14 Chinese Festivals: Traditions, Dates & Celebrations [Guide]

As we explore the vibrant culture of China, one cannot overlook the significance of Chinese festivals. These festivals are an integral part of Chinese tradition and are celebrated with immense enthusiasm and fervor across the country. Each festival has its unique customs, traditions, and stories behind it, making it a fascinating subject to learn.

In this article, we will delve into the world of Chinese festivals. We will explore the most popular festivals celebrated across China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and other Chinese communities in the world, along with their history, customs, and traditions. Let’s begin exploring our list of Chinese Festivals!

The List of Chinese Festivals in 2025

Lunar New Year

2025: January 29, 2025

Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival (春節, Chūn jié), is the most important festival throughout the year in the Chinese-speaking world. It begins on the first day of the lunar calendar, usually falling between late January and mid-February, and lasts for 15 days. Each day of the celebration carries unique customs and traditions, making it a time of joy, renewal, and family togetherness.

The origin of the Lunar New Year traces back to ancient China and the legend of Nian (年, Nián, meaning “year”), a fierce beast believed to attack villages on Lunar New Year’s Eve. To protect themselves, villagers discovered that Nian was afraid of the color red, loud noises, and fire. They decorated their homes with red lanterns, pasted red couplets on doors, and set off firecrackers. The next day, everyone was safe and these customs became symbolic of driving away evil spirits and welcoming good luck, continuing as traditions today.

A key tradition during Lunar New Year is the New Year's Eve reunion dinner, known as 年夜飯 (Nián yè fàn). This meal is the most significant feast of the year, symbolizing family unity and blessings for the coming year. Each dish is chosen for its auspicious meaning. Dumplings (餃子, jiǎozi) represent wealth, as their shape resembles ancient Chinese gold ingots. Fish (魚, yú) symbolizes abundance and surplus, as the word for "fish" sounds like "surplus" in Chinese. Nian gao (年糕), or sticky rice cake, signifies growth and success, as its name means "year high." Spring rolls are associated with wealth, as their golden appearance resembles gold bars.

Other common dishes include whole chicken, symbolizing family togetherness, and noodles, which represent longevity and long life. The reunion dinner serves not only as a time to enjoy delicious food but also as a way for families to bond, honor traditions, and share blessings for a prosperous and harmonious new year.

Lantern Festival

2025: February 12, 2025

The Lantern Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations and is also known as the Yuánxiāo jié (元宵節).

One legend explains that a hunter accidentally killed a divine bird, angering the Jade Emperor who planned to punish humans with fire on the 15th day of the first lunar month. The Jade Emperor's daughter warned people to hang lanterns and set off firecrackers on the 14th, 15th, and 16th to mimic fire. The Emperor, thinking the punishment had been carried out, spared humanity. This led to the tradition of hanging lanterns and lighting firecrackers each year.

The Lantern Festival is full of fun and exciting activities. People enjoy looking at beautiful lanterns in many shapes, colors, and designs. Some lanterns have riddles written riddles on them for people to solve, which is called "lantern riddles" (猜燈謎). Families eat Yuanxiao or Tangyuan (湯圓), round rice balls with sweet or savory fillings, which stand for family unity. Dragon and lion dances bring good luck and drive away bad spirits.

In Pingxi, New Taipei City, the release of sky lanterns during the Lantern Festival is a stunning and heartfelt tradition. Originating in the Qing Dynasty as a signal of safety, it has evolved into a way to express wishes and dreams. People write messages of hope, health, and prosperity on lanterns, light them, and release them into the night sky. The glowing lanterns create a magnificent scene, symbolizing aspirations rising to the heavens and fostering unity and shared hope among participants.

The Lantern Festival is known for its colorful lanterns, which are lit and displayed throughout the festival. People also enjoy solving riddles written on the lanterns. Another popular activity during the festival is eating tāngyuán (湯圓), a sweet glutinous rice ball that symbolizes family unity and happiness.

Tomb Sweeping Day

2025: April 5, 2025

Tomb Sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival or Chingming Festival (清明節, Qīngmíng jié), is a traditional Chinese festival that falls on April 4th or 5th each year. It is a time for people to pay respect to their ancestors by visiting their graves, sweeping and cleaning the tombs, and offering food and other items as a sign of filial piety.

The origins of the Qingming Festival are linked to the story of Jie Zitui (介之推), a loyal servant to Duke Wen of Jin during the Spring and Autumn periods. Jie was known for his selflessness, even cutting flesh from his own leg to save Duke Wen during exile. Later, when the Duke became king, Jie refused rewards and retreated to the mountains. In an attempt to force him out, the Duke sets fire to the forest, accidentally killing Jie.

