Festival Name

Lunar Date

Solar Date in 2020

Vacation Days (Solar Date)

Customs

Chinese New Year

Jan.1

Jan. 24

Jan.24 - Jan.30

Having all kinds of foods like dumplings, meatballs, fish, wine, fruits, peanuts, melon seeds, candies, setting off firecrackers and fireworks, paying New Year visits, giving gift money, reuniting with families, having reunion dinner, watching Spring Festival Gala    

Lantern Festival

Jan.15

Feb. 8

No vacation

Eating Yuanxiao (similar to Tangyuan), enjoying festive lanterns, dragon dance, lion dance, guess lantern riddles.

Shangsi Festival

Mar. 3

Mar. 26

No vacation

Having boiled eggs in shepherd's purse, flying kites, having spring outing

Qingming Festival

Mar.12

Apr. 4

April 4 - Apr

. 6

Tomb-sweeping, having cold food, spring outing.

Dragon Boat Festival

May 5

Jun. 25

Jun. 25 - Jun. 27

Eating Zongzi, Having dragon-boat race, drinking realgar wine, wearing colorful bracelets.

Double Seventh Festival

Jul. 7

Aug. 25

No vacation

It’s the Chinese valentine’s day.

Praying for skillful hands (women) and being their romantic partners

Mid-Autumn Festival

Aug. 15

Oct. 1

Aug. 15

Offering sacrifice to the moon, enjoying the moonlight, having moon cakes

Double-Ninth Festival

Sep. 9

Oct. 25

No vacation

Climbing mountains, enjoying chrysanthemums, drinking wine made of chrysanthemums, eating Chongyang cake.

Winter Solstice

Nov.7

Dec. 21

No vacation

Eating dumplings

Laba Festival

Dec.8

Jan. 20, 2021

No vacation

Eating Laba Noodles / Laba Porridge

Holidays Name

Solar Date

Vacation Days

Introduction

Origin

New Year’s Day

Jan.1

Jan.1

Like many other countries, Chinese people celebrate New Year’s Day.

The solar calendar was used in China since the founding of the Republic of China. On Jan. 1, 1912, Sun Yat-sen swore into the office and became the interim president, and he issued the Declaration of the Interim President on the next day, in which he first used the words Yuan Dan (New Year’s Day). The solar calendar was officially applied in China.

International Women's Day

Mar. 8

The afternoon of Mar. 8

It’s the date when workwomen from all over the world protest and fight for equal rights with men.

In the 19^th century, the rapid development of capitalism had forced many women into similar workplaces as men, but with only 1/2 or 1/3 salary. On Mar.8, 1857, women workers in New Year launched a strike protesting the inhuman working environment and the unequal income. In May of 1857, the Social Party of the United States declared that the last Sunday of every February to be Women’s day. In August of 1910, the Mar. Eight was acknowledged as the women’s day. The first memorial of Women’s day in China was in 1924, and in 1949, the government also realized Mar. 8 to be Women’s day, and all working women shall have a half-day off work.

International Workers’ Day

May 1

May 1 - 5

It’s a holiday to memorize the liberation of the international working class.

In the 19th century, to acquire more value out of working, the capitalists exploited workers by prolonging the working hours, causing a lot of anger among workers. On May 1, 1886, a large-scale strike broke out in which over 200,000 workers participated. Three years later, a conference held in Paris by the Second International declared the May 1 to be the International Workers’ Day. The celebration of Workers’ Day in China began in 1918, and the Chinese government usually honor the contributing workers on this day.  

Youth Day

May 4

No Vacation

It’s a holiday to memorize the May 4^th Movement in 1919. It was this patriotic movement that preluded the beginning of the New Democratic Revolution of China.

In 1919, the Chinese foreign minister failed to defend the country at the Paris conference, which triggered the youth's great May 4 Movement. They led the ordinary people and people in business to protest against the weak government by marching, petitioning, striking, and even by using violence. This event had a significant influence on the origin and development of the Communist Party in China.

International Children’s Day

Jun

. 1

Half-day vacation for children under 6^th grade

It’s a memorable holiday for children and date to remind people to care for children and fight for their health and education.

To commemorate the children from the Czech village of Lidice who were murdered by the German Nazis in 1942 and the children died in the Second World War, the WIDF (Women's International Democratic Federation) declared the Jun. 1 to be the International Children’s Day. On Dec.23, the Chinese government acknowledged that Jun. 1 is Children’s Day in China.

Anniversary of CPC Founding Day

Jul. 1

No Vacation

It’s the date to memorize the founding of the Communist Party of China.

In May of 1938, Chairman Mao proposed to have Jul. 1 be the CPC founding day's memorial day. The first National Convention of the Communist Party was held in July of 1921. Still, the only people (Chairman Mao and Dong Biwu) who participated in the convention could only remember the month, but not the date, and there was no file available for tracing. Chairman Mao decided the Jul. 1 is the memorial day of CPC founding day to make things easier.  

Army Day (Aug. 1, the anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army)

Aug. 1

No vacation

It’s a holiday to commemorate the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

On Aug.1, 1927, Zhou Enlai, He Long, Ye Ting, and other generals led an army of over 20000 people. They launched a revolt in Nanchang to resist the reactionaries of the Nationalist Party. This revolt represented the beginning of an independent revolutionary war led by the Communist Party of China and the founding of the People’s Army.

Teachers’ Day

Sep. 10

No vacation

It’s a date when people pay their respect to teachers.

There were several dates set for Teachers’ day in Chinese history, but it was in 1985 that the Sep. 10 was acknowledged as Teachers’ Day.

National Day

Oct. 1

October 1 - 7

It’s a holiday to celebrate the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

On Oct. 1, 1949, Chairman Mao declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China. To memorize this great event, the Chinese government acknowledged Oct.1 to be the anniversary of the founding of the new China, and everyone can have a 7-day holiday. There was a military parade held in Tian’anmen Square in 2019.