The 5 Most Popular Chiapas Festivals The five main parties of Chiapas they are the fair of the spring and of the peace, and the celebrations of San Caralampio, San Sebastián, San Juan Bautista and San Agustín. The religious influence on the cultural manifestations of Chiapas is undeniable. In conclusion, blessed are the people who are able to witness some of the major Asian festivals. For example, the Chinese festivals like the Dragon Festival, Kite Festival, Spring Day Festival, the major Indian festivals like Diwali, Pongal, Holi, etc. are celebrated with much fun and frolic. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and University of Missouri.Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout, Merlot II, OER Commons and School Library Journal.Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. Festivals in India. Poras Chaudhary/Getty Images. Gandhi's Birthday: October 2. Republic Day: January 26. Independence Day: August 15. Holi Festival: Usually in March. Diwali/Deepavali: Between October and December. Thaipusam: In January or February. Pushkar Camel Fair: Usually in November. In 2022, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Mooncake Festival, will fall on September 10 (Saturday). The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated in many East Asian communities People celebrate it by gathering for dinners, worshiping the moon, lighting paper lanterns, eating mooncakes, etc. Learn more about Mid-Autumn Festival. 7. Vay Tiền Trả Góp Theo Tháng Chỉ Cần Cmnd Hỗ Trợ Nợ Xấu. There is no shortage of festivals in Asia to learn more about the continent’s rich cultural and religious traditions. From India’s colourful Holi festival to the bright display at Loi Krathong, here are some of the culture festivals in Asia that are worth checking out. To witness these events first hand, and even participate in some, discover all that Trafalgar has to offer in Asia. One of the most popular festivals in Asia is Holi. Holi typically falls in March, on the Hindu calendar’s full moon. Known as the “festival of colour”, “festival of spring” and “festival of love”, Holi is an ancient Hindu event that takes place across India celebrating the start of spring. Holi also signifies the importance of good over evil and it’s a time to end disputes with others. People gather around bonfires and perform religious rituals and pray to ward off evil. The following day, people meet in the streets to throw colourful powder at each other. EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF Colourful India 2. Loi Krathong Loi Krathong, takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar. During Loi Krathong, people decorate baskets, fill them with candles and float them along rivers. People also light up the sky with lanterns, colourful lights on houses and firework displays. It’s a bright and lively event that’s not to be missed! Loi Krathong takes place across Thailand, but the event also takes place in countries including Myanmar, Sri Lanka, China and Cambodia under a different name. EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF Treasures of Thailand 3. Dragon Boat Festival In China, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Lunar calendar, usually falling in June. The tradition is said to have originated in ancient China and commemorates the life and death of famous Chinese scholar, Qu Yuan. On this day, people eat rice dumplings, drink realgar wine which is believed to ward off evil spirits and, of course, race dragon boats. EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF Classic China 4. Diwali One of the largest festivals in Asia is Diwali, also known as the “festival of lights”. Observed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world, it commemorates the triumph of good over evil. People celebrate by lighting candles, setting off fireworks and eating sweet treats with family. EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF Colourful India with Nepal – Celebrate Diwali RELATED CONTENT What is Diwali, and how is it celebrated? 5. Songkran Songkran is the celebration of the New Year in Thailand, observed on the 13th of April. How do people ring in Songkran? With a giant water fight! People take to the streets with buckets of water and dump them on each other. It’s meant to signify washing away the previous year and starting the new year refreshed. EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF Thailand and the Temples of Angkor 6. Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival If you’re looking to attend a music festival in Asia, look no further than Java Jazz Festival. It’s one of the biggest jazz festivals in the world that brings in top musical acts and celebrates Indonesia’s incredible music scene. RELATED CONTENT 7 unmissable music festivals in Africa everyone should experience at least once 7. Gion Matsuri In Kyoto, the Gion Festival takes place each year during the month of July. The event is celebrated with various festivities, the biggest of which is a big parade. It is custom to find food stalls selling Japanese desserts and women dressed in yukata, meaning summer kimono, and carrying paper fans. EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF Classic Japan 8. Chinese New Year Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival, celebrates the beginning of the new year in the Chinese Lunar calendar. It’s one of the biggest and most important holidays in China and is celebrated all over the world. Chinese New Year takes place over sixteen days, with customs including cleaning the house, giving red envelopes filled with money to children, lighting lanterns, setting off fireworks and spending time with family and friends. EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF Hong Kong and Macau Experience 9. Tet Nguyen Dan Tet is Vietnamese New Year and means “The Feast of the First Morning of the First Day”. It’s a popular holiday to gather with friends and family and enjoy a feast of special foods like sticky rice cakes. Similar to Chinese New Year, people clean their homes for Tet and give children red envelopes filled with money. EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF Highlights of Vietnam 10. Eid Eid marks the end of Ramadan, in which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset for a month. It’s a religious holiday that’s observed with prayer and a meal with family and friends all over the world, including many parts of Asia. 11. Nyepi On March 9th in Bali, the country takes part in the annual Day of Silence called Nyepi. It’s a public holiday and tradition that’s unique to the Hindu culture of Bali where people participate in fasting, meditation and silence. RELATED CONTENT Why everyone needs a bucket list trip Asia at least once in their lives Have you been to any festivals in Asia? Let us know in the comments. JIN DING/CHINA DAILY Editor's note As Valentine's Day is being celebrated on Monday and Lantern Festival will be celebrated on Tuesday, three scholars share their views on the festivals with China Daily. Do you prefer to celebrate Valentine's Day, which falls on Monday, or Lantern Festival which falls on Tuesday? Many young people may ask, "Why not both"? Festivals are social events people have enjoyed since ancient times, when people around the world held ritual activities in groups to worship their ancestors, pray for good fortune or celebrate the harvest. In olden days, festivals were events celebrated by a community. Festivals arise from our ancestors' marking of seasonal changes and astronomical phenomena associated with religious beliefs. In earlier times festival activities would always be regarded as having great significance. Later, festivals often became characterized by carnivals in which some of the original significance was lost as people gathered together to enjoy a good time. Since industrialization ushered much of the world into the modern era, festivals have gradually served to fulfill more secular, social and recreational purposes, and are less closely linked with the forces that our ancestors believed shaped people's daily lives and fortunes. Nowadays, among the festivals celebrated in China are specific days that honor particular social groups or professions, such as the National Day, Teachers' Day and Women's Day, and the time-honored festivals, such as Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, whose origins can be traced back thousands of years ago and which are now celebrated as national holidays. There are other festivals that people celebrate to varying degrees such as Qixi, which is the Chinese Valentine's Day, and the Chongyang or Double Ninth Festival, the longevity festival, as well as many regional ethnic group festivals. All these festivals break up the daily routine and inject vitality into people's lives. In modern times, some Western festivals, such as Christmas, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Mother's Day and Father's Day, although not public holidays, are enjoyed by young people and have become "new celebrations" in Chinese society. Actually, Christmas in China is more of a day for fun, friendship and fondness than a religious celebration. Shopping malls and entertainment facilities in the big cities are filled with Christmas elements, such as fir trees, Santa Claus and carols, while Halloween is celebrated by youthful party-goers who like to wear fancy costumes for the occasion. But in general, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day are the most popular Western festivals in China. Valentine's Day, which is closely linked with fashion and consumerism, is widely celebrated by young people in urban areas. They have adopted the traditional Western ways of celebrating the day, with couples enjoying a romantic dinner and exchanging gifts, such as flowers, chocolates and jewelry. Valentine's Day always gives a boost to such consumption. Besides, Mother's Day and Father's Day are accepted by the whole society because