Traditional Chinese Festivals

Traditional Chinese festivals

Abstract

Boasting rich cultural meaning and a long history, traditional Chinese festivals compose an important and brilliant part of Chinese culture.

Traditional festivals are important events in the life of every Chinese, beginning right from childhood. Festivals such as the Chinese New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the winter solstice1 are more or less evenly distributed across the four seasons. In China's traditional agricultural society, festivals served to mark the passing of time. Lifestyles of the people of the Republic of China today have undeniably changed a great deal since those times, and people now function according to a different concept of time, but the importance of traditional festivals in their lives has not faded.

Elements common to all Chinese festivals are expression of a desire for happiness and well-being, the warding off of misfortune, experiencing an oneness between humans and heaven, and family reunion.

Festivals are also an opportunity for rest and relaxation. The Chinese are a hardworking people, and they have few occasions to rest in the course of a year. So festivals and celebrations are a welcome opportunity for a change of pace, and were the” national holidays” of China’s traditional agricultural society.

Origin of festivals

Most traditional festivals took shape during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), the first unified and power-centralized dynasty of China. By the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), China had experienced a great development period and major traditional festivals were fixed. In the most prosperous Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), traditional festivals liberated themselves from primitive sacrifice, taboo and mystery and became more entertaining. From then on, festive occasions turned more brisk and exciting and more and more folk customs were developed. Some festivals and customs we still follow today, but others disappeared into...