditionally, lanterns are made of paper or wood, and in large cities neon are adjacent to them. There are also lanterns of unusual designs, in the form of fruits, flowers, various animals, for example, in the form of a golden dragon spewing flames. At night, grandiose fireworks are blazing, which make this great holiday truly fabulous.

In spring, people celebrate another bright and kind holiday - qingming. This is also a public holiday, and all Chinese have a day off on this day. He's coming 4 or April 5(in 2017 it is April 4) and marks the beginning of sunny and bright days, the beginning of the sowing period. On this day, people make excursions to nature, walk along the spring streets, organize picnics, enjoy the spring, and feed on the energy of nature. The trees are already green, flowers are blooming, the sun is shining brightly. On this day, those who are no longer alive are commemorated, they go to their burial places, remove garbage there, arrange memorial dinners, and pay tribute.

During the Qingming Festival, another beautiful tradition can be observed - many kites are launched into the sky, to which small lanterns are tied. When it gets dark, this spectacle looks especially spectacular - the lanterns decorate the night sky like twinkling stars.

In a month, May 1, China is celebrating World Workers' Day. In theaters, parks, and squares, festive events are held all day. People meet with friends, with relatives, with those whom they have not seen for a long time, walk, communicate, and relax with them.

On the fifth day of the fifth month according to the Chinese lunar calendar, a big holiday is coming, which is celebrated not only in China, but also in many countries of Southeast Asia, - Dragon Boat Festival. In 2017 this May 30.

The festival has been held for more than two thousand years, in memory of the famous Chinese poet-patriot Qu Yuan, who drowned in the river on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, unable to watch the wars and the decline of his country. People rushed to look for his body, sailing in boats along the river and at the same time throwing rice balls into the water - food for fish and other aquatic animals so that they would not eat the body of the legendary poet. Later, paying tribute to the poet, people began to honor him on this day every year. This is how a traditional Chinese dish was born - zongzi (zongzi, 粽子) - lumps of rice wrapped in reed leaves and tied with colored thread. Nowadays, various fillings are added to them - meat, soy paste, marmalade, egg yolk. Zongzi is thrown into the water on this day, and is also eaten at home and in restaurants.

And every year, on the day of the death of the poet, a ceremony is held - boat races, painted and decorated as militant dragons. Teams, each on their own boat, compete with each other for the championship in reaching the specified destination. A drummer sits at the head of the boat, tapping out the rhythm, to which the team works with oars.

Caring Chinese parents on this day hang bags of incense around their children's necks, embroidered with silk threads of five different colors. The five-color thread has a special meaning in China - it has magical and healing properties. Such bags protect children from diseases and evil, attract health and well-being.

Sunny summer is followed by changeable autumn... 15th day of the eighth month according to the lunar calendar, the Chinese celebrate Harvest Festival - Mid-Autumn Festival. It is also called Moon Festival or lunar festival is the autumnal equinox.

In 2017 this The 4th of October. This is the same significant holiday for the Chinese as the Chinese New Year - on this day they celebrate the end of the harvest. The full moon, which is the brightest and roundest on this day, symbolizes well-being, abundance, so on this day all family members come together and celebrate it with a hearty festive dinner. During dinner, you need to talk only about good things, admire the moon, think about those who are now far away, and mentally send them the best wishes ...

On this day, holiday lanterns are hung everywhere and lit on the streets - on buildings, houses, trees. Incense is lit. People in dragon costumes dance in the streets, expressing in their dances the ritual of worshiping the moon, attracting the attention of the people.

The traditional treat for the Mid-Autumn Festival is Yuebing mooncakes(, 月饼). They have a round shape, repeating the shape of the moon. Various fillings are placed inside - nut, fruit, vegetable - and pictures and hieroglyphs are imprinted on the surface of the cake. Depending on the culinary preferences of each province, the composition of the dough for the mooncake may vary, but all cakes contain sesame seeds, nuts, sugar and egg yolk. People treat relatives and friends with cakes to show them that they wish them a long and happy life.

autumn, October 1, many people gather at Tiananmen Square in Beijing to see the ceremonial raising of the national flag. On this day, China celebrates.