of China's culture of filial piety. Many Chinese people take this opportunity to show their gratitude to their parents by sending gifts or having a meal together. The cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world help many Chinese accept foreign festivals, which in turn enrich their daily lives. Meanwhile, the introduction and acceptance of foreign festivals reveal the inclusiveness and vitality of Chinese civilization. However, while recognizing the positive contributions these adopted foreign festivals make to cultural exchanges between China and other countries, it should be recognized that the values of these foreign festivals may be different from those embodied in traditional Chinese culture. Against this backdrop, the authorities can play a role by strengthening the preservation and promotion of China's traditional festivals and preventing the commercial opportunities presented by Western festivals from giving them undue importance. Chinese traditional festivals are reflections of the traditional culture and values in the modern era. The country should not let young people forget the traditional values they celebrate. Compared with foreign festivals, Chinese festivals focus more on the family and are characterized by the different generations of a family celebrating them together. Take Spring Festival, the most important festival in China, which fell on Feb 1 this year. The festival is associated with several customs. During the seven-day holiday, people gather for an annual family reunion dinner, thoroughly clean their houses, and decorate windows and doors with red paper-cuts and couplets that display the charm of traditional culture. According to official data, more than 90 million passenger trips were made on China's railways from Jan 17 to Feb 2, the first 17 days of the Spring Festival travel rush this year. Actually, the festival led to billions of passenger journeys every year before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Traditional culture is a key element that can help finally realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. It is quite important for the country to boost its traditional festivals and culture, enhance international cultural communication and improve cultural attractiveness. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily. The author is a researcher at the China National Center for Cultural Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhongqiu Jie 中秋节 in Chinese, is also called the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival. It is the second most important festival in China after Chinese New Year. It is also celebrated by many other Asian countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In China, Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration of the rice harvest and many fruits. Ceremonies are held both to give thanks for the harvest and to encourage the harvest-giving light to return again in the coming year. It is also a reunion time for families, a little like Thanksgiving. Chinese people celebrate it by gathering for dinners, worshiping the moon, lighting paper lanterns, eating mooncakes, etc. Content Preview Mid-Autumn Festival 2023 Date Why Mid-Autumn Festival is Celebrated? How People Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival Mid-Autumn Festival Stories Mooncakes and Other Foods Happy Mid Autumn Festival Greetings Mid-Autumn Festival Dates in 2023, 2024... Mid-Autumn Festival traditionally falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which is in September or early October on the Gregorian calendar. As, traditionally, the four seasons each have three lunar months, day 15 of month 8 is "the middle of autumn", hence the festival's lunar date. For more, see How the Date of Mid-Autumn Festival Is Determined. In 2023, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 29th Friday. Chinese people have a 2-day public holiday September 29th and 30th. Year Date Public Holiday 2023 September 29 Friday Sep. 29 2024 September 17 Tuesday Sep. 17 to 18 2025 October 6 Monday Oct. 6 2026 September 25 Friday Sep. 25 Why Mid-Autumn Festival is Celebrated? Mid-Autumn Festival has a history of over 3,000 years. It was derived from the custom of worshiping the moon in autumn to thank it for the harvest. In the process of cultural/historical developments, Mid-Autumn Festival has been infused with more meanings, including families gathering together and praying for good health and happiness. In modern times, people mainly celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival as a time for family reunions. It is said the moon on this day is the brightest and roundest, which has come to mean family reunion. Because of the central theme of family reunion, sometimes the festival evokes comparison to Thanksgiving in the You might want to read more on Mid-Autumn Festival Origins or 10 Interesting Mid-Autumn Facts. How People Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival As the second most important festival in China, Mid-Autumn Festival Zhongqiu Jie is celebrated in many traditional ways. Here are some of the most popular traditional celebrations. 