Thursday 1^st May 2025

Labor day (Láo dòng jié劳动节)

A modern international holiday marks the toil of workers on1st May in many countries. It is a one day holiday in China reflecting thesocialist/communist history of the PRC. These new festivals like Labor Day were introduced when the PRC was founded but have gradually given way to the older, traditional ones, three whole days used to be allocated but this has been reduced to just one day since 2008.

Sunday 4^th May 2025

Youth Day (Qīng nián jié青年节)

Commemorates the activity of young people onMay 4th 1919 that went on to form the Chinese Communist Party and then thePeople's Republic of China in 1949. It also marks the foundation of the influentialMay 4th movement. It is not a public holiday.

Chinese Poetry

Tuesday 20^th May 2025

I Love You Day (Wǔ èr líng五二零)

Rather likeSingle's day the day 5.20 (20th May) has become an excuse among the young for anotherValentine's day. It is all because the number 520 in Chinese can sound vaguely like我爱你 wǒ ài nǐ ‘I love you’. So if you can’t wait until Valentine's day there is now another day to pledge your love and get engaged. Only popular in cities.

Saturday 31^st May 2025

Dragon Boat Festival (Duānwǔjié端午节)

The highpoint of thesun's journey at the Summer Solstice marks the start of the warmest season, but also the gradual reduction in length of days. It is celebrated as the Dragon Boat Festival on the fifth day of the fifth month which often falls near the summer solstice. As well as procuringrain from the water controllingdragons for the summer crops, it commemorates the life ofQu Yuan (340-278 BCE), an incorruptible publicofficial and famouspoet who drowned himself in defiance of false accusations maliciously made against him. Many boats went out in search for his body and from this legend, dragon boat races take place throughout the world.

Pyramid-shaped rice cakes粽子 zòng zi and garlic蒜 suàn are associated with this festival, some are fed to the fish on the basis that they would then leave Qu Yuan's body alone. Two teams of 15-30 people race each other in boats (around 66 feet[20 meters] long) with a decorated dragon prow. One person stands and beats the drum to set the rhythm for the rowers. Sometimes the races are held in the evening with the boats lit by red lanterns. It is only recently (2008) that this has once again become an official public holiday.Hong Kong is well known for the large number of races that take place each year. The fifth month is generally regarded as the most unlucky month and charms were used to keep the bad influence at bay, for example with pictures ofZhong Kui or puttingiris flowers over the door. Stems and leaves of the herb mugwort or calamus were made into figure shapes and hung from the lintel to keep away pests and diseases. TraditionallyRealgar➚ wine (containing Arsenic sulfide) was drunk to kill off internal parasites and infections. It was also one of the few days of financial settlement in a year - debts were paid off and accounts settled.

Dates : Mon Jun 10 2024  Sat May 31 2025    

Sunday 1^st June 2025

Childrens day (Liù yī ér tóng jié六一儿童节)

A recent holiday specifically for children under 14 was created under the PRC to be held each year on1st June. Admission to cinemas is free and presents are given to children.

Sunday 8^th June 2025

Rain Festival (Yǔ jié雨节)

Rain is essential for crops and so a minor festival, the Rain Festival is associated with bringing rain on the 13th of the fifth month. Ceremonies wish for just the right quantity of rain, not too little and not too much. LikeSt. Swithin's day➚, the absence of rain on this day may presage a drought. There are many gods of rain and legends about them and theDragon Boat festival was originally about rain. As rain is associated withdragons they feature prominently in such tales including the Jinlong Si Dawang (Golden Dragon King). It is not a public holiday.

Wednesday 25^th June 2025

Half Year Festival (Bàn nián jié半年节)

The half way point of the lunar calendar year falls on the 1st day of the 6th month, and it is a time to reflect on the year so far. Mainly celebrated in southern China, the Half Year Festival is a small echo of the New Year Festival, with fire crackers, zong zi (glutinous rice) and family get-togethers. According to legend in Jiashanwu Village nearHangzhou a long drought was ended by the efforts of a mysterious old man. It is a minor festival and not a public holiday.