Overcome with guilt, the Duke declared a day of remembrance for Jie, which evolved into the Qingming Festival. The name "Qingming" (清明) means "clear and bright," signifying both the weather and the clarity of thought needed to honor ancestors.

One of the most important customs is the offering of food and other items to the ancestors by cleaning their graves. This is also why the festival is called “tomb sweeping.” People will often burn incense and paper money and leave offerings of fruit, rice, and other foods at the gravesite. It is believed that the ancestors will receive these offerings in the afterlife. This practice symbolizes filial piety and respect for family heritage.

Another important aspect of this day is the practice of planting willow branches. During the festival, ancestral spirits are allowed to receive offerings from their descendants. At the same time, unclaimed wandering spirits roam freely. To ward off these spirits, people place willow branches around their homes, as it's believed that these ghosts fear willow branches.

Vesak Day/Buddha's Birthday

2025: May 12, 2025

Vesak Day, also known as Buddha's Birthday (佛誕日, Fó dàn rì), is a significant festival in Buddhism that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. It is observed on the full-moon day of the lunar month Vesakha, which falls in April, May, or June in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is celebrated in many countries, especially in South and Southeast Asia, as well as Tibet and Mongolia. The day is observed as a public holiday in many of these countries.

During Vesak Day, Buddhists engage in various religious activities, such as visiting temples, offering alms to monks, and performing acts of kindness. Many also light candles and decorate their homes and temples with flowers and lanterns.

In Taiwan, the Vesak Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the fourth lunar month. This day commemorates the ascension of Queen Maya, the mother of Buddha Shakyamuni, who ascended to heaven seven days after his birth. It is said that Shakyamuni manifested infinite light to bless his mother, and many celestial beings came to worship. The festival coincides with Mother's Day in Taiwan, prompting Buddhist groups to hold events honoring mothers.

Chinese Mother’s Day

2025: May 11, 2025

Chinese Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, which is the same as the Western calendar. This festival honors the contributions and sacrifices of mothers, influenced by Western Mother's Day but incorporating Chinese traditions and values. It is widely celebrated across China and in Chinese communities worldwide, it is a secular holiday observed by people of all religions.

During Chinese Mother’s Day, children express their love and gratitude towards their mothers by giving gifts, and flowers, and preparing special meals. Some families pay tribute to ancient Chinese mother figures like Mencius's mother, famed for her wisdom and devotion.

Dragon Boat Festival

2025: May 31, 2025

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival (端午節, Duānwǔ jié), is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. This festival has a history of over 2,000 years and is one of the most important cultural events.

The festival honors Qū Yuán (屈原), a patriotic poet and minister during the Warring States period. Qu Yuan is remembered for his unwavering loyalty to his state, Chu. When he was exiled due to political intrigue and learned that Chu had been conquered, he drowned himself in the Miluo River out of despair. The local people, who admired him, got in their boats to search for his remains and threw rice dumplings into the river to distract fish and prevent them from eating the body. This act became the origin of dragon boat racing and the tradition of eating zòngzi (粽子).

Zongzi, a central part of the festival nowadays, are glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. They come in various regional styles, with fillings ranging from sweet options like red bean paste and dates to savory versions with pork, salted egg yolks, and mushrooms. The preparation of zongzi is a communal activity, often involving family members working together, symbolizing unity and tradition.

Dragon boat races are of course the highlight of the festival now, featuring long, colorful boats shaped like dragons, powered by synchronized paddlers accompanied by rhythmic drumbeats. These races are not only thrilling sports events but also serve to commemorate Qu Yuan’s spirit of unity and determination.

Other customs include hanging bundles of wormwood and calamus leaves at doors to ward off evil spirits, wearing perfume pouches filled with fragrant herbs for protection, and drinking realgar wine, believed to drive away disease and harm.

Summer Solstice

2025: June 21, 2025

The Summer Solstice (夏至, Xiàzhì) is a significant festival in ancient China, marking the beginning of summer and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, with both astronomical and traditional importance.

During the Han Dynasty, the solar year was divided into 24 solar terms, including the Summer Solstice. Modern-day activities or customs are scarce, likely due to its close association with the Dragon Boat Festival. In the Song Dynasty, officials enjoyed a three-day holiday, which became a public one later in the Qing Dynasty. Celebrations included eating seasonal foods like wheat noodles to mark the harvest and bathing to dispel summer heat and maintain health.

Chinese Valentine's Day

2025: August 29, 2025

Chinese Valentine's Day, also known as Qīxì (七夕) or the Double Seventh Day, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. This traditional festival celebrates love and romance, rooted in one of China’s most famous folktales. It is a day to honor love, express feelings, and wish for happiness in relationships.