1. Enjoying a Dinner with Family The roundness of the moon represents the reunion of the family in Chinese minds. Families will have dinner together on the evening of Mid-Autumn Festival. The public holiday usually 3 days is mainly for Chinese people working in different places to have enough time to reunite. Those staying too far away from their parents' home usually get together with friends. 2. Eating Mooncakes Mooncakes are the most representative food for Mid-Autumn Festival. Their round shape and sweet flavor symbolize completeness and sweetness. At the Mid-Autumn Festival, people eat mooncakes together with family, or present mooncakes to relatives or friends, to express their love and best wishes. Mooncakes are usually eaten after dinner while admiring the moon. Click to know Mooncakes — Symbols, Flavors, Regional Varieties, and How to Eat Mooncakes. 3. Appreciating the Moon The full moon is the symbol of family reunions in Chinese culture. It is said, sentimentally, that "the moon on the night of Mid-Autumn Festival is the brightest and the most beautiful". Chinese people usually set a table outside their houses and sit together to admire the full moon while enjoying tasty mooncakes. Parents with little kids often tell the legend of Chang'e Flying to the Moon. As a game, kids try their best to find the shape of Chang'e on the moon. There are many Chinese poems praising the beauties of the moon and expressing people's longing for their friends and families at Mid-Autumn. 4. Worshiping the Moon Worshiping the Moon According to the legend of Mid-Autumn Festival, a fairy maiden named Chang'e lives on the moon with a cute rabbit. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, people set a table under the moon with mooncakes, snacks, fruits, and a pair of candles lit on it. Some believe that by worshiping the moon, Chang'e the moon goddess may fulfill their wishes. 5. Making and Carrying Mid-Autumn Festival Lanterns Mid-Autumn Festival Lanterns Lanterns are a notable part of Mid-Autumn Festival. People make lanterns, carry lanterns to do moon gazing, hang lanterns in trees or houses, release sky lanterns, or visit public lantern displays, hence it is even be known as a lantern festival not to be confused with the Lantern Festival on the full moon after Chinese New Year. Lanterns have long been associated with the festival since the Tang Dynasty 618–907, possibly because of their traditional symbolization of luck, light, and familial togetherness. Mid-Autumn lanterns have many shapes and can resemble animals, plants, or flowers. A tradition is to write riddles on lanterns so that people can enjoy solving them with friends or family. In modern times, besides traditional activities, many Chinese people send WeChat red envelopes and/or go traveling during the 3-day public holiday to celebrate the festival. Check out more on Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations. Mid-Autumn Festival in other Asian Nations In many Asian communities besides China, Mid-Autumn Festival is widely celebrated. Many interesting activities with unique local features are held. In Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines — three countries with many ethnic Chinese citizens — the celebrations are more Chinese, such as lighting lanterns and dragon dances. The date is also the same as in China, but there is no public holiday. Mid-Autumn Festival Stories There are many legends about Mid-Autumn Festival. The most popular stories are about Chang'e and the Jade Rabbit. Want to share the Mid-Autumn Festival story with your family? The 3-minute video below will show you all about it. The Story of Chang E — Chinese Goddess of the Moon The origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival is associated with the popular legend of Chang'e 嫦娥, the goddess of the moon… Hou Yi, the husband of Chang'e, was rewarded with an elixir of immortality by the Queen Mother when he shot down nine of the ten suns and saved people from their smoldering heat. He did not drink it straight away because he did not want to gain immortality without his wife. So, he asked Chang'e to keep it safe for him. Unexpectedly one mid-autumn day, while Houyi was out hunting, an evil person tried to force Chang'e to hand over the elixir. Chang'e swallowed the elixir however and flew higher and higher. She then chose the moon as her immortal abode, to be close to her beloved husband and look down on him on Earth. Hou Yi was very sad and made sacrifices to Chang'e with incense, cakes, and fruits. Along with the legend, the custom of worshipping the moon on Mid-Autumn day has been passed down from generation to generation. Click to know another version of the story you didn't know. The Story of the Jade Rabbit Legend has it that there is a rabbit on the moon, white as jade, so it is called 