Traditional festivals are important events in the life of every Chinese, beginning right from childhood. Festivals such as the Chinese New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Winter Solstice are more or less evenly distributed across the four seasons. In China's traditional agricultural society, festivals served to mark the passing of time.
All Chinese festivals include common elements such as a desire for happiness and well-being, the warding off of misfortune, experiencing a connection between man and heaven, and family reunion. And, of course, Festivals are an opportunity for rest and relaxation. The Chinese are hard workers, so festivals and celebrations are a welcome chance for a change of pace. During China's traditional agricultural society, festivals were even national holidays.
The rhythm of China's traditional festivals was set by the sowing and reaping of crops. The Chinese New Year comes in winter when farmers are unable to work in the fields. The Lantern Festival ends the Chinese New Year season. Tomb-Sweeping Day, which is a day to pay respect to the deceased, comes between spring plowing and summer weeding. The Dragon Boat Festival is held after one of the harvests of the year is completed. The Chung Yuan Festival (to remove the guilt incurred by the sins of the dead) occurs in the middle of summer when not much work in the fields can be done because it is so hot. The Mid-Autumn Festival is held around the final harvest of the year. The Double Ninth or Senior Citizens' Festival occurs as farmers prepare for the coming winter. And the Tung Chih festival falls on or around winter solstice.
Traditional festivals are important events in the life of every Chinese, beginning right from childhood. Festivals such as the Chinese New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Winter Solstice are more or less evenly distributed across the four seasons. In China's traditional agricultural society, festivals served to mark the passing of time.
