Ancient Chinese Culture
Archive for category Festival
Dongzhi Festival
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Festival on December 22, 2009
The Dongzhi Festival, also called Winter Solstice Festival, is one of the most important traditional festivals in China. It is a solar term in Chinese lunar calendar and in the solar calendar, it always falls on December 22 or 23 each year.
As early as more than 2500 years ago, winter solstice was mensurated by Chinese via observing movements of the sun with sundials. During the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), it became a festival of great importance for the Chinese people. On that day, all the family members would get together and have meal together. Ancient Chinese also regarded this day as a day to offer scarifies to heaven and their ancestors.
In the southern parts of China, all the family members would make and eat Tangyuan, a kind of stuffed dumpling ball which is made of glutinous rice flour, symbolizing reunion in the Chinese culture. In some parts of the northern China, people would eat dumplings, believing that doing so would keep them from frost in the upcoming winter.
Temple Fair
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Festival on April 20, 2009
Fair, also known as Miaohui in Chinese, is a traditional cultural events with various Chinese customs and folklore.
Temple Fair used to be a showing activity to transmit the tenet of Buddhism and Taoism. Later, it became an event for worship, recreation, commercial trades, etc.
For ancient Chinese, it was also the main trading market for them to buy daily necessities. Nowadays, to keep pace with the times，more color and dimension has been added to it. It is a combination of goods mart and entertainment venue now.
Tomb-Sweeping Day
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Festival on April 3, 2009
Qingming Festival, also called Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the 106th day after the winter solstice, usually occurring around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar.
Qingming, which means clear and bright, is the day for the living to mourn the dead. In ancient China, it was one of the occasions when sacrifices were made to ancestors.
On Qingming, people visit their ancestors’ graves. They tidy up, remove weeds and sweep away leaves. It is the reason for its another name, namely Tomb-Sweeping Day. Also on Qingming, people go on family outings, singing, dancing and flying kites.
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