The festival’s origins are tied to the legend of Niulang (牛郎) and Zhinu (織女). Niulang, a kind-hearted cowherd, fell in love with Zhinu, a celestial weaver girl who was the daughter of a goddess. Defying the rules of heaven, they married and lived happily in the human world, but their union was forbidden.

When the goddess discovered their relationship, she was furious and separated them by creating the Milky Way. However, their deep love moved magpies, who formed a bridge across the Milky Way, allowing the couple to reunite once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. This tale of enduring love gives the festival its romantic essence.

On this day, couples exchange gifts, go on dates, and express their love for each other. Some of the popular gifts include chocolates, flowers, and jewelry. Many couples also take the opportunity to get engaged or married on this day.

Young women will gather to make dumplings together. They place a coin, a needle, and a red date in three separate dumplings. After praying for skills in weaving and sewing (乞巧, Qǐqiǎo), they eat the dumplings. According to tradition, finding the coin signifies good fortune, the needle indicates dexterity, and the date suggests an early marriage.

In addition to romantic activities, people also celebrate by making offerings to Zhinu, the weaving goddess, and praying for good fortune. Some of the traditional foods eaten during this festival include Qiaoguo, a type of fried pastry made with flour and honey.

Hungry Ghost Festival

2025: September 6, 2025

The Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as Zhōngyuán jié (中元節), is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. This festival dates back to the Han Dynasty and is believed to have originated from Taoist and Buddhist beliefs.

The festival’s origins are tied to the story of Mulian (目連), a Buddhist monk who sought to save his mother from suffering in the realm of hungry ghosts. In the story, Mulian’s mother was sent to this realm as punishment for her bad actions toward Mulian in the preexistence. The mother was very hungry because any food she tried to eat turned to fire in the realm.

Mulian asked the Buddha for help, and the Buddha told him to offer food and perform special rituals to ease her suffering. The Buddha also taught people to make offerings to their ancestors and wandering spirits on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. This practice became the basis of the Hungry Ghost Festival.

During this month-long festival, Chinese people believe that the gates of the underworld open, and the spirits of the dead return to the world of the living. It is customary to offer food, incense, and paper money to the deceased ancestors to appease them and prevent them from causing harm.

One of the main features of the Hungry Ghost Festival is the burning of joss paper, also known as ghost money. This is a form of currency that is believed to be used in the afterlife. People also perform traditional Chinese opera and other forms of entertainment to please the spirits.

In Taiwan, two main customs are practiced during the Ghost Festival: floating lanterns and pole-climbing competitions. Floating lanterns (放水燈, Fàng shuǐ dēng) are released into rivers or the sea with names and addresses written on them, helping wandering spirits find their way home. The pole-climbing competition (搶孤, Qiǎng gū) has people climbing tall bamboo poles to grab offerings, symbolizing bravery and scaring away evil spirits. These activities, held during the Ghost Festival, are meant to honor and calm the spirits.

Chinese Father's Day

2025: August 8, 2025

In Taiwan, Father's Day is celebrated on August 8th each year because the pronunciation of "eight eight" (八八, bābā) is similar to "papa" in Mandarin. Additionally, when the characters for "eight" are put together, they resemble the character for "father" (父, fù). Therefore, August 8th is designated as Father's Day and is also known as "Bābā jié" (爸爸節).

In the People's Republic of China, there is no official Father's Day. However, some people celebrate it on the third Sunday of June, following the tradition of the United States. In the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, Father's Day is also celebrated on the third Sunday of June, but it is not a public holiday.

Mid-Autumn Festival

2025: October 6, 2025

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Zhōngqiū jié (中秋節), is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually falling in September or early October. This festival is an important cultural event for Chinese people worldwide. It marks the harvest and honors the full moon, symbolizing unity and completeness in Chinese culture.

The Moon Festival is also deeply rooted in the legend of Chang'e (嫦娥), the goddess of the moon. According to the most well-known version of the story, Chang'e was the wife of Hou Yi(后羿), a legendary archer who shot down nine of the ten suns scorching the Earth. As a reward, he was given an elixir (a magical pill or medicine) of immortality. Out of love for her husband, Chang'e kept the elixir but did not consume it.

However, when a greedy apprentice tried to steal it, Chang'e drank the magical medicine to protect it. She ascended to the moon, where she lived eternally, separated from Hou Yi. Her story is commemorated during the festival, symbolizing love, sacrifice, and longing. The Chinese idiom "嫦娥奔月" (Cháng'é bēn yuè), meaning "Chang'e flies to the moon," is derived from this tale and is often used to describe daring aspirations or celestial beauty, enriching the cultural significance of the festival.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people gather with their families and friends to enjoy mooncakes, a traditional Chinese pastry that is round and symbolizes the full moon. Mooncakes are usually filled with sweet bean paste, lotus seed paste, or other fillings such as nuts, fruits, or meat.