'jade rabbit'. In Chinese folklore, the jade rabbit is a companion of Chang'e. It constantly pounds the elixir of immortality. As time passed, the jade rabbit became synonymous with the moon in Chinese culture. Get to know the Top 5 Interesting Things about the Jade Rabbit. See more details on our page about stories of the Mid-Autumn Festival including one more story about Wu Gang Chopping the Cherry Bay. Mooncakes and Other Mid-Autumn Festival Foods Celebrating the harvest is one of the most traditional meanings of Mid-Autumn Festival, thus harvest foods are favored during the festive period. Mooncakes are the must-eat Mid-Autumn food in China. They are a traditional Chinese pastry. Chinese people see the roundness of mooncakes as a symbol of reunion and happiness. Other foods eaten during the festival are harvest foods, such as crabs, pumpkins, pomelos, and grapes. People enjoy them at their freshest, most nutritious time, and enjoy their auspicious meanings that are particularly associated with round foods. Read more on Mid-Autumn Festival Foods and Their Meanings. Mid-Autumn Festival Greetings Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!... Mid-Autumn Festival is a time of good will. Many Chinese people send Mid-Autumn Festival cards or short messages during the festival to express their best wishes to family and friends. The most popular greeting is "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival", in Chinese 中秋节快乐 — 'Zhongqiu Jie kuaile!'. Other popular sayings are usually related to the moon or reunion. For example 'Wishing us a long life to share the graceful moonlight, though hundreds of miles apart.' 但愿人长久，千里共婵娟 Dàn yuàn rén chángjiǔ, qiānlǐ gòng chánjuān 'Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! May the round moon bring you a happy family and a successful future.' 祝福中秋佳节快乐，月圆人圆事事圆满. Zhùfú Zhōngqiū jiā jié kuàilè, yuè yuán rén yuán shìshì yuánmǎn. Check out more on Popular Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival Greetings/Wishes. The most popular festivals in Southeast Asia originate from a wide variety of religious and cultural traditions. The Buddhist worldview inspires Songkran and Vesak. The Taoist tradition celebrates Chinese New Year and the Hungry Ghost Festival. The Muslims celebrate the month-long Ramadan fasting season and Eid al-Fitr at its end. As most of these traditions follow different calendars, the dates vary relative to the Gregorian calendar; we've included their dates through 2023. 01 of 09 Chinese New Year Courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board / Goh Koon Peng The significant ethnic Chinese presence in Southeast Asia celebrates its biggest festival during the Chinese New Year. All across the region—but most especially in Penang, Singapore,​ and Vietnam—street bazaars, fireworks, and family reunions mark the changing of calendars. Penang, in particular, specializes in Chinese New Year foods that are rarely served at any other time of the year; in Singapore, families celebrate by preparing and eating the tossed raw-fish salad known as yu sheng. Dates Moveable feast, following the Chinese lunar calendar—January 25 2020, Friday, February 12 2021, February 1 2022, and January 22 2023Celebrated in Penang, Singapore, Vietnam, and in cities with significant ethnic Chinese communities 02 of 09 Thaipusam Chris McGrath / Staff / Getty Images The Tamil Indian community in Malaysia and Singapore celebrate Thaipusam to honor the Hindu god Subramaniam Lord Murugan; thousands of devotees carry painful-looking offerings called kavadi, attached to each devotee's skin with 108 metal skewers each. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thaipusam festivities take place at the Batu Caves, where the procession ascends 272 steps up to a cave chamber marked with a massive statue of Lord Murugan. A smaller procession takes place in nearby Penang, where the procession moves from the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple to the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani hilltop temple. Dates Moveable feast, following the Tamil calendar—February 8 2020, January 28 2021, January 18 2022, and February 5 2023Celebrated in Malaysia and Singapore 03 of 09 Songkran Kampee Patisena / Getty Images This traditional Buddhist new year celebration occurs around the end of the planting season, now codified to occur between April 13 to 15 every year. Historically, the region's farmers had a rare break in their busy planting schedules at this time of year and could take time to celebrate with their communities. The celebrations are marked with the act of throwing water on passersby, whether in Thailand's Songkran, Cambodia's Chol Chnam Thmey, Laos' Bun Pi Mai, or Myanmar's Thingyan. Devotees in each country believe that water washes away bad luck; thus anybody, on the streets is fair game to be drenched with water pistols or smeared in wet talcum powder. Dates April 13 to 15 annually Gregorian calendarCelebrated