 |
January
JANUARY 1
New Year's Day*
Founding Day of the Republic of China#
See description at ROC Government Information Office's website
THE LAST DAY OF THE 12TH LUNAR MONTH
Lunar New Year's Eve*#
The Chinese New Year is a time when families come together and celebrate their ancestry. Most families feast on traditional foods such as dumplings, and stay awake for many hours after the feast spending quality time together.
(also see:ROC Government Information Office's website: see full description)
top
|
|
1st Lunar Month THE FIRST 3 DAYS OF THE 1ST LUNAR MONTH
Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)*#
"Each year, between the end of winter and the beginning of spring, people throughout China enthusiastically celebrate the first traditional festival of the year, the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year. During the Spring Festival, every household will display Spring Festival couplets and pictures, and decorate the home. Spring Festival Eve is an important time for family reunions. Usually, in the evening of the last day of the twelfth month by the lunar calendar each year, the entire family gets together for a New Year's Eve dinner. After dinner, all family members sit together to chat or play games, staying up till early the next morning. In the morning people pay New Year calls on relatives to extend congratulations. During the festival, many people also attend traditional recreational activities, such as the lion dance, dragon-lantern dance and stilt-walking."
Also see description at ROC Government Information Office's website
THE 15TH DAY OF THE 1ST LUNAR MONTH
Lantern Festival
"The first full moon after the Spring Festival, is the occasion for the Lantern Festival. It is customary to eat special sweet dumplings called yuanxiao and enjoy displayed lanterns during this festival. Yuanxiao, round balls made of glutinous rice flour stuffed with sugar fillings, symbolize reunion. The custom of enjoying lanterns at this time of the year dates back to the first century, and has continued to be popular throughout China up to the present day. On this festive night many cities hold lantern fairs to display many exotic and sometimes weirdly shaped multi-coloured lanterns. In rural areas the local people gather together and enjoy themselves as spectators and participants setting off fireworks, walking on stilts, performing with dragon lanterns, dancing the yangge
and other folk dances and playing on swings."
Also see description at ROC Government Information Office's website
top
|
| |
February
FEBRUARY 28
2/28 Memorial Day#
"228 Memorial Day on February 28 commemorates an incident that had a profound impact on the people and society of Taiwan. After the incident, public demand for redress quickly spread. Politicians and prominent members of society formed the February 28 Incident Management Committee to negotiate and institute political reform. On March 8, a large military force landed at Keelung, and many participants were killed, including many outstanding individuals who were innocent. Among older Taiwanese, the wound of this incident still runs deep. In 1995, former President Lee Teng-hui made a formal apology on behalf of the government. Other official amends have been made since that time. The government also designated February 28 as Peace Memorial Day." (from ROC Government Information Office's website)
top
|
|
March
MARCH 8
International Working Women's Day*
Women's Day#
"Though the ROC's women's rights movement began relatively late, it has, with active promotion, achieved much in a short period of time. The current condition of women in Taiwan has improved greatly, and with these changes, Women's Day has grown to become a major occasion in Taiwan. The considerable achievements of women in Taiwan are celebrated on this day at annual events held by central and local government agencies, including public tributes to the Ten Outstanding Young Women of the Year, and Dimond Lady awards, to name but a few." (from ROC Government Information Office's website)
MARCH 12
Arbor Day*
MARCH 29
Youth Day / Martyrs' Day#
"A date of tremendous import to the people of China as a time when the young are reminded of the heroic accomplishments and sacrifices of the nation's martyrs and when all citizens take a moment to think and reflect on the past. "
(from ROC Government Information Office's website)
top
|
|
April
APRIL 4
Children's Day#
"The occasion is marked by the Children's Day Celebration honoring model students from around Taiwan and by numerous parent-children activities sponsored by government and civic organizations."
(from ROC Government Information Office's website)
AROUND APRIL 5
Pure Brightness Day or Tombs Sweeping Day# (also celebrated in PRC)
"This was originally a day set aside for people to offer sacrifices to their ancestors, but nowadays it is more customary to visit the tombs of the martyrs or the revolution to pay respects. By the time of the festival, the weather has turned warmer and the earth is covered in green. Friends like to go together to the outskirts of the city to walk in the green grass, fly kites and appreciate the beauty of spring. That is why Pure Brightness Day is sometimes also called the 'Stepping on Greenery Festival'."