Next Festival

Saturday 31^st May 2025
Dragon Boat Festival (Duānwǔjié端午节)

Monday 30^th June 2025

Clothes Drying Day (Shài yī jié晒衣节)

When the sun’s heat reaches its full power this minor festival is the occasion to lay out anything that needs drying in the sun. Clothes, bedding, papers and grain are some of the things that can benefit from a thorough airing and drying in the sun. Clothes Drying Day takes place on the sixth day of sixth month. The legend is that theDragon King, ruler of water, spent this day drying his scales. Another tale is that it was the day when the Buddhist scriptures that were being carried into China in the 'Journey to the West' were laid out to dry and so temples used to bring out the scriptures for a good airing. It is a minor festival and not a public holiday.

Friday 1^st August 2025

Army day (Jiàn jūn jié建军节)

A recently instituted half-day holiday for military personnel is held on the1st August each year. The date commemorates theNanchang uprising of August 1st 1927 when the Communist forces for the first time formed an effective army unit which routed theGuomindang forces that occupied the city of Nanchang. Many of the communist military leaders went on to take part in theLong March and then the establishment of thePeople's Republic.

All the tea in China

Tea was the most important export that was weighed in the traditional Chinese unit ofmeasurement called a 'catty'. It is known colloquially as the Chinese pound and is about 1.1pounds. In China it is known as the jin斤 the word catty probably came from the Malay word. The modern weight is aligned to the metric system as exactly 500grams. The container for tea, a 'caddy', is believed to have been named after the measure.

Saturday 23^rd August 2025

Ghost Gate Opens (Guǐ mén kāi鬼门开)

The seventh month of the traditional Chinese calendar is associated withghosts. The Hungry Ghost festival in the middle of the seventh month is the main festival but some people also mark the start of the month - Ghost Gate. The ghost month is considered unlucky, spirits wander around for the whole month and so new projects, marriages and enterprises should not be started. One superstition of relevance is to avoid stickingchopsticks vertically into the ricebowl as this invites in the ghosts. It is a minor festival and not a public holiday.

Friday 29^th August 2025

Chinese Valentine’s Day (Qīxìjié七夕节)

This festival has its origins as a festival forwomen, honoringZhinu织女, a weaver, who was separated by the gods from her husband, Niulang a cowherd. She spent this one dry night with her husband by following abridge made bymagpies. The husband and wife are thestarsVega➚ andAltair➚ and the bridge is the Milky Way. It is held on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month and nowadays it is marked by exchanging gifts between sweethearts. On the preceding day people used to follow various customs to foretell their future. Also traditional games were played to test the dexterity of girls in deference toZhinu - the skilled weaver. It was also said to be the day when the Daoist immortalthe Queen Mother of West visited theEmperor. In some regions it is also associated with lanterns and guiding spirits as it falls within the Ghost month. Nowadays is more like the western Valentine's Day - couples give each other presents to show their enduring affection.

Dates : Sat Aug 10 2024  Fri Aug 29 2025    

Saturday 6^th September 2025

Hungry Ghost (Yúlánpén盂兰盆)

This festival is held on the 15th day (full moon) of the 7th lunar (ghost) month. It is also known as the mid-year festival (中元节 zhōng yuán jié). Traditionally the sufferings ofancestors are appeased by making offerings of food or incense at theancestral shrine. Prayers are also said for spirits who have no families to venerate them. Paper flags may be hung over doorways to keep out the hungry ghosts.

Dates : Sun Aug 18 2024  Sat Sep 6 2025    

Delicious Chinese food

Wednesday 10^th September 2025

Teachers day (Jiào shī jié教师节)

Teachers have their own special day when students show respect and give them presents. It is not a public holiday and is held on10th September each year. It is not entirely clear why this date was chosen, but it is usually near the start of the new school year after the summer holidays.

Sunday 28^th September 2025

Confucius’s Birthday (Modern) (Jì kǒng dà diǎn祭孔大典)

Traditionally the birthday of the great sage and philosopherConfucius was celebrated on the 27th of the 8th lunar month particularly at his birthplace of Qufu inShandong. It is now tied to a specific day, the28th September each year.

Wednesday 1^st October 2025

National day (Guó qìng jié国庆节)

National day marks the founding of thePeoples Republic on1st October 1949. There are often three days of public holiday in all, shifted to give a continuous five day holiday when combined with a weekend. It is called the ‘Golden Week’ and as the weather is often good many go away for a short holiday.

