Festivals in Ancient China

Festivals in Ancient China

Festivals in Ancient China

Learn about the Festivals in Ancient China including the Chinese New Year and Spring, Lantern, Qingming, Dragon Boat, and the Night of Sevens.

Festivals in Ancient China

In ancient China, the majority of people put in long hours every day. They didn’t get weekends off and put in long hours every day. However, there were other national holidays spread out over the course of the year. During these occasions, families would congregate and rejoice. In China, several of these holidays are still observed.

Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)

The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, was the most significant holiday of the year. The entire festival is 15 days long. The first day of the New Year marks the beginning, while the Lantern Festival marks the conclusion.

The Spring Festival was observed by the Ancient Chinese as far back as the Shang Dynasty, more than three thousand years ago. Chinese folklore states that the celebration began when a small community used the sound of firecrackers and drums to frighten the monster Nian away.

During the Spring Festival, family gatherings, gift-exchanging, and the setting off of fireworks all take place. Red is also well-liked since it was used to frighten the monster Nian away.

Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival is a unique event that takes place on the final day of the Spring Festival. The first iteration of this celebration was in the Han Dynasty. They lit lanterns as a tribute to Buddha. Riddle guessing, which dates back to the Song Dynasty, eating rice dumplings, performing the lion dance, and performing the dragon dance are further customs associated with this day.

Qingming Festival

The Qingming Festival takes place from April 3 to 6. The festival is also known as Clear and Bright Festival. It was traditionally a sign that farmers might start preparing their fields for planting and plowing. It is regarded as a day of ancestral sacrifice. There are customs that involve planting plants, kite flying, cleaning the graves of the deceased, and only consuming cold food.

Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival dates all the way back to the Warring States Period of the Zhou Dynasty. Legend has it that a famous poet named Qu Yuan killed himself on this day by jumping into a river when he learned that his homeland had been conquered. This festival takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Traditions on this day include dragon boat racing, eating rice dumplings called zongzi, and wearing a perfume pouch to ward off evil spirits.

The Night of Sevens Festival

The Night of the Sevens Festival falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. This festival was first celebrated during the Han Dynasty. The legend behind the festival is a love story that tells of a cowhand who fell in love with a maiden from heaven. However, the lovers were separated by the Queen of heaven. After trying to get back together for a long time, they finally met again on this day. Traditionally the day was a day to worship the stars and for young girls to pray for a good husband. Today it has become more of lovers’ day like Valentine’s Day.

Moon Festival

The Moon Festival is celebrated in late September and celebrates the bounty of the harvest. It is also called the Mid-Autumn Festival. It has been celebrated in Ancient China since the Zhou Dynasty. The main tradition on this day is to eat moon cakes. This tradition started during the Mongol rule of the Yuan Dynasty.

Double Ninth Festival

This day is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. The number nine was special to the Ancient Chinese. It was the lucky number of the emperor and the dragon. Originally people would climb to the top of a hill or mountain and drink chrysanthemum tea to ward off evil spirits.

Winter Solstice Festival

This festival signals the shortest day of the year. It first became a popular day to celebrate during the Han Dynasty. This was an important festival throughout the history of Ancient China. People took the day off and met with friends and relatives. They also offered sacrifices to their ancestors.

Festivals in Ancient China

Read also: Calendar of Ancient China