in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand 04 of 09 Vesak Jung-Pang Wu / Getty Images Buddhists in Southeast Asia celebrate the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha on Vesak. It's believed that good deeds done on this day will return more merit than any other time of the year. Buddhist communities redouble their efforts to do deeds of generosity on this day. The most scenic Vesak celebrations take place near Yogyakarta in Indonesia. Thousands of Buddhists from all over the world gather at Borobudur in a procession bearing sacred objects like holy relics, volumes of holy books, and offerings; after ascending to the pinnacle, monks release sky lanterns into the air to commemorate Buddha’s bringing enlightenment to the world. Dates Moveable feast, following the Buddhist calendar—May 6 2020, May 26 2021, May 16 2022, and May 6 2023Celebrated in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos Continue to 5 of 9 below. 05 of 09 Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr vm2002 / Getty Images Throughout the fasting month of Ramadan, the Muslim communities in Southeast Asia come together to feast after dark. Tourists can chow on Ramadan food at the pasar malam or night markets that populate the streets—take your pick from curries, rice cakes, and other Malaysian street foods; or browse through clothes, souvenirs, and CDs on display. The end of Ramadan—Eid al-Fitri, or Hari Raya Puasa in Malaysia—is met with joy, as families stage get-togethers and congregate at the mosques for Thanksgiving. Places like Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia come alive with exultant devotees join them if you like, just observe proper mosque etiquette. Singapore's significant Malay Muslim population can be found partying mainly in Kampong Glam, Singapore. Dates Moveable feast, following the first sighting of the crescent moon—Eid al-Fitri falls on May 24 2020, May 12 2021, May 2 2022, and April 21 2023Celebrated in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore 06 of 09 Galungan Sheldon Levis / Getty Images The Balinese celebrate the victory of good Dharma over evil Adharma during the festival season known as Galungan. Following the 210-day Balinese Pawukon Calendar, Galungan takes a full 10 days to celebrate, within which the spirits of the ancestors are believed to be visiting, thus encouraging the Balinese to show their gratitude to the divines in different ways. Families offer bountiful sacrifices of food and flowers in their family altars and at local temples. The sides of houses sprout tall bamboo poles called "penjor," and villagers welcome the mythical beast known as the "barong" into their homes, in an exorcism ceremony known as Ngelawang. Dates Moveable feast, following the Balinese pawukon calendar—February 19 to 29 and September 16 to 26 2020, April 14 to 24 and November 10 to 20 2021, June 8 to 18 2022, and January 4 to 14 2023Celebrated in Bali, Indonesia 07 of 09 Hungry Ghost Festival NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty Images Following the Taoist belief in the afterlife, the Hungry Ghost Festival marks the seventh lunar month, when the afterlife momentarily allows the spirits of the dead to roam in the world of the living. For Chinese communities in Malaysia particularly Chinatown and Singapore particularly Penang and Melaka, the Hungry Ghost month is a time to make offerings of food and burnt prayer money to the deceased to appease them. Stages are set up to entertain the ghosts and the living as well with music and theatrical performances. Dates Moveable feast, following the Chinese lunar calendar—September 2 2020, August 22 2021, August 12 2022, and August 30 2023Celebrated in Singapore, Malaysia, and in cities with significant ethnic Chinese communities 08 of 09 Deepavali Courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board Known elsewhere as Diwali, the Tamil Indian community in Singapore and Malaysia celebrates Deepavali to commemorate Lord Krishna's victory over Narakasura, cementing the victory of good over evil. Deepavali is also the Hindu equivalent of the new year; Indian families take time to hold reunions through the season. In the Singapore ethnic enclave of Little India, street markets flourish outdoors, dispensing spices, flowers, fine clothing, and traditional dishes to locals and tourists alike. Dates Moveable feast, following the Tamil calendar—November 14 2020, November 4 2021, October 24 2022, and November 9 2023Celebrated in Malaysia and Singapore Continue to 9 of 9 below. 