October 1, 1949 is considered the Founding Day of the People's Republic of China. Parades and solemn processions, concerts and exhibitions, festive entertainment events are held in all provinces of China on this day. City squares are decorated with huge flower arrangements. When evening falls, the sky lights up with grandiose fireworks that thunder in all cities, including Hong Kong. This holiday is of great importance for the Chinese people.

Since ancient times, the Chinese people have been known for their great industriousness, but at the same time, there are a considerable number of holidays in their calendar. Of these, one can single out traditional, rooted in ancient history and borrowed ones that came from other countries. The first category is marked 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 the ritual, which is reflected in the written monuments that have come down to our time. This concept had a very deep meaning. It was based on the imitation of celestial phenomena, such as the change of seasons, weather, etc. They believed that if you follow the routine and do everything in a timely manner, then 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 the 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 chronology in China was introduced only at the beginning of the 20th century.

In addition, from time immemorial, the Chinese have had a time reference system 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, the basic astrological categories are described - 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches. Each day, month and year in the solar calendar is indicated by two hieroglyphs, one of which denotes the heavenly stem, and the other the earthly branch. Years add up in large cycles that repeat every 60 years.

The favorite holidays with ancient traditions in China are Chun Jie (Chinese New Year), Duanwu (Dragon Boat Festival), Qingming and the 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 personifies 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 corresponds to one of the 12 animals and one of the five elements of Wu-sin (wood, fire, earth, metal, water). 2017 begins on January 28 and is called the Year of the Red Fire Rooster.

Before the start of the holiday, Chinese families gather together, people from all over the world return home. Business activity in China these days freezes. 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 during this period in China, and train stations and airports are crowded with people.

Mythology

According to myths, in ancient times there was an evil Nian monster that 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 laid out more food on the threshold of the house, locked the door and prayed. But one day the monster met a boy dressed in red and got 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 beast 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 onset of Chun Jie, the Chinese carefully clean their homes. It is believed that after the arrival of the New Year, the next 2 weeks cannot be cleaned, so as not to frighten off good luck, so you need to do this in advance. After cleaning, people get rid of everything unnecessary, take out the rubbish in the trash, making room for the new and good.

Having thus cleansed their homes, 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 that it drives away misfortunes and troubles. Paired strips with good wishes are pasted on the door, as well as an image of a hieroglyph 福 fú "happiness". Sometimes this hieroglyph is hung upside down. The explanation for this oddity lies in the play on words: the characters 到 dào "reach" and 倒 dǎo "turn over" have a similar spelling, 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. Oranges and tangerines are an important attribute of the holiday: there should be strictly 8 of them in each house, and they are laid out on a tray in the shape of a circle. Eight for the Chinese symbolizes prosperity, wealth and spiritual growth, this is their favorite number. The house also necessarily place an image or figurine of an animal - a symbol of the year.

Having cleaned the house and decorated it, one should not forget about the soul. It is believed that on the eve of the new year, one should forgive all insults, complete unfinished business, that is, put a kind of end to it and enter the new year without old baggage.

Spring Festival treat

At other times, the inhabitants 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, the whole family traditionally gathers at the kitchen table and prepares various dishes. In the process of cooking, family members share achievements with each other and make plans for the future.

To make the New Year's table plentiful and satisfying, as is customary, the locals prepare many different dishes: chicken, pork, fish, salads, sausages. Mandatory attributes of the festive table are Chinese dumplings called jiaozi (饺子 jiǎozi), as well as rice and beans. Dumplings are always made by the whole family, sometimes a coin is put inside one of them.

Do not forget about sweets, which should also be on the table a lot. The traditional sweet dish is niangao rice biscuits, considered a symbol of good luck. 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 Middle Kingdom is celebrated cheerfully and, if possible, noisily: the Chinese believe that the noise will drive away evil spirits. For this purpose crackers, fireworks, drums, firecrackers, loud music and dances are used. If you immediately fall asleep after a festive dinner, you will oversleep your luck. On the first day of the coming year, it is customary to go to visit, as well as to the cemetery - to pay tribute to the memory of deceased relatives.

