Official
Chinese Holidays
New
Year's Day (January 1) Although it is officially a holiday,
there is not much celebrating with this holiday, at least
not as much as Chinese New Year.
International Women's Day (March 8)
Arbor Day(April 1)
International Labor Day (May 1) This is a major holiday,
bigger than the Labor Day in America in September. Many
of the main Chinese parks, attractions and cultural exhibits
are packed, as most people are off.
Youth Day, Also the May 4th Movement(May 4) Starting out
as a mass protest against the Japanese occupation in 1919,
this day still means being patriotic, progressive, democratic
and scientific to China's young adults and students.
Children's
Day (June 1) It is a great day for children. Recognized
as the future of the nation, and the world, children are
allowed free access to learning and museums, given gifts
and generally shown a festive spirit.
The CCP's Birthday (July 1) Marks the founding of the Chinese
Communist Party in 1921 in Shanghai.
Army's
Day (August 1) Celebrating the founding of the People's
Liberation Army.
Teacher's Day (September 1) Started as an effort to reverse
the anti-intellectual sentiment enforced by the Cultural
Revolution, Teacher's Day is a way to honor teachers, both
Chinese and foreign.
National Day (October 1) One of the biggest official holidays
in China, National Day celebrates the founding of the People's
Republic of China. It begins on October First and generally
runs for an entire week.
Traditional
Chinese Holidays
Chinese
New Year (Late January to Early February) The Chinese traditional
calendar is lunar, meaning it is based on the phases of
the moon. The Western calendar is solar, based on the movement
of the sun through the year. That is why Chinese New Year
is never the same every year in the solar calendar. This
is one of the biggest holidays of the year.
The
Dragon Boat Festival (Fifth day of the Fifth lunar month)
A symbolic festival. A beloved poet and philanthropist is
drowning, so his people race out into the water and throw
rice to keep the fish from eating his body.
Mid-Autumn Festival (15th of the eighth month) On
this day, the moon is supposed to be the fullest and largest
to the eye. The whole familygets together to observe the
moon while feasting on wine, fruit and moon-cakes.