In Taiwan, people usually barbecue together on the Moon Festival since the 1980s, when aggressive television advertising by barbecue sauce companies popularized the activity. These campaigns created a strong association between barbecuing and the Mid-Autumn Festival, making it a beloved tradition. The communal and festive atmosphere of barbecuing perfectly complements the holiday's emphasis on family gatherings and celebration, making it a highly anticipated activity each year.

Nine Emperor Gods Festival

2025: October 21-29, 2025

The Nine Emperor Gods Festival (九皇爺誕, Jiǔ Huángyé dàn) is a nine-day Taoist celebration that takes place in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. It begins on the eve of the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The festival primarily celebrates the birthdays of the Nine Emperor Gods, who are believed to have control over the affairs of life and death.

During the festival, devotees perform various rituals such as burning incense and making offerings to the Nine Emperor Gods to ward off plagues and spirits. Some devotees also participate in processions and pierce their bodies with skewers and hooks as a sign of devotion.

One of the biggest features of the festival is the procession of the Nine Emperor Gods, which takes place on the ninth day of the festival. Devotees carry a statue of the Nine Emperor Gods through the streets, accompanied by traditional music and dance performances.

Another important aspect of the festival is the food. During the festival, devotees prepare and consume vegetarian dishes, which are believed to purify the body and soul. It is also customary in the Malaysian Chinese community to observe a nine-day vegetarian diet, with many, regardless of age or gender, choosing to follow this practice.

Double Ninth Festival

2025: October 29, 2025

The Double Ninth Festival, also known as the Chóngyáng jié (重陽節), is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. The festival is considered an important day for seniors, and it is also known as Senior's Day.

Historically, the festival dates back over 2,000 years, with its origins linked to ancient Chinese Taoism and the worship of the star Antares. Over time, it evolved into a day for honoring ancestors and promoting health and longevity. Nine is believed to be a yang number in Chinese cosmology, and the ninth day of the ninth month has extra yang energy. Nine is considered a lucky number in Chinese culture.

Traditional customs include climbing mountains or high places, a practice believed to ward off danger and bring good fortune. This has earned the festival the nickname "Height Ascending Festival." Another common activity is appreciating chrysanthemums, a Chinese symbol for longevity that is in full bloom during this time.

Culinary traditions feature the consumption of Chongyang cake, a multi-layered rice cake often adorned with nuts and jujubes. The word for "cake" (糕, gāo) is a homophone for "height" (高, gāo), symbolizing progress and the pursuit of higher status. Also, drinking chrysanthemum wine is customary, as it is believed to have cleansing properties and promote health.

In Hong Kong, kite flying is a beloved tradition during the Chongyang Festival, with roots tracing back to the Han Dynasty. This activity is meant to bring good luck and health, as people fly kites from various locations such as trees, rooftops, hillsides, and riverbanks. During these moments, participants pray for the safety and well-being of their family and friends, hoping to attract fortune and health for everyone.

Winter Solstice

2025: December 21, 2025

The Winter Solstice Festival, also known as the Dongzhì (冬至), is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated during the Dongzhi solar term, which falls between December 21 and December 23. The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos.

One of the most important customs of the Winter Solstice Festival is eating tangyuan as it symbolizes the increasing daylight hours and the return of yang energy. Tangyuan, representing "wholeness and reunion," is consumed to welcome this positive energy, hoping for completeness and family unity. A common saying goes, "Eating tangyuan adds a year to your life," indicating that eating these rice balls also signifies growing a year older.

Another custom is the practice of offering sacrifices. As early as the Zhou Dynasty, the emperor would hold a grand ceremony to worship the gods on this day. People would set up altars with offerings such as tangyuan, fruits, and three types of sacrificial animals to honor the deities and ancestors. This tradition is meant to express gratitude for the past year's blessings and to pray for protection and support in the coming year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the major festivals celebrated in the Chinese-speaking World?

The Chinese community has several important festivals that are celebrated throughout the year. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important and widely celebrated festival around the world. Other major festivals include the Lantern Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day, and the Dragon Boat Festival.

How is the Chinese New Year celebrated and for how long does it last?

The Chinese New Year is celebrated with family reunions, feasts, fireworks, and the exchange of red envelopes filled with money. Traditionally, the celebrations last for 15 days, starting on the first day of the lunar calendar.

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