The next morning begins 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, to all those who want to see next to you all year. This is a period of visits, exchange of congratulations, warm communication. After that, the business life of the country begins to slowly revive, large and small businesses resume their work.

The seventh day is called the day of the creation of man. It begins with praising 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, while mixing them, you should try to throw the products as high as possible in order to lure good luck. This is the last official holiday.

In the second week, the Chinese return to work, but the celebration continues in the evenings. These days, solemn dinners are held with a prayer. Rice flour koloboks (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 completes the series of festive events. On this day, concerts, performances are held, families walk the streets with burning lanterns. Mandatory attribute - firecrackers and fireworks. Chinese dumplings and sweet rice dishes should be on the table.

Gifts

First of all, in China they give gifts to children, as in our country. But it is not customary to buy toys or clothes there, the traditional gift is a red envelope with banknotes. They are placed under the pillow of sleeping children immediately after the festive dinner or handed over 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. Everything related to the number 4 should be avoided, as it is consonant with the hieroglyph "death". Lucky numbers are two, eight and nine. In addition to money, you can donate: figurines of the symbol of the year, postcards with wishes, souvenirs, talismans, etc. The owner of the house is usually given a couple of tangerines.

Qingming (清明 Qīngmíng)

This holiday is celebrated according to the solar calendar, therefore it has a fixed date - April 4 or 5. It is celebrated on the 15th day after the spring equinox. The name "qingming" in Chinese means "pure light". The holiday is also called "the day of remembrance of the dead". On this day, all Chinese people visit the graves of close relatives and pay tribute to them.

The legend of 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 Festival appeared.

The heir to the throne of the Jin kingdom, whose name was Chun Er, was expelled at the behest of his father's concubine and wandered around the world for 19 years. He was accompanied by his loyal companion Jie Zitui. When the prince was already dying of hunger, Jie Zitui cut a piece from his thigh and boiled a stew from it. The prince in response promised 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 just ruler.

But it so happened that having received the throne, Chun Er thanked everyone who remained faithful to him, forgave all enemies, but forgot about the one who once saved his life. Remembering him, he went to look for him, but learned that Jie had gone with his mother to live in the mountains. On the advice of others, Chun Er set fire to the forest on the mountain from 3 sides in order to force his faithful companion to come out. But after a 3-day fire, the body of Jie Zitui was found near a half-burnt willow, and there was a note in its hollow. In it, Jie wrote that he had no regrets and hoped that the prince would become a pure and wise ruler.

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

Chun Er went down in history as one of the most just and wise sovereigns. During his reign, 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 survived, but some cold dishes are still popular today: boiled eggs, steamed pies.

Now the main festive treat is Qingtuan 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. Such green dumplings look quite exotic.

customs

Today, the Qingming Festival is celebrated for only one day, while in the old days it lasted for 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.

Now one of the main customs of the holiday is the honoring of deceased relatives. On their graves, old plants are removed and flowers are planted. There is a tradition to bring the favorite dishes of the dead and leave them on the grave. At the same time, wooden chopsticks are stuck vertically, according to the old custom. But at the table, such actions are unacceptable: this is tantamount to wishing the owner death.

In Qingming, Chinese families go out of town 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 is 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 the day of the double five 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 Chang'o era.

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

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

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

Food and customs

A traditional treat for the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire is zongzi, which is made from glutinous rice with a variety of fillings. Zongzi is wrapped in palm or bamboo leaves.

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

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

Protect from evil spirits and diseases

With the onset of the heat, the Chinese take measures to protect themselves from summer ailments. Bags with medicinal herbs are hung at the entrance, which not only repel insects, but also protect against evil spirits. Children are given bags of cloth of 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. It must be worn on the wrist until the first rain, and then removed and thrown into a puddle. The children drew a hieroglyph on their foreheads 王 (van), which means "prince" in translation.

