Find out what festivals are coming up in the Year of the Rabbit, when they fall and how you can celebrate them!
Qing Ming (Tomb Sweeping Day) – Wednesday April 5th 2023
Tomb Sweeping Day was traditionally a day to honour the ancestors and clean their tombs, although in modern China it is more often used as a holiday to enjoy spring weather and flowers. On this holiday, you should visit a loved-one’s grave to clean and decorate it – or you might like to visit or call a loved-one who is still living! Visit your local park or the Beijing Botanic Garden to enjoy the blossom.
How CK can help you celebrate this event
Join us online for a presentation about tomb sweeping day and a look at traditional Chinese funerary customs. Alternatively, book a private presentation, either online or in person, for your group!
Dragon Boat Festival – Thursday June 22nd 2023
This festival is best known for its dragon-boat races, especially in the south of China. The races commemorate the death of poet and government minister Qu Yuan in 278BC. On this holiday, you should watch dragon boat races, which are usually announced a couple of weeks beforehand.
How CK can help you celebrate this event
Join us at the CK Culture Centre for a Dragon Boat Festival Celebration, including a presentation about the festival, making and eating zongzi (pictured above) and themed crafts for children. Alternatively, book a private event for your group, which can be fully tailored to your requirements.
Qixi (Chinese Valentine’s Day) – Tuesday August 22nd 2023
On this day according to legend, parted lovers Niu Lang and Zhi Nv have their yearly rendezvous on a bridge of magpies. The festival was traditionally celebrated by young women, who would make offerings to Zhi Nv, a weaver, praying to acquire high skills in needlecraft, as well as hoping to find suitable husbands. This is not an official holiday in China, but you can celebrate by spending time with your partner, spouse or good friends.
How CK can help you celebrate this event
Join us at the CK Culture Centre for a celebration of Qixi! Activities include a presentation about the festival, making qiaoguo, the traditional food of this festival, listening to famous love stories and doing Qixi-themed crafts. Alternatively, book a private event for your group, which can be fully tailored to your requirements.
Ghost Month – Wednesday August 16th – Thursday September 14th 2023
The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, although the whole month is Ghost Month . According to legend, the gates of hell are opened on the first day, and the hungry ghosts are released to find food or to take revenge on those who have behaved badly. Family members offer prayers to their deceased relatives, make offerings and burn paper money and goods to send to them in the afterlife.
How CK can help you celebrate this event
Join us at the CK Culture Centre for a Ghost-Month themed event, where we learn all about monsters and demons from Chinese folklore, listen to scary stories and do monster and ghost-themed crafts. Alternatively, book a private event for your group, which can be fully tailored to your requirements. The same event is perfect for a Halloween celebration in late October too!
Mid-Autumn Festival – Friday September 29th 2023
On Mid-Autumn festival, people gather together to appreciate the full moon and celebrate the harvest by giving thanks and praying. The festival is celebrated by eating a big dinner and mooncakes (pictured above) with family. You can find mooncakes everywhere, from the smallest supermarket to luxury hotels. If you’re not with your family on the eve of the festival you should look up at the moon and think of them far away!
How CK can help you celebrate this event
Join us at the CK Culture Centre for a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration, including a presentation on the history and customs of the festival, blind mooncake tasting and making models in the traditional style of Chang’E (who is said to be the reason for the festival). Alternatively, book a private event for your group, which can be fully tailored to your requirements.
Spring Festival Eve (Year of the Dragon) – Friday February 9th 2024
Chinese New Year is called Spring Festival (春节 Chūnjié) in Chinese, and is China’s most important festival! People celebrate by hanging red decorations, returning to their hometowns, and having a big reunion dinner. You can easily find ‘fu’ characters and couplets in the supermarkets. If you can, you should make dumplings on this day to eat together with family in the evening, before throwing open the windows at midnight to let in the good luck of the new year!
How CK can help you celebrate this event
Join us at the CK Culture Centre to make dumplings, write traditional New Year couplets and ‘fu’ characters to hang around your front door, enjoy Spring Festival crafts, and learn all about the history and customs of Spring Festival. Alternatively, book a private event for your group, which can be fully tailored to your requirements with a lot of different activity options available.
Please contact us for a copy of our Festivals Brochure to find out about the many fun activity options we offer for each festival!
Which festival are you most looking forward to this year? Let us know in the comments below. We would love to hear your thoughts and insights on traditional Chinese culture!
Photo Credits
– Cultural Keys
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About Cultural Keys Chinese Culture Company
Cultural Keys helps you access, understand and enjoy life in China through traditional Chinese culture. Click here to read more about Cultural Keys and what we can do for you, your school, company or group to help you get more out of your time in China!