09 of 09 Christmas Courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board The Christian population in Singapore and the largely Catholic Philippines throw the biggest Christmas celebrations in the region. Singapore's Christmas in the Tropics coincides with massive street light-ups, shopping specials read about shopping in Singapore and parties ramping up to the New Year festivities in Sentosa and Marina Bay. In the Philippines, the capital Manila experiences massive gridlock leading up to Christmas—families hold reunions during the Yuletide season and hang up lanterns called parol outside their houses. The Giant Lantern Festival shows off the biggest and brightest of these parol. Dates December 25 annually Gregorian calendarCelebrated in Philippines and Singapore These traditional festivals will really introduce you to life in China. There are annual events like Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, the Qingming Tomb Sweeping Festival, Double Seven Festival, and the Winter Solstice. The festivals introduced here have been selected for their traditional Chinese nature. Often the dates will vary from year to year because they are celebrated according to the Chinese calendar. See below for the dates. You may need to inquire for dates in the following year. Traditional Festivals and Events List 1. Chinese New Year Dates, Traditions, Animal Signs 2022 February 1, 2022 2023 January 22, 2023 2024 February 10, 2024 Chinese New Year is also called Spring Festival. It is the most important festival to Chinese people. Many activities are held to celebrate the festival, such as dragon dances, setting off firecrackers, making dumplings, etc. Read more about Chinese New Year. 2. China's Lantern Festival Traditions, Activities, Places To Go 2022 February 15, 2022 Tuesday 2023 February 5, 2023 Sunday 2024 February 24, 2024 Saturday The Lantern Festival is traditionally the last day of the Chinese New Year period. It became a festival about 2,000 years ago. Billions of lanterns and giant lantern and drone displays makes the time festive. Read more about China's Lantern Festival Traditions, Activities, Places To Go 3. Qingming Festival 2022 April 5, 2022 Tuesday 2023 April 5, 2023 Wednesday 2024 April 4, 2024 Thursday Qingming Festival around April 4 is Chinese people's day for visiting graves and burial grounds to pray their respects to their ancestors. It's known as Tomb Sweeping Festival in English. Many Chinese also go for a picnic during Qingming Festival to enjoy the picturesque scenery of spring. Read more Qingming Festival 4. Dragon Boat Festival 2022 June 3, 2022 Friday 2023 June 22, 2023 Thursday 2024 June 10, 2024 Monday The most popular and representative activity of Dragon Boat Festival is dragon boat racing. Dragon Boat Festival falls on month 5 day 5 of the Chinese lunar calendar around mid-June. During this traditional festival in China, people customarily eat rice dumplings. Read more about Dragon Boat Festival 5. Double Seventh Day - How to Celebrate China's Valentine’s Day 2022 August 4, 2022 Thursday 2023 August 22, 2023 Tuesday 2024 August 10, 2024 Saturday Double Seventh Day falls on the 7th day of the 7th month of China's lunar calendar around mid-August; that's why it is called Double Seventh Day. Known as China's Valentine's Day, it is a festival that has legendary links with romance and love in China. Read more about Chinese Valentine’s Day 6. Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival 2022 September 10, 2022 Saturday 2023 September 29, 2023 Friday 2024 September 17, 2024, Tuseday In 2023, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Mooncake Festival, will fall on September 29 Friday. The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated in many East Asian communities... People celebrate it by gathering for dinners, worshiping the moon, lighting paper lanterns, eating mooncakes, etc. Learn more about Mid-Autumn Festival. 7. Winter Solstice Dongzhi Festival 2022 December 22, 2022 Thursday 2023 December 22, 2023 Friday 2024 December 21, 2024 Saturday Some Chinese celebrate the Winter Solstice on December 21st, 22nd or 23rd depending on the day it falls. It is a custom for people to eat dumplings and/or tangyuan with their family on the day of the Winter Solstice. Read more 8. Summer Solstice xià zhì夏至 — the Longest Day 2022 June 21, 2022 Tuesday 2023 June 21, 2023 Wednesday 2024 June 21, 2021 Friday Solar terms are a Chinese conception of the seasons and a product of the tireless exploration of the natural sciences by Chinese people's ancestors. "Summer solstice" is one of the most... Read more 9. The Double Ninth Festival 2022 October 4, 2022 Tuesday 2023 October 23, 2023 Monday 2024 October 11, 2024 Friday The Double Ninth Festival is also named Chongyang Festival. It is held on the 9th day of the 9th month of the Chinese lunar calendar around mid-October. During the festival, enjoying chrysanthemums and climbing mountains are both popular activities in China. Read more 10. Hungry Ghost Festival 2022 August 12, 2022 Friday 2023 August 30, 2023 Wednesday 2024 August 18, 20214 Sunday In China, special customs for memorizing the dead are held on Qingming Festival and Hungry Ghost Festival. Hungry Ghost Festival is the most important festival in month seven of the lunar calendar for Chinese people. The date, lunar month 7 day 15, is around late August. Read more

among the festivals celebrated by some of asian