Traditional Festivals in Taiwan and China Lunar New

Traditional Festivals in Taiwan and China Lunar New Year Qingming Ghost Festival Dragon Boat Mid-Autumn Festival by呂冠諭、周慧穎、侯采汶、馮惠柔 Taoyuan, Taiwan http: //taiwanpedia. culture. tw/en/index

The Lunar New Year The Origin of The Lunar New Year can be traced back thousands of years, involving a series of colorful legends and traditions.

n One of the most famous legends is Nian , an extremely cruel and ferocious beast that the ancients believed would devour people on New Year’s Eve.

n To keep Nian away, red-paper couplets are pasted on doors, torches are lit, and firecrackers are set off throughout the night, because Nian is said to fear the color red, the light of fire, and loud noises.

n Early the next morning, as feelings of triumph and renewal fill the air at successfully keeping Nian away for another year, the most popular greeting heard is gong xi , or “congratulations. ”

New Year's Eve On Lunar New Year’s Eve, family members who are no longer living at home make a special effort to return home for reunion and share in a sumptuous meal. At that time, family members hand out hong bao, or “lucky money” in red envelopes, to elders and children.

Taboos of the New Year No one should wear clothing representing negativity (black) or death (white). n Crying is strictly taboo. n Negative words, topics or stories should not be brought up. n Never break any utensils. If you happen to break any bowls, glass or anything, utter the words “Suisui Ping’an” (“Peace visit you through the ages”). n

Tomb Sweeping Day(Qingming) n n The Tomb Sweeping Day is an opportunity for celebrants to remember and honor their ancestors at grave sites. Young and old pray before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, wine, chopsticks, joss paper accessories, and/or libations to the ancestors. joss paper grave site

Spring rolls for Qingming Traditionally, people don’t cook on that day. Instead, non-fried spring rolls are eaten. People typically fill the wrapping with pre-cooked ingredients.

Hungry Ghost Festival n n In Chinese tradition, the seventh month in the lunar calendar is regarded as the Ghost Month, in which ghosts and spirits come out from the lower realm. People would prepare ritualistic food offerings for those ghosts who have no family in this world.

Qianggu n n Qianggu (lit. snatch wandering ghosts) is a rite added before the end of ritual of universal salvation. When conducting the qianggu festival, each team competes in climbing up the shed in the form of a human pyramid, then to the bamboo stacks on top, and victory goes to the first person to capture the flag on top of the stack.

Releasing Paper Boats And Lanterns n Other festivities may include releasing miniature paper boats and lanterns on water, which signifies giving directions to the lost ghosts and spirits of the ancestors and other deities.

Dragon Boat Festival A common belief is that Dragon Boat festival was established to commemorate the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan’s leap into the River. http: //taiwanpedia. culture. tw/en/content? ID=2033 &Keyword=dragon+boat

Zongzi ( rice dumplings wrapped by bamboo leafs), intended to balance the body’s yin-yang energy, were also considered an offering to honor Qu Yuan while the dragon boat races became a custom to rescue him from the river.

Other practices of the Dragon Boat Festival People hang calamus and wormwood on their doors. Since calamus was sword-shaped and wormwood leafs flag-shaped, they were considered symbols of victory over illness and poison. The children wear sachets filled with special plants to expel evil and bugs.

Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival is strongly associated with the legend of Houyi and. Chang'e, the Moon Goddess of Immortality.

n At that time, there were ten suns. Then Houyi killed nine of the suns and was made king as a reward for saving the people.

n n However, King Houyi became a despot and got a pill of immortality from the Queen Mother of the West. Chang'e stole the pill and swallowed it herself to prevent her husband's tyrannical rule from lasting forever.

n n Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the special festivals in a year for family reunion. The whole family eat Moon cakes, pomelos and barbecues together under the moonlight. Full moon Grapefruit Moon cake Barbecue

The top 10 traditional festivals in Taiwan n n n 1 New Year 2. Qingming 3. Ghost Festival 4. Dragon Boat Festival 5 Mid - Autumn Festival The 6. Lantern Festival 7. Chung Yeung Festival 8 winter solstice 9. Tanabata 10 Matsu's birthday End