Mid-Autumn Festival
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Monday 6^th October 2025

Mid Autumn Festival (Zhōngqiūjié中秋节)

The Autumn Moon Festival takes place at full moon in the 8th lunar month (15th day), it marks the end of harvest. Lanterns are lit and round moon cakes are cooked and consumed in large numbers - these are usually filled with soybean paste, lotus seeds and egg yolk and covered in pastry. As there is a tradition that arabbit lived on the moon, rabbits or hares are a popular image. Another tradition is to layout peaches, melon or grapes in a circle of thirteen as there are13 lunar months in a year. It was also one of the few days of financial settlement in a year - debts were paid off and accounts settled. Ancient pagodas were decorated with lanterns to shine out at night. It celebratesChang'e, the goddess of the moon, and particularly her romance with the archer godHouyi. Traditionally, spirits of the dead came forth to feast on the fruits of summer harvest. People would climb hills and mountains to watch the rising of the full moon with the greeting看月亮 Kàn yuè liang ‘Look at the bright moon!’

Dates : Tue Sep 17 2024  Mon Oct 6 2025    

Chinese characters

Wednesday 29^th October 2025

Chong Yang Festival (Zhòngyángjié重阳节)

On the 9th day of the 9th month people used to take to high ground and fly all sorts ofkites as a way of appeasing the spirits. If a mountain or hill is not to hand a tall building or pagoda would be climbed. It follows the legend ofHuan Jing➚ of theHan dynasty, who was told by the gods to move to high ground to escape floods. In Chinese numerology9 is a strong yang number and is generally inauspicious; so this day had to be treated with respect. Food is laid out to calm the spirits of theancestors. Aschrysanthemums are usually in flower, chrysanthemum wine is often drunk and petals are collected to flavor next year's batch. Because nine九jiǔ sounds likeforever久jiǔ it has now become associated with elderly people and since 1989 has also been celebrated as ‘Seniors Day’.

Dates : Fri Oct 11 2024  Wed Oct 29 2025    

Tuesday 11^th November 2025

Singles day (Guāng gùn jié光棍节)

A very recent special day, is ‘Single's Day’ when young, single people buy themselves presents. The festival started among men atNanjing University in the 1990s and has caught on rapidly in cities throughout China and amongst single women too. The choice of date is based around ‘11.11’ having four single ‘ones’ in it, representing two couples. It is now a popular day to declare love and propose marriage. More importantly it has become the world's busiest shopping day (lots online but also in shops),Alibaba➚ heavily promotes it as a special occasion to spend money. It is not a national holiday.

Saturday 13^th December 2025

Nanjing Massacre memorial day (Nán jīng dà tú shā南京大屠杀)

In 2014 a new memorial day was inaugurated to commemorate the manywho died when theJapanese invadedNanjing on this day in 1937. It is not a public holiday.

Sunday 21^st December 2025

Winter Solstice (Dōngzhì冬至)

Dongzhi marks the shortest day of the year - the mid Winter solstice (December 22nd or more rarely 21st), and is traditionally a time for eatingrice balls or dumplings after offerings have been made to the kitchen god. In deference to the cold conditions the celebrations are held in the home not in out public. This festival likeQingming is tied to thesun rather than themoon.

Dates : Sun Dec 22 2024  Sun Dec 21 2025    

Fish for good fortune

Thursday 25^th December 2025

Christmas day (Shèng dàn lǎo rén圣诞老人)

In recent years the western celebration of Christmas on 25th December has had increasing observance. This is chiefly an excuse to buy presents for children in the cities.Shengdan Laoren is a transliteration of ‘Santa’ as ‘sheng:圣’ saintly ‘dan:诞’ birth followed by ‘laoren:老人’ old man. As Santa is dressed in luckyred this greatly adds to his appeal. To wish someone ‘Merry Christmas’ you can say圣诞快乐 shèng dàn kuài lè. It is not an official holiday.

Thursday 1^st January 2026

New Years day (Yuán dàn元旦)

When China adopted the western,Gregorian calendar➚ on the founding of the Republic of China in 1912, the ‘western’ beginning of the yearJanuary 1st began to be celebrated just like elsewhere in the world. Since 2008 it has become a public holiday lasting 3 days. Sometimes the holiday is shifted to give an extended weekend.

Monday 26^th January 2026

Laba Festival (Làbā jié腊八节)

Labacongee➚ is traditionally eaten on the Laba festival. It is held on the 8th day of the twelfth lunar month and is associated with theBuddhist festival marking Buddha's enlightenment. The festival is observed mostly in northern China and not much in the south. It is not a public holiday.

