The majority of Chinese festivals 2012 take place during the Moon year, which begins with the New Moon. As the Gregorian calendar is different from the Chinese one, the festivals take place in different days each year. This is why you need to know the dates of these festivals.
When are the festivals celebrated?
They are usually celebrate the passing between seasons, such as the eight-day or the eight-month. Eight is considered as being a lucky number in the Chinese tradition. The festivals are considered as occasions for people to make presents one to the other, and also to meet their families and friends. Each festival represents the folklore of this country, and it is based on the enthusiasm of the population.
Despite the fact that the Cultural Revolution from the last century affected the regularity of the festivals, and especially of the religious ceremonies, the Chinese people managed to keep their old traditions. Hong Kong is the best place to enjoy the best festivals, as here, people usually celebrate with shiny lights and amazing decorations. During those festivals, the temples smell nice, and people stay in line for the chance to touch the altars, and to play games that bring them luck, such as kicking the bells in the altar with coins, habit that is supposed to bring luck.
The Chinese New Year is also called the Spring Festival, and it is the most important of all the festival. It lasts for two weeks, and it is a tradition that is present for centuries.
Qing Ming, Duan Wu and Autumn-Middle
The Qing Ming festival is known in the Occident as the Shiny Festival, representing a reason to commemorate the ancestors. This celebration is market with visits at the tombs of the ancestors, and it is considered as one of the most important religious festivities.
There are many other festivals, which are celebrated by centuries, and they are made to commemorate the traditions. The majority of the celebrations are connected with mythology, and with ancient gods.
The majority of Chinese festivals 2012 are connected with the beliefs of people also. From the ancient rituals of the farmers, to the crops celebrations and god’s sacrifices, the Chinese people always have something to rejoice. Recently, some modern traditions and occidental habits associated with the government were added to the national celebrations. Besides the major festivals, there also other festivals such as:
- The Crop Day,
- Guanying, which is also called the compassion day
- Other local festivals
The Goddess of Compassion is one of the most important figures of the Chinese mythology, and it is celebrated especially in the Taoist temples.
Buddha is celebrated in the Fourth Moon Month, meaning April or May. There are some temples in China, especially in the southern area of the country, where people pray for forgiveness and harmony.
There are also the local festivals, and those are also many. Considering the area of China where you are, you might think about attending those festivals, as you will surely remain impressed about the implication of people into those festivals, and about the care that the people have for their traditions.
