Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Festivals

The Chinese festivals are celebrated by the Taiwanese as a tradition and a leisure activity at the same time. While enjoying the festive seasons, it is a good way to preserve the traditional way of celebration as well.

Chinese New Year

Just like any Chinese dominated countries, the biggest event on the calendar would be Chinese New year. It makes the beginning of spring which is a festival of renewal. Every family will d spring cleaning and feast with food.

On New Year ever, families get together for reunion dinner. The new year begins in the amidst noise of firecrackers. Children and elders receive red packets called "Hong Bao" which contains money in it. Chinese will also visit the temple and gather to pay respect to the gods.

Lantern Festival

When the New Year season officially ends two weeks later, its closure is celebrated with Lantern Festival. Temples and parks in every cities are lit up with lights and lanterns. The dazzling festival is further enriched by lantern riddle parties held on that night. In addition to this, Lantern festivals is also celebrated by eating Tang Yuan, a symbol of family unity.

Earth God Day

Every year, the 2nd day of the second month on the Lunar calendar is set aside to worship earth gods. People lay out special offering to gods in their local temples. Taoist temples usually hold more extravagant celebrations.

Dragon Boat Festival

This festival falls on the 5th day of the fifth month in lunar calendar. Its origin came about when the famous poet Chu Yuan drowned himself in the river. People rush in their boat to save him but failed. Later on, they throw rice to the fishes in hope that they would not feed on his body. Since then, this culture have been passed down till today. Dragon boat race is a highlight of the festivals and during that day, people eat rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves to commemorate his death.

Ghost Month

On the seventh month of the lunar calendar, it is believed that the gates of the underworld are open and spirits are free to roam around earth. During that period, people burn spirit money to appease the spirits and make special offerings to their departed kin.
In Taiwan, Ghost Festival is passed by slaughtering a pigs or sheep. Huge portions of wine and meat is offered to their ancestors and spirits from the underworld.

Mid-Autumn Festival

The most romantic festival in the Chinese culture is perhaps the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is held on the full moon of the eighth month and is celebrated with eating mooncakes and pomelos while appreciating the beauty of the full moon. Recently, outdoor barbecues have also become a popular activity during the festival and is oftenly an occasion for family gatherings



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