Dates : Thu Jan 18 2024  Tue Jan 7 2025    

Tuesday 17^th February 2026

Chinese New Year - Spring Festival (Chūnjié春节)

We now have a whole page dedicated to theNew Year Festival as the description here had become too long! So here is a quick summary.

New Year is the main annual festival in China determined by the oldChinese calendar. It falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, so it is held towards the end of January or early February. For at least 2,000 years it has been a time for all families to get together, often traveling long distances. Brightly colored red papers andpaper cut designs are displayed everywhere frequently carrying the character ‘fu’ forgood fortune. The traditionallion dance is seen in public festivities. The festival lasts a whole week of public holiday (Jan 21st to Jan 27th in 2023) and during this time everyone tries to be on their best behavior to set the tone for the whole year. It is considered not just the start of a new year but everybody's birthday too.

There are large firework displays in the cities. Theancestors are given due reverence at the festival. When guests arrive they should bring along food or a gift; these can take the form of packets of ‘lucky paper money’ in red envelopes.Fish andJiaozi (dumplings) are often eaten, the character for fishyu鱼 sounds the same as the characteryu余 meaning ‘surplus; abundance’ so a dish of fish has a lucky connotation. The entrance to a house is often decorated with couplets written in largecalligraphy on red paper on either side of the entrance. Traditional fairs are held at temples selling all sorts of small gifts and decorations during the holiday.

Dates : Wed Jan 29 2025  Tue Feb 17 2026  Sat Feb 6 2027  

Tuesday 3^rd March 2026

Lantern Festival (Yuánxiāojié元宵节)

The Lantern festival also known as (上元节 Shàng yuán jié) is on the first full moon after the New Year and marks the very end of theSpring Festival. Lanterns are lit and in places very long paperdragons parade the streets. The tradition is that lanterns light the way for the ancestral spirits to go back to their tombs after joining the family for the festivities. Great creativity is used in lantern design, they come in all shapes and sizes (globes, dragons, lamps) and can include moving parts. Before electric light was available this was widely considered the most attractive and brilliant festival of the year. Many lanterns are made of lucky red paper and some lanterns have entertaining riddles painted on them. Tangyuan (glutinousrice balls) oryuanxiao are eaten and fir branches placed above doors. Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is a vegetable often eaten at the festival. The traditionallion dance was originally tied to only this festival but now are seen more generally throughout the year. In the countryside it was believed that disease could be banished at this time by a long procession out of the village, with manyfirecrackers scaring away and taking the illness with it. Children, often in scary masks, used to put on little stage shows and pantomimes.

Dates : Sat Feb 24 2024  Wed Feb 12 2025    

Traditional Chinese calendar

Sunday 8^th March 2026

Women’s day (Guó jì fù nǔ jié国际妇女节)

On the foundation of the People's Republic in 1949 the8th March was designated Women's Day with a half or full day's holiday forwomen in China. Originally it was held on the last Saturday in February. In Russia it was moved to Sunday 8th March for 1914 and has kept to this day ever since.

Thursday 12^th March 2026

Arbor or Tree planting day (Zhí shù jié植树节)

To make up for widespread deforestation over many centuries, on12th March植树节 people are encouraged to go out to plant trees. Trees help stabilize the soil and reduce flooding as well as being an uplifting sight. It is not a holiday and was instituted as late as 1981.

Friday 20^th March 2026

Blue Dragon Festival (Lóng tái tóu龙抬头)

The double second (2nd day of 2nd lunar month) marks the first tentative signs of Spring. The name ‘Blue Dragon’ reflects the tradition of waking thedragons that control therains.Longtaitou literally means ‘dragon raise head’. It usually occurs around the time of惊蛰 Jīngzhí in thelichuan calendar which marks the stirring of insects. It was originally the time when fumigation was used to kill off the emerging insects. The festival is now celebrated by cleaning the house, having a haircut, eating popcorn, pancakes and noodles. Zhonghe Festival (中和节) is an ancient festival traditionally held on the preceding day (1st of the 2nd lunar month) so nowadays the two are celebrated together. It is not a public holiday.

Dates : Mon Mar 11 2024  Sat Mar 1 2025    

Monday 30^th March 2026

Flower Festival (Huā zhāo jié花朝节)

The traditional Flower Festival is held on the twelfth day of the second lunar month.The great TangEmpress Wu Zetian is associated with this minor festival which celebrates the birthday of the god of flowers. It roughly marks the time of the firstflowers of Spring. It is also a good day to plant up thegarden ready for summer.

