Learning about Chinese Festivals is a great way to improve your knowledge of Chinese culture. However it can be hard to keep track of the Lunar Calendar and the many Chinese Festivals each year. Here are the most common Chinese Festivals in the Lunar Calendar. We’ve provided the dates for 2020 so that you’re ready and prepared to celebrate when the new year starts.
Spring Festival
The Spring Festival (also known as the Chinese New Year) is celebrated at the beginning of the traditional Lunar Calendar. The festival typically lasts for 23 days and is followed by the Lantern Festival. During the Spring Festival families come together and prepare a feast. Some activities decorating the house, lighting fireworks and gifting red envelopes filled with money to friends and family. Start Date: 25 Jan 2020.
Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival signifies the last day of Chinese New Year celebrations. During the Lantern Festival, people will light and let off decorated paper lanterns into the night. Besides lighting lanterns, other activities include eating special rise balls filled with sweet treats. Start Date: 8 Feb 2020.
Qing Ming Festival
The Qingming Festival (also known as the Tomb Sweeping Festival) is an important festival for families to pay their respect to their ancestors. During the Qingming Festival, families will clean the tombs of their ancestors. The families will also make an offering to their ancestors through food and the burning of joss sticks and paper. Discover more about the festival here. Start Date: 4 Apr 2020.
Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival is a festival where people take part in and watch “Dragon Boat” races. The festival is in honour of the ancient and influential poet Qu Yuan; as he was drowning in a river, people raced on their boats to save him. During the festival, people will prepare special dumplings to eat and also throw then into rivers as an offering. Start Date: 25 Jun 2020.
Hungry Ghost Festival
The Hungry Ghost Festival is during the ghost month; a month where people believe that ghosts are freed to roam the earth. If you want to find out more about the Hungry Ghost Festival, Ghost Month and activities during this time read our post on Halloween celebrations in China. Read about the festival here. Start Date: 2 Sep 2020.
Moon Festival
The Moon Festival (also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival) is a harvest and thanksgiving festival which also pays homage to the moon which is an important symbol in Chinese culture. During the festival, families will come together to make and share Moon-cakes which are finely decorated sweet pastries filled with red bean and lotus paste. Start Date: 1 Oct 2020.
Chong Yang Festival
The Chong Yang Festival (Also known as the Double Ninth) is a festival held on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar. The day is important because in Chinese culture the number nine is associated with “Yang”. During the Double Ninth there is too much Yang which causes bad luck. To ward off evil people climb tall mountains or drink special liquor. Start Date: 25 Oct 2020.
Dongzhi Festival
The Dongzhi Festival (also known as the Winter Solstice Festival) is a festival that that represents the turning of the season aid also related to the Chinese philosophy of Ying and Yang. During the Dongzhi festival families will come together to make and eat special rice balls or dumplings. Start Date: 21 Dec 2020.