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, 10 suns shone 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, he had many students. Once he visited the mistress of Heaven, and she gave him an elixir, taking which, you can become immortal and live in heaven. Hou Yu gave it to his wife Chang Yi for safekeeping, but he was tracked down by one vile student and tried to take away 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 the sky and settled on the moon in order to be closer to him. After that, Hou Yu began to worship the Moon and sacrificed his wife's 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 they could not agree. And then one of the organizers of the uprising came up with such a trick. He baked a lot of mooncakes and asked for permission to distribute them to the population in honor of the Zhongqiu holiday. Notes were hidden in the gingerbread, 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 it in the form of round pies, which are called Yuebing (moon cake). Any round-shaped products are also suitable - fruits, vegetables and others. People recite poems and sing songs dedicated to the moon. And, of course, traditional lanterns are launched.

Families gather again at the festive table, as they did at the New Year's Eve. Mooncakes are always served on the table, and if someone from the household is absent, a piece is left for him. These gingerbread cookies are sold in gift boxes - they are traditionally given to close people as a token 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 1st. On this significant day in 1949, the founding 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 involvement of military equipment, then it was proposed to hold them only on anniversaries, and after 1984 they were completely abolished.

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 fireworks are sure to be arranged in the evening.

Founding Day of the Communist Party 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 passed in Russia.

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

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

In 2014, the Chinese government proclaimed September 3 as Victory Day over Japan, and a little later, another memorable date appeared - December 13, the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow, dedicated to those who died 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 defeated the occupiers through joint efforts.

On December 13, 1937, the Japanese invaders captured the Chinese city of Nanjing. More than 300 thousand people were brutally killed. The streets were strewn with the bodies of dead civilians and soldiers. Life in the city stopped...

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

Founding Day of the PLA

On August 1, 1927, more than 30,000 people in the city of Nanchang 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 soul mate. Now the holiday has spread everywhere among Chinese youth and is considered very fashionable.

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

Double Seven Festival (Qixi Ze)

A very touching legend about the love of the granddaughter of the Emperor of Heaven and a simple shepherd tells about the origin of this holiday. According to her, the heavenly ruler was angry with the couple in love and separated them forever, drawing a strip in the middle of the sky - the Milky Way. But later, touched by their suffering, he allowed them to see each other on the 7th day of the 7th month every year. Qixi Jie is often referred to as Chinese Lovers' Day.

On the night of the double seven, fortune-telling is held among unmarried girls for a lover. One of them is to thread threads of different colors through seven needles. Those girls who succeed will be lucky in everything. There is also a tradition to watch the starry sky this night. A star falling exactly at midnight symbolizes the union of the shepherd with his beloved, to see her is considered a great success.

A treat on the holiday of two sevens consists of dumplings, dumplings, halva. But in some areas there is a custom to make a sweet figurine of the beautiful Zhinyu - the shepherd's beloved. In 2017, the holiday is celebrated on August 28.

Double Ninth 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, this custom first existed only at the imperial court. But thanks to a runaway maid, the tradition spread among the people.

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

Winter Solstice 冬至 (Dōng Zhì)

In ancient times, the Chinese wore beautiful clothes on this day and congratulated their 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 weather conditions.

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

This day is not now an official holiday, but it is celebrated anyway. Family members gather in the evening for a festive dinner and treat themselves 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 put the hearth of the house in order.

Longtaitou Festival

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

Dishes served on the table should have the word "dragon" in the title. For example, dumplings were called "dragon ears", etc. An obligatory dish on the festive table is Chunbin pancakes.

tree planting day

Every year on March 12, on 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 set an example himself. The population supported this initiative, and more than 500 million inhabitants 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);
• Workers' Day (May 1);
• Children's Day (June 1);
• Youth Day (May 4);
• Mother's and Father's Days are respectively the 2nd Sunday of May and the 3rd Sunday of June.

Official holidays in China

There are 8 public holidays in China recognized as non-working days. Chun Jie has the most days off - a whole week. And one day off is set aside for the New Year on January 1, Qingming, Duanwu, May 1, Zhongqiu, Founding Day of the PRC and Tree Planting Day.

