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There
are lots of traditional Holidays and festivals in China. Beijingers
cherish and enjoy them all to the fullest.
Spring Festival
Spring
Festival, or Chinese New Year, is the celebration of the beginning of the
lunar new year. It usually occurs in late January or early to mid-February.
Offices close for 3 days in addition to Saturday and Sunday. This festival
is celebrated by Chinese people every-where in China and overseas. The
main thing to do on Spring Festival is getting together with loved ones
and make / eat jiaozi, Chinese dumplings. Red envelopes containing money
are distributed to kids. If you are here during Spring Festival, it is
worthwhile to spend the time with a Chinese friend’s family.
A
paper-cutting of the Chinese character "good luck" on window
glasses on streets in Beijing. As the Chinese traditional Spring Festival draws near,
happiness and good luck symbols can be seen everywhere in Beijing.
Attractive decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival are hung in
a shopping centers in Beijing.
Lantern
Festival
The Lantern Festival or Yuanxiao
Jie, marks the end of the Spring Festival and falls on the 15th day of
the first month of the lunar calendar.
The
festival is all about Chinese red lanterns. Some have poems and verse on
them, while some have pictures. It is customary during the Lantern
Festival for people to enjoy various kinds of lanterns and lots of outdoor
fun. Eating yuanxiao or sweet dumplings is another custom. They
have many flavors such as sugar, walnuts, sesame, peanuts, beans,
chocolate or fruit.
International
Labor Day
Initially
the government setting “May Golden Week” (May 01-07) is to incite the
travel business and consumption. Chinese
seize the opportunity to go on trips, see relatives or do shopping...
Mid-Autumn
Festival
The Mid-Autumn falls exactly seven months from the
fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. The moon's orbit
is at its lowest angle on the horizon, making it appear brighter and
larger than at other times.
At
this time, the moon is full so the day is also known as the Moon Festival.
The round shape of the moon represents reunion, and this day should be
spent with the family. This was originally a harvest festival.
Traditionally on this day people eat round “moon cakes”.
Moon
cakes, which symbolize reunions, and which are made with many different
fillings, are eaten to and salute the beauty of the moon in the company of
family and friends. Chinese
characters on the cakes usually stand for longevity and harmony.
National Day
National
Day, on Oct.01, is the most important national festival to memorize that
People’s Republic of China was founded on the 1st Oct of 1949.
During the celebration, Beijing is elaborately decorated.
Streets are lined with flowers and colorful flags, red lanterns are
hung on the gates of shops and official buildings.
The official reception and celebration are held in the Great Hall
of the People. A grand parade
and elaborate fireworks display is held in Tian’an men Square every
fifth of tenth year…Offices close from 1st to 3rd of Oct in addition to
Saturday and Sunday.
New Year's Day
In addition to celebrating the lunar new year, Chinese
people also observe the solar new year.
Offices usually get one or two days off at this time (Jan.01 /
Jan.02).
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