Brief Introduction
Characterized by diverse styles and themes, traditional Chinese festivals are an important part of Chinese history and culture, both ancient and modern. A close relationship exists between many of the traditional festivals and chronology, mathematics, the Chinese Calendar and the twenty-four solar terms. Many of the customs connected with the traditional festivals have links with religious devotions, superstitions and myths. The form which most of the festivals take today was established around the time of the Han Dynasty (206BC - 220) and for many years, various eminent poets have written countless masterpieces describing the festivals and are still recited regularly today.
Almost every festival has its own unique origins and customs which reflect the traditional practices and morality of the whole Chinese nation and its people. The grandest and most popular festivals are the Spring Festival, the Lantern Festival, the Qingming Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Double Seventh Festival, the Mid-autumn Festival, the Chongyang Festival, and the Laba Festival.
Table of Eight Chinese Traditional Festivals
| Festival | Date | Customs | |
| Spring Festival | 1st day of the first lunar month - the end of Lantern Festival | pasting Spring Festival scrolls, the character 'Fu', and paper-cuts pictures, displaying firecrackers and fireworks, paying New Year visits, and eating jiaozi. | |
| Lantern Festival | 15th day of the first lunar month | watching lanterns and fireworks, guessing lantern riddles, performing folk dances, and eating yuanxiao. | |
| Qingming Festival | April 4th or 5th of the solar calendar | tomb sweeping, spring outings, and flying kites. | |
| Dragon Boat Festival | 5th day of the 5th lunar month | dragon boat racing, eating zongzi, wearing a perfume pouch and tying five-colour silk thread, and hanging mugwort leaves and calamus. | |
| Double Seventh Festival | 7th day of seventh lunar month | praying for skillful hands, appreciating the stars, and eating noodles, jiaozi, and wontons. | |
| Mid-autumn Festival | 15th day of the 8th lunar month | appreciating and offering sacrifice to the moonlight and eating moon cakes. | |
| Chongyang Festival | 9th day of the 9th lunar month | eating Chongyang cake, drinking chrysanthemum wine, climbing mountains and appreciating beautiful chrysanthemums. | |
| Laba Festival | 8th day of the 12th lunar month | eating laba rice porridge. | |
| Timetable of Chinese Traditional Festivals (2008-2015) | ||||||||
 | Spring Festival | Lantern Festival | Qingming Festival | Dragon Boat | Double Seventh | Mid-autumn Festival | Chongyang Festival | Laba Festival |
| 2008 | Feb. 7 | Feb. 21 | Apr. 4 | Jun. 8 | Aug. 7 | Sep. 14 | Oct. 7 | Jan. 3, 2009 |
| 2009 | Jan.26 | Feb.9 | Apr. 4 | May 28 | Aug. 26 | Oct. 3 | Oct. 26 | Jan. 22, 2010 |
| 2010 | Feb. 14 | Feb.28 | Apr. 5 | Jun. 16 | Aug. 16 | Sep. 22 | Oct. 16 | Jan. 11, 2011 |
| 2011 | Feb. 3 | Feb. 17 | Apr. 5 | Jun. 6 | Aug. 6 | Sep. 12 | Oct. 5 | Jan. 1, 2012 |
| 2012 | Jan. 23 | Feb. 6 | Apr. 4 | Jun. 23 | Aug. 23 | Sep. 30 | Oct. 23 | Jan. 19, 2013 |
| 2013 | Feb. 10 | Feb. 24 | Apr. 4 | Jun. 12 | Aug. 13 | Sep. 19 | Oct. 13 | Jan. 8, 2014 |
| 2014 | Jan. 31 | Feb. 14 | Apr. 5 | Jun. 2 | Aug. 2 | Sep. 8 | Oct. 2 | Jan. 27, 2015 |
| 2015 | Feb. 19 | Mar. 5 | Apr. 5 | Jun. 20 | Aug. 20 | Sep. 27 | Oct. 21 | Jan. 17, 2016 |
Note: The dates above refer to the solar calendar.
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Travelers' Voices on Chinese Traditional Festivals
1.
Oct. 31,2009 21:13 Reply
Mr.pottery(Singapore) said:
I like the pics on this page. What is the use of the pics?
Oct. 31,2009 21:47
Mr.cindy(cn) replied:
Those pictures will be posted on the door or the wall to celebrate chinese new year!
Nov. 5,2009 22:49
Mr.FROGMAN(China) replied:
or on the window
2.
Sep. 3,2009 03:15 Reply
Mr.Jill(USA) said:
spring festival is celebrated according to the solar calendar or the chinese lunar calendar? Can someone answer my question? Thank you.
Sep. 3,2009 08:20
Mrs.Allan(China) replied:
Spring Festival is celebrated according to the Lunar calendar. That's why the date is different every year. It depends on the moon. So it's usually somewhere between 15th January and the 15th February.