Saturday 4^th April 2026

Cold Food Festival (Hán shí jié 寒食节)

Cold Food day commemorates the story ofJie Zitui➚ a loyal and humble servant at the time of theSpring and Autumn Period. The servant is supposed to have cut off part of his own thigh to offer sustenance to his starving master. Jie Zitui shunned rewards and fled to a mountain with his mother, he was pursued by an angry prince and only resisted burning down Jie's house after reading a pleading poem written in blood. To mark the event no fires are lit and all food is served cold. More practically it marks the time when the fires used continuously for heating over the winter are put out and the all the ashes cleared away - so there is no fire available for cooking. It is a minor festival held on the eve ofQing Ming. As the events took place inShanxi province it is mainly there that the festival is celebrated.

Traditionally the family's tombs in the ancestral graveyard are cleaned and swept at Qing Ming with fresh offerings laid out for theancestors. Candles are lit and incense burned.Paper images of various goods and also money may be ritually burned to pass-over to the ancestors. When the extended family leaves the graveyard fire-crackers are often set off. It is the time to sow and plant crops and so is anchored to thesolar year rather than the lunar year; this makes it falls between April 4th and April 6th. It marks the start of Spring and is associated withkite flying and a good day for a picnic in the countryside. It has similarities to the Christian Easter Spring festival in that eggs are prepared and eaten. In some areas boys worewillow wreathes on their heads to summon rain for the growing season.

Dates : Thu Apr 4 2024  Fri Apr 4 2025    

Monday 6^th April 2026

Birthday of Guanyin (Guàn yīn dàn观音诞)

The most revered ofBuddhist Bodhisattvas isGuanyin, the Goddess of Mercy who intercedes on behalf of any who pray to her. Her birthday is traditionally marked by a minor festival on the 19th of the second lunar month. One of the holiest places sacred to her is on Putuo Island,Zhejiang where there is a huge statue looking out East over the ocean.

Monday 13^th April 2026

Water Splashing Festival (Pō shuǐ jié泼水节)

TheDai people ofYunnan people have great fun getting very wet on April 13th each year. It commemorates victory over a water demon that had kidnapped seven young sisters. There are very many festivals specific to particular minority people, this is one of the best known through documentaries on television.

Sunday 19^th April 2026

Shangsi Festival (Shàngsìjié上巳节)

Celebrated on the 3rd day of the 3rd Lunar month, Shangsi was traditionally a day for cleaning the house and going away on an outing. It is not an official holiday in China. The festival marks the birthday of theQueen Mother of the West (Xi Wangmu), a leadingDaoist deity and the festival is also known as the Banquet ofPeaches of Immortality. The day is associated with many folk beliefs concerning the opening of portals between the living and the dead. The foundingYellow Emperor is also believed to have had his birthday on this day. Sticky rice cakes calledbaba粑粑 are sometimes eaten.

Dates : Thu Apr 11 2024  Mon Mar 31 2025    

Friday 1^st May 2026

Birthday of the God of Wealth (Zhào gōngmíng赵公明)

If you want to become more prosperous then making the appropriate offerings to the God of Wealth (Zhao Gongming) or God of Money (Cai Shen) on his birthday could do the trick. This birthday is marked on the 15th day of the third lunar month of the traditional calendar. He is often depicted with an iron club and riding a blacktiger. There are various conflicting legends concerning his life which dates back before theQin dynasty. You will often see sculptures oftoads associated with him as these are also denote riches. It is a minor festival and not a public holiday.

Friday 1^st May 2026

Labor day (Láo dòng jié劳动节)

A modern international holiday marks the toil of workers on1st May in many countries. It is a one day holiday in China reflecting thesocialist/communist history of the PRC. These new festivals like Labor Day were introduced when the PRC was founded but have gradually given way to the older, traditional ones, three whole days used to be allocated but this has been reduced to just one day since 2008.

Monday 4^th May 2026

Youth Day (Qīng nián jié青年节)

Commemorates the activity of young people onMay 4th 1919 that went on to form the Chinese Communist Party and then thePeople's Republic of China in 1949. It also marks the foundation of the influentialMay 4th movement. It is not a public holiday.