Chinese Traditional Festivals

Laba Festival is a traditional Chinese festival that falls on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. It marks the beginning of winter and the end of the year. It originated from the ancient ritual of offering sacrifices to ancestors and gods, praying for a good harvest and good fortune. According to Buddhism, this day is also the anniversary of the enlightenment of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. Therefore, Laba Festival is also called Buddha’s Enlightenment Day, and Buddhists celebrate it by chanting scriptures, worshipping Buddha, and making Laba porridge, a special congee made of various grains, beans, nuts, and fruits. Laba Festival has different customs in different regions of China. In northern China, people also make Laba garlic, which is garlic soaked in vinegar. The garlic turns green after about 20 days, and the vinegar becomes spicy. People eat Laba garlic and Laba vinegar with dumplings or cold dishes during the Spring Festival.

立春 is a traditional festival that marks the arrival of spring and the new year in ancient China. It is also celebrated as the Farmer’s Day in modern China, Taiwan, and some other regions with Chinese influence.

On this day, some Chinese people have customs such as standing eggs, saving money, eating spring rolls, and whipping spring oxen.

除夕 is a day of family reunion, ancestor worship, and celebration for the Chinese people. On this day, some Chinese people have customs such as cleaning the house, pasting spring couplets, making dumplings, staying up late, setting off firecrackers, and giving red envelopes (Ang Pow).

大年初一 is a day of joy, reunion, and blessing for the Chinese people. On this day, some Chinese people have customs such as wearing new clothes, visiting relatives and friends, giving red envelopes, setting off firecrackers, and watching lion and dragon dances.

天宫诞 is a day to worship and thank the Jade Emperor, the supreme deity in Taoism and Chinese folk religion, for his blessings and protection. On this day, some Chinese people have customs such as burning incense and paper offerings, preparing vegetarian food and sweet cakes, setting off firecrackers, and watching opera performances.

元宵节 is a traditional festival for Chinese people”. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month, which is the first full moon night of the year.

Some of the customs and activities of the Lantern Festival include eating tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), admiring lanterns, guessing lantern riddles, and setting off fireworks.

The Lantern Festival has a long history and various legends behind it. One of them is related to Buddhism, which says that Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty ordered lanterns to be lit on the 15th night of the first lunar month to show respect to Buddha.

Another legend is related to Taoism, which says that the 15th day of the first lunar month is the birthday of the Heavenly Official, who grants blessings to people.

The Lantern Festival is also considered as a Chinese Valentine’s Day, because in ancient times, young men and women had few chances to meet each other, and the Lantern Festival night was a rare opportunity for them to go out and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

According to traditional Chinese folklore, Jingzhe is the day when thunderstorms will startle the sleeping insects and make them come out of their hiding places. This implies that the weather is getting warmer and the spring rain is coming.

Some of the customs and activities that people in Malaysia may observe during Jingzhe are: Eating fried beans: In some regions of China, people eat fried beans on Jingzhe to symbolize the awakening of the insects. This custom may have spread to Malaysia as well, where many Chinese immigrants brought their culture and traditions. Beating the villains: Jingzhe is also known as the second month festival, which gives it a festive atmosphere. Some people may use this occasion to vent their anger and frustration by beating paper figures that represent their enemies or bad luck. This is called “beating the villains” or “da xiao ren (打小人)” in Chinese.

Dragon Head Raising Day is a traditional festival that falls on the second day of the second lunar month. It marks the beginning of spring and the awakening of the dragon, the mythical creature that controls rain and weather. According to ancient astronomy, the dragon is represented by the seven stars of the eastern constellation, which rise from the horizon on this day. People celebrate this festival by worshipping the dragon, praying for good harvest, eating special foods, cutting hair, and performing other customs. The date of the festival varies according to the lunar calendar, usually in late February or early March.

This is a day to pay respect to the ancestors and the deceased. It is also known as the Tomb Sweeping Day or the Ching Ming Festival. It falls on the 4th or 5th of April every year. Some of the customs and activities include visiting and cleaning the graves, offering food and flowers, burning incense and paper money, and flying kites.

This is a day to commemorate the patriotic poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Miluo River to protest against the corrupt government. It is also known as the Duanwu Festival or the Dumpling Festival. It falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, usually in June. Some of the customs and activities include eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), drinking realgar wine, wearing perfume pouches, and racing dragon boats.

七夕 is a Chinese word that means “Evening of Sevens”. It is also known as the Qixi Festival or the Chinese Valentine’s Day. It is a festival that celebrates the annual meeting of two lovers, Zhinü and Niulang, who are separated by the Milky Way and can only meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.
Some of the customs and activities of 七夕 include:Writing wishes on paper or fabric and hanging them on bamboo trees or other plants.Offering fruits, flowers, and incense to Zhinü and Niulang, who are represented by the stars Vega and Altair.
Eating special foods, such as qiaoguo (fried thin pastries), qiaomi (puffed rice cakes), and qiaofan (rice cooked with nuts and dried fruits).Watching the stars at night and looking for the Milky Way, Vega, and Altair.Singing or listening to songs and poems about the legend of Zhinü and Niulang.
七夕 is a festival that expresses the longing and hope for love and happiness. It is also a festival that showcases the craftsmanship and creativity of the people.

The Chinese festival of Zhongyuan Jie, also known as Ghost Festival, is a traditional celebration that falls on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. It is believed that on this day, the gates of the underworld are opened and the spirits of the ancestors and the wandering ghosts are free to roam the earth. People honor their ancestors and appease the restless souls by offering food, incense, paper money, and other items. They also light lanterns and candles to guide the spirits and pray for their salvation. The festival has its origins in ancient ancestor worship, Taoism, and Buddhism, and it is celebrated in different ways across China and other Asian countries.

This is a day to celebrate the harvest and the reunion of the family. It is also known as the Mooncake Festival or the Lantern Festival. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually in September or October. It is a night of moon worship, lanterns, and mooncakes. Some of the customs and activities include eating mooncakes, admiring the full moon, carrying lanterns, and playing with candles。

重阳节 is a Chinese word that means “Double Ninth Festival” or “Chong Yang Festival” in English. It is a traditional Chinese festival that is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, usually in October. It is a day to honor the elderly, pay respect to the ancestors, and enjoy the autumn scenery.
Some of the activities that people do on the Double Ninth Festival are: Climbing mountains to seek good fortune and enjoy the autumn scenery. Wearing cornels (Zhuyu) to ward off evil spirits and diseases. Drinking chrysanthemum wine to prolong one’s life and improve one’s vision. Eating chongyang cakes to symbolize prosperity and longevity. Admiring chrysanthemums and writing wishes on them.

The Winter Solstice is an important traditional festival that marks the beginning of winter and the shortest day of sunlight. In China, the Winter Solstice is considered a lucky day, and people gather to eat dumplings or glutinous rice balls, worship their ancestors, pray for blessings, and perform other customs. The date of the Winter Solstice varies according to the lunar calendar, usually falling on December 21 or 22 each year.