Holidays in China have a lot of interesting customs and beautiful legends. They are the cultural property 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.

The Founding Day of the People's Republic of China is the main holiday of the country. Every year on October 1, China celebrates the anniversary of this significant event in the history of the country. October 1, 1947 marked the end of the struggle between the Communist Party of China, led by Mao Zedong, and the Kuomintang Party, led by Chiang Kai-shek. A whole milestone in the history of China ended with the great victory of Mao, which marked the beginning of a new period in the history of China.

In the first decade after the founding of the PRC, grandiose military parades were held on the day of the holiday, which took place on the central Sky Square in Beijing. In the early 60s of the XX century, parades began to be held only on round dates.

After the Cultural Revolution, parades in honor of the formation of the PRC were completely canceled, but at the present stage this tradition has been resumed again.

If you visit China at the beginning of October, you will be able to see not only the founding parade, but also enjoy the unforgettable performances and celebrations that take place for 7 days starting from October 1st. This so-called "golden week" is one of three that are held annually in China in honor of important holidays and are considered days off for the whole country.

For five days, various celebrations, folk festivals, street performances are held throughout the country. Magnificent fireworks are held all over China, however, the most unforgettable sight awaits you in Beijing. Here, literally all the streets are decorated with traditional Chinese lanterns, figures of mythical dragons and flower arrangements. On the main square of Tiananmen, after the parade, colorful and spectacular traditional Chinese performances are given.

1. Spring Festival.. 4

1.1 Components of the Spring Festival.. 4

1.2 Holiday "Laba". 5

1.3 "Jizao" holiday. 5

1.4 Spring Festival Day.. 6

1.5 The culture of China and the place of holidays in it. 6

2. Lantern Festival (Yuanxiao) 9

2.1 Traditions of celebrating the Lantern Festival. nine

2.2 "Duanwu" holiday. nine

2.3 Zongzi food. ten

2.4 Racing on "dragon boats". ten

2.5 Moon Festival (Zongqiu) 14

2.5.1 Legend of the origin of the Moon Festival..

2.5.2 Sacrifice to the Moon and admiring the Moon. fifteen

2.6 Day of foundation of the republic.

3. New Year in China. 23

3.1 Tsushi Festival. 23

3.2 Preparations for the celebration of the New Year in China. 24

3.3 Traditions of celebrating the New Year. 26

Conclusion. 29

References.. 31

Introduction

Every season in China has its own holidays. But the following four traditional folk festivals are especially loved by the people: Spring Festival, Yuanxiao Festival, Duanwu Festival and Zhongqiu Festival. They are the embodiment of traditional Chinese culture.

At present, there are two parallel reckonings in China. One of them is based on the solar calendar, and the other is based on the lunar one. And this is due to the traditional schedule of agricultural work. Folk traditional holidays are associated with the lunar calendar.

In China, almost every holiday is associated with its own unique culinary traditions and images of celebration. Each holiday has its own special food.

The Chinese, including compatriots living in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, Chinese emigrants in different countries of the world, are very fond of these traditional Chinese folk holidays.

The biggest folk festival in China is the Spring Festival.

National holidays in Taiwan are the performance of sacred rituals. They are loved, they are expected, everyone carefully prepares for them ahead of time. Colorfully designed gift sets appear in stores: dried mushrooms and seafood in different variations, tea, coffee and alcohol. Celebrations originate in antiquity, when the Chinese performed religious sacrifices on certain days of the lunar calendar. The villagers performed rituals designed to ensure their happy fate, and after their completion they sat down for a joint feast. Many of these "feast days" were declared public holidays. Among them: Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Race, Mid-Autumn Festival, Confucius' Birthday, Taiwan's exclusive Two Ten Festival. The fact is that on October 10, 1911, Dr. Sun Yat-sen and his followers raised an uprising in the city of Wuchang aimed at overthrowing the Qing dynasty and establishing the first democratic republic in Asia - the Republic of China. Today, on the tenth day of the tenth month of each year, the anniversary of the Wuchang uprising is celebrated. Pass colorful processions, parades, demonstration of fireworks. Almost all buildings, city squares and streets are decorated for this occasion. As a rule, thousands of overseas Chinese return to Taiwan these days to pay their respects to the Republic of China.

