An Overview of Holidays in China
China has a history of more than 5,000 years during which many traditional holidays are formed and widely celebrated. Generally, holidays show people’s reverence, gratitude or good wishes by means of celebration, and also they are occasions for family reunions and travelling. Holidays are significant cultural symbols and the common memories shared by the communities of the Chinese. Nowadays, China has 7 major public holidays in a year, including New Year’s Day, Spring Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, May Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day. Besides, China has various ethnic group holidays which are popular and widely celebrated among the minority peoples, such as Naadam Festival of the Mongolians, Water-splashing Festival of the Dai people, the Torch Festival of the Yi people, the Knife-Pole Festival of Lisu people and the Bullfight Festival of Miao people.
The Origins and Categories of Traditional Chinese Holidays
Over 5,000 years history has witnessed the creation and wide celebration of many traditional Chinese festivals, which are indispensable and essential components of Chinese culture. These holidays are closely linked to Chinese myths and folklore; in the meantime, they, more often than not, originate from the rituals of farmers to celebrate good harvests and bountifulness because agricultural civilization makes people depend much on their harvesting.
According to their origins, traditional Chinese festivals can be mainly categorized into three types: agricultural festivals, religious festivals and social festivals. The most important traditional Chinese holidays include the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), Tomb-Sweeping Day, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival. Besides, Double Ninth Festival and Double Seventh Festival have become increasingly popular in China with the improvement of people’s living standards. Nowadays, Chinese Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival are the most essential and important to modern Chinese people. Spring Festival is also called Chinese New Year and its importance for Chinese is like the Christmas for the westerners, and Mid-Autumn Festival is like Thanks-giving Day in America. Also, more and more elderly people celebrate Double Ninth Festival and young people are passionate for Double Seventh Festival at present.