(from China in Brief's website)
Also see description at ROC Government Information Office's website
top
|
 |
May
MAY 1
Labour Day*#
MAY 4
Chinese Youth Day* top
June
JUNE 1
International Children's Day*
top
|
 |
5th Lunar Month
THE 5TH DAY OF THE 5TH LUNAR MONTH
Dragon Boat Festival# (also celebrated in PRC)
"It is generally believed that the festival originated to celebrate the memory of the ancient patriotic poet Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan, a native of the State of Chu during the Warring States Period, repeatedly offered his king proposals aimed at forestalling political corruption. Subsequently, slandered by treacherous court officials, he was sent into exile by the same king he had tried to help. In 278 B.C., the capital of the State of Chu was lost to its enemy the State of Qin and Qu Yuan drowned himself in despair on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Aware of the tragedy, the local people living beside the river went out in their boats to try to find his corpse. Every year thereafter on this day people continued to row dragon boats on their local rivers in memory of Qu Yuan's life and death, throwing sections of bamboo filled with rice into the river as an offering. Legend has it that someone once met Qu Yuan's spirit on the bank of the river and was told: 'The food you have given me has all been taken away by the dragon. Hereafter, you should wrap the rice in bamboo leaves tied with five-colored thread. These are the two things that the dragon is most afraid of.' Thus, people began to make zongzi, glutinous rice wrapped in a pyramid shape using bamboo or reed leaves. Today, zongzi is the traditional food for the Dragon Boat Festival still eaten in memory of Qu Yuan."
(from PRC Embassy's website)
Also see description at ROC Government Information Office's website
top
|
| |
July
top
August
AUGUST 1
Army Day*
top
|
 |
7th Lunar Month
THE 15TH DAY OF THE 7TH LUNAR MONTH
Ghost Festival
"Historically, families offer sacrifices of the newly harvested grain to departed ancestors on this day, which also coincides with the Buddhist Ullambana (Deliverance) Festival and the Taoist Ghost Festival. Since each of these traditions in some way honors the spirits of the departed the seventh lunar month has come to be known as Ghost Month, celebrated as a time when the 'Good Brethren' (ghosts from the underworld) come back to earth to feast on the victuals offered by the living. Over time the Ullambana Festival and Ghost Festival have melded together to become the present day Chung Yuan Putu or 'Mid-origin Passage to Universal Salvation'."
(from ROC Government Information Office's website: see full description)
top
|
 |
8th Lunar Month
THE 15TH DAY OF THE 8TH LUNAR MONTH
Mid-Autumn Festival# (also celebrated in PRC)
"In ancient times, people used to offer elaborately made cakes to the moon spirit on this day. After making this symbolic offering, a family would enjoy eating the cakes together. The festival eventually came to carry the idea of a happy family reunion and the custom has been passed down to this day. On this mid-autumn night, the full moon is especially bright. The whole family may sit together beneath the clear moonlight eating tasty moon cakes and appreciating the beauty of the fully rounded moon. Of course, those who are far away from their homes that night are only too easily reminded of their families when they look up at the luminous moon. The words of the great Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai are often recited on such evenings, even today: 'I raise my head to gaze at the bright moon, and I drop my head to think of my old home'."
(from PRC Embassy's website)
Also see description at ROC Government Information Office's website
top
|
 |
September
SEPTEMBER 3
Armed Forces Day#
"Celebrated in memory of the valor and sacrifice of all branches of the military during the eight-year war that ended in victory for China on September 3, 1955."
(from ROC Government Information Office's website: see full description)
SEPTEMBER 10
Teachers' Day*
SEPTEMBER 28
Confucius' Birthday/Teachers' Day#
"Every year during Teachers' Day, the Confucius Memorial Service is solemnly held at the Confucius Temple to show respect and honor for the Sage. At the 'Teachers Day Celebration' held by the Ministry of Education and the various local governments, teachers with the highest seniority and best quality are recognized for their contribution to society."
(from ROC Government Information Office's website: see full description)
top
|
| |
|
 |
9th Lunar Month
THE 9TH DAY OF THE 9TH LUNAR MONTH
Double Ninth Day
"According to Chinese custom, 'nine' is a number belonging to the positive principle 'yang,'... In Chinese, the word 'nine' is homophonous with the word for 'long time,' and accordingly this number has come to represent longevity. Thus, in 1966, the Ministry of Interior designated Double Ninth Day as Senior Citizen's Day in the ROC, and the week beginning on this holiday is observed as Senior Citizen's Week." (from ROC Government Information Office's website: see full description)
top
|
| |
November NOVEMBER 12
Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Birthday# top December DECEMBER 25
Constitution Day#
See description at ROC Government Information Office's website top |