In addition to those mentioned, the anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China (January 1), the Memorial Day of Reconciliation (February 28), the Youth Day (March 29), the Day of Remembrance of the Dead (April 4-5), the birthday of Chiang Kai-shek (October 31), the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (November 12), Constitution Day (December 25). Of the non-state holidays, they do not forget Catholic Christmas, the calendar New Year, various Mother's, Father's, Children's Days, and in institutions once a month and the birthdays of employees (moreover, it is not the employee himself who drags a pie or cake baked at home, but the institution arranges a very generous dinner for everyone in a break, the birthday people are given envelopes with checks for the purchase of a certain number of books, they are very expensive here).

The purpose of the work is to consider Chinese national holidays. Tasks to consider:

1. Spring Festival

2. Lantern Festival (Yuanxiao)

3. New Year in China

1. Spring Festival

1.1 Components of the Spring Festival

The first day of the year according to the lunar calendar is called the Spring Festival. It usually falls at the end of January or the beginning of February according to the solar calendar. It has been in existence for three thousand years.

Celebrating the Spring Festival in Chinese means "seeing off the year". The word "year" in ancient times meant a wish for a good harvest next year. For many thousands of years, people who worked hard day after day, during the farewell to the old and the meeting of the new year, with great joy and reverence, offered the fruits of agricultural labor and hunting prey in the form of sacrifices to spirits and ancestors. Thus, they expressed their gratitude to nature and asked her to be merciful and generous in the new year.

The Spring Festival is long and solemn. From the first days of December, people have already begun to prepare for this fun holiday.

The Spring Festival includes four important days: the Laba holiday (December 8 according to the lunar calendar), the Jizao holiday - seeing the Spirit of the hearth to heaven (December 23 according to the lunar calendar), the Tsushi holiday (December 30 according to the lunar calendar) and Spring Festival Day (the first of January according to the lunar calendar).

1.2 Holiday "Laba"

Laba" is the name of one porridge.

Since ancient times, in December, according to the lunar calendar, people arranged a sacrifice to their ancestors. Then gradually this custom merged with the Buddhist holiday. It is said that it was on that day that Shakya Muni became enlightened. And before becoming a god, he tasted rice with dry fruits cooked for him by a shepherdess. Since then, on that day, it is necessary to pray in temples and bring this delicacy called "Laba" to the Buddha. Then it became the favorite food of ordinary people, and the Buddhist holiday turned into the national holiday "Laba". Since ancient times, in all courtyards and temples, food was cooked from millet, plain and glutinous rice, chumiza, chestnuts, dates and red beans, and then dried fruits, peeled nuts, peanuts, almonds, raisins and sugar are also added. Porridge "Laba" is considered a necessary addition to the wishes of happiness, longevity and joy.

Until now, it is cooked on a holiday in many homes. Tasting hot, sweet porridge "Laba" on frosty days is not only tasty, but also healthy.

The holiday "Laba" serves as a prologue to merry holidays.

1.3 Jizao Festival

December 23 is considered the Little Year according to the lunar calendar. Previously, it was the day of seeing off the Spirit of the hearth to heaven and was called the "Jizao" holiday. "Jizao" in Chinese means a sacrifice to the Spirit of the hearth.

The spirit of the hearth, according to legend, possessed great magical power. It is on this day of seeing him off to heaven that each family asks him to report to the heavenly ruler about all the good things that were in the house and give him happiness in the new year.

The rite of sacrifice is as follows: the housewife lit smoking candles in honor of the Spirit of the hearth, presented him with sweets and fruits, and then sprinkled the paper horse and straw with water as a sign that they had already prepared for the journey. After that, the old image of the Spirit of the hearth was removed from the wall and burned along with the paper "horse" and straw. Only on New Year's Eve, a new image was pasted on the wall in the same place. It was called the "Meeting of the Hearth Spirit". Now people no longer perform such a rite. Forever done with superstition.

