Chinese festivals of the year 2013
According to the Chinese Calendar year 2013 is the year of the "Snake" , which begins on 10 February 2013 and ends on 30 January 2014. According to the Chinese Zodiac snake is the sixth sign . The year of the snake is said to bring good fortune. The Chinese New Year calendar provides a description of the traditional festivals chronology for the year 2013. The upcoming festivals for the Chinese year 2013 are:
Chinese New Year- 10 February 2013
Chinese New Year falls on the first day of the first month of the new Chinese calendar. This festival is marked as China's one of the biggest traditional festivals. This is a spring festival and takes place for over two weeks. With the "Lantern Festival" following on the fifteenth day, it brings an end to the New year season.
Lantern Festival- 24 February 2013
Lantern festival begins on the first full moon night of the Lunisolar New Year. Lantern Festival marks and end to the Chinese New Year festival season. During this festival the city of China looks spectacular with beautiful paper lanterns displayed across the city. In this festival traditional delicacies like Yuangxiao dumplings (sticky rice dumplings with savory filling is served).
Chinese Quingming Festival- 4 April 2013
Quingming means the 1st day of the Fifth solar term. This festival marks as a celebration of the springtime. During this festival people go outside and enjoy the greenery and pay homage to the graves of the departed souls of their loved ones. Quingming festival is termed as "The Clear Bright Festival" or The Tomb Sweeping Day".
Birthday of Tin Hau-4 May 2013
The birthday of this saint of seafarers is celebrated on the 23rd day of the 3rd lunar month. The patron saint Tin Hau is the goddess of the sea, who is said to ensure safe sailing and weather forecast. There are approximately 70 temples dedicated to her in China. On this day fishermen and other seafarers visit and make offerings in her temple and pray for safe and smooth sailing, good weather and nets filled with fish.
Cheung Chau Bun festival- 14 May 2013- 18 May 2013
It is a fun annual festival that is held on the small island of Cheung Chau. Cheung Chau is located in the South-West of the Hong Kong mainland. This festival is very interesting and fun- filled as 10 wacky sports from around the world are being held. One of the wackiest and premier event held in this festival is "Bun scrambling competition". The participants of the bun scrambling competition climb a tower stacked with buns. The contestants need to grab as much as possible and scramble them. Another main event is "The colorful parade".
Dragon Boat festival- 12 June 2013
The "Dragon Boat festival" is China's one of the oldest traditional festival. Two main events that mark this festival are 1) dragon boat race 2) eating Zongzi. In dragon boat race teams of dragon boats races against each other across the water. Next is eating Zongxi which is glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves.
Chinese Valentine's Day- 13 August 2013
This day falls during the warmer summer months. This festival falls on the seventh day of the seventh month on the Chinese Lunisolar Calendar. This festival is marked as a day for the lovers. The Chinese valentine's day festival is also known as Seven Sisters Festival or Festival of The Double Sevens.
Moon festival- 19 September 2013
"The Moon Festival " is China's second biggest traditional festival after Chinese New Year. This festival takes place during the harvesting month of mid-August, at that time the Moon is at its brightest. During this festival Chinese families come together to gaze the moon and eat moon cakes.
Cheung Yung, Elder's Day- 13 October 2013
Cheung Yung or also known as Double Ninth Day falls on the ninth day of the ninth Chinese Lunar Month. During 1989 since the word "ninth" and " long time" were homophones (words which sound similar) the Chinese government decided to make it "The Senior Citizens Day". Special events and dinners are hosted honor their ancestors and elders in the family during this festival.
Dong Zhi Festival (Winter Solstice festival)- 21 December 2013
The Yin and Yang, have a strong influence of this festival . The Dong Zhi festival is also known as "The Winter Solstice festival". During this festival families come together to worship in ancestral temples and eat dumplings of "tang yuan" ( balls of glutinous rice flour).
Note: Images sourced from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/
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