1.4 Spring Festival Day

On New Year's morning, according to tradition, on the day of the New Year, all family members, first of all, should bow to the portraits of their ancestors hanging on the walls of the house. The elders, after bowing, had the right to sit under the portrait and accept congratulations and wishes from the young.

Many families eat dumplings, and after breakfast it is supposed to go around the houses of relatives and friends with congratulations and wishes of all the best. On the days of the Spring Festival, mass performances are organized: lion dances, dragon dances, round dances of the "Land Boats", performances on stilts.

The Spring Festival begins in December according to the lunar calendar and continues until the Lantern Festival (Yuanxiao).

1.5 Chinese culture and the place of holidays in it

Awareness by a man of the East of himself and the world begins, as elsewhere, with mythology, which acts as a pre-philosophical stage in the development of culture.

In China, the formation of pre-philosophical and mythological ideas can be traced back to the 18th century. BC. and goes through several stages before the emergence of the philosophical systems of Confucius, Las Tzu and other thinkers.

Actually philosophical tradition dates back to the VI century. BC, when the teachings of Kung Fuzi, known in Europe as Confucius, appear. His main ideas are set forth in the book "Lun Yu". The central, system-forming idea of ​​the teachings of Confucius is "jen", or humanity, philanthropy. "Ren" cannot be interpreted as a romantic feeling or as love for God. For Confucius, "jen" is an indicator of a truly human in a person, a natural, instinctive feeling enriched with a cupture. "Ren" is revealed through the categories of "xiao" - a civilized, respectful attitude towards one's parents, "di" - the extension of such an attitude to peers and other people around, "zhong" (devotion) - a civilized attitude towards superiors - rulers, the emperor, one's own country. Confucius attached great importance to the behavioral norms through which these relationships must be realized. They also entered the meaning of the category "jen".

According to the concept of another outstanding Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, the fundamental category is Tao. This concept underlies the philosophy of Taoism. Tao, according to Lao-ts'y, is "empty, but inexhaustible in application." Tao is the father of all things. The question of the reasons for the appearance of the Tao is not raised. It is inexpressible in words. It is the beginning of heaven and earth. The secret of Tao is accessible only to those who are devoid of passion. Already here is the beginning of contemplation, self-deepening in order to achieve the essence of the primordial, which is so characteristic of most philosophical systems in the East. Tao, as the path according to which the development of the Cosmos takes place, realizes itself in the external world according to the principle of wu-wei, which means unintentional activity. Intentional activity is dangerous.

Holidays in China

China celebrates a lot of holidays throughout the year, but only a small part of these dates are official. All national holidays are days off.

Tell your friends

These include:

Traditionally, a large number of public holidays are celebrated in China, among which "Qingming", "Duanwu" and "Chongyang" and etc.

In terms of its significance for the Chinese, the Lantern Festival is one of the most important events, and in terms of beauty and scope it can be compared with the most famous carnivals in the world. However, unlike carnivals, the Lantern Festival is a family one. If you are lucky enough to visit China in the spring, do not use the opportunity to plunge into the magical world of this action, which in China is called Yuanxiao - Shang Yuan Festival. On the first full moon of every year, people light millions of colorful lanterns. Rice balls are served on the festive table, and after dinner everyone goes outside to admire the full moon and numerous fireworks, which China is famous for no less than for its exotic dishes. Going out into the street, the Chinese solve riddles written on lanterns hung everywhere.

No less popular in China are various festivals that take place both at the central and regional levels. Among the highlights of the year, one could single out Ice and Snow Festival, passing in the province of Heilongjiang for a whole month (from January 5 to February 5). During this period, residents and guests of the region sculpt fairy-tale characters from snow and carve ice, which “come to life” thanks to night illumination.

Worth a visit while in Luoyang peonies exhibition, which takes place here from April 15 to 25 - an impressive sight. Undoubtedly, it deserves your attention and International kite festival, which is traditionally held on April 20-25 in the city of Weifang (Shandong Province). If you are fed up with local events and want something brighter and more significant, you should visit Torch Festival, which takes place from 23 to 25 July in Yunnan.

Especially for tourists, a fair is organized in Nadam, which takes place here from 15 to 25 August each year. Those who are interested in the traditions and history of China will certainly be interested in visiting Festival of ancient culture and art, annually held in Xi'an from 9 to 15 September.

Undoubtedly an important event in the cultural life of the country is Shaolin Martial Arts Festival, which takes place in early autumn and the Chengdu International Panda Festival (September 24-28).

There are many holidays and festivals in the People's Republic of China. They fall into three main groups: Traditional Chinese holidays dating back to antiquity and the Middle Ages, commemorative dates in new Chinese history, and borrowed international holidays. Traditional holidays are celebrated according to the Chinese traditional calendar based on the phases of the moon and are floating (within a month). Other holidays are celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar.

The order of celebration and the list of official holidays are contained in the Decree of the State Council of the People's Republic of China "Procedure for holding national holidays and festivals." The decree itself was adopted on December 23, 1949, and amendments to it on September 18, 1999 and December 14, 2007. According to this law, there are 7 national holidays in the PRC that are officially non-working days, as well as four holidays for certain groups of the population and four holidays for national minorities. Group holidays are non-working days for the respective groups of the population, and national minority holidays are for the respective nationalities in their national autonomies.

Official holidays

General and group holidays

Holidays of minor nationalities

Other holidays and festivals

Traditional holidays and festivals

Order of conduct

At the beginning of the year, the State Council of the People's Republic of China publishes holidays for the year, officially setting the dates of holidays celebrated according to the lunar calendar.

If a holiday falls on a weekend, the next day after the holiday becomes a non-working day.

There are few official holidays in China (only seven), which is less than in Hong Kong, Macau and most countries. At the same time, the traditional Qingming holidays, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival received official status only in 2007. This change reflects the growing support for cultural traditions.

Holidays in China

China is rich in its culture, traditions, customs and architecture. The third largest country and the first in terms of population, the country annually receives tens of thousands of tourists. People from all over the world come to China for holidays to experience this amazing culture for themselves.

Types of Chinese holidays

All holidays in China are divided into public and traditional. Many celebrations borrowed from other countries are also celebrated here. One of the most important national holidays in China is Founding Day of the People's Republic of China, which is celebrated for five days (the first day is October 1), which are days off for the working population. These days, solemn festivities, festivals, street performances take place, everywhere you can see multiple flower exhibitions and dragon figures made by the best Chinese masters.

The Chinese are very sensitive to their cultural heritage, so the traditions and holidays of China are observed in every family.

New Year in China

As in other countries, China celebrates New Year, while January 1 passes unnoticed, as traditionally the Chinese celebrate this holiday according to the lunar calendar. This day falls on the period from 21.01 to 21.02 and is considered the first day of spring. Not a single New Year passes without famous Chinese fireworks and crackers, as well as delicious national dishes, among which Chinese dumplings and noodles are especially preferred. People believe that these dishes will bring them wealth, prosperity and long life. There is also a tradition of buying new clothes and changing into new clothes after midnight. Celebrations continue for a week and end lantern festival. On this day, all houses and streets are decorated with multi-colored colorful lanterns and rice cakes with sweet filling are eaten. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar.

The most interesting holidays in China

Among the most interesting folk holidays in China, one should pay tribute to International kite festival(April 16). Every year, people from more than 60 countries of the world come to the festival and its scale can even be compared with the Olympic Games.

After analyzing what interesting holidays are still celebrated in China, we can undoubtedly note singles day(November 11), the occurrence of which is associated with the demographic problem of overpopulation in the country. Traditionally, students and unmarried men take part in it. And exactly at 11 hours 11 minutes and 11 seconds you can hear the wolf howl, which is issued by the participants of the holiday.