CHINESE HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS By Mary Ellen, Jillian, and Amber

There are many different festivals in China. A few include:  Winter Solstice.  Dragon Boat Festival  Buddah’s Birthday Festival  Spring Festival.  Chinese New Year.  Seven Sisters Festival.

THE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL  It takes place at the end of May. In 2014 it starts on May 31- June 2  This festival is celebrated to dispell disease and build their bodies  They also celebrate this festival by dragon boat racing.

THE WINTER SOLSTICE  It starts on December 22, 2014  It celebrates balance and harmony in life  Yin= darkness and cold because it’s celebrating the cold  Yang= light and warmth like the summer months  They also eat dumplings to celebrate

THE SPRING FESTIVAL  It starts on January 31, 2014  Also known as the Lunar New Year  It is one of the grandest and most important festivals  It celebrates family reunion and hopes of spring and flowers blossoming

SEVEN SISTERS FESTIVAL  It starts August 2, 2014  This festival is also known as the Chinese Valentines Day  They celebrate this festival by needle work competitions

THE HUNGRY GHOST FESTIVAL  It starts on August 10, 2014  It is the Chinese Halloween  The highlight of this festival is the Chinese opera

BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY  It starts May 6, 2014  It is one of the most spiritual festivals.  People pay respect to Buddha by bathing statues of him in bowls of water.  This day celebrates Buddhism.

MONKEY GOD FESTIVAL  It starts on September 9, 2014  This festival celebrates the mischievous monkey god who helped a famous monk  People burn incense and paper offerings on his festival

CHING MING FESTIVAL  It starts on April 5, 2014  Ching Ming means clean and bright  People tidy up their ancestors gravestones and weed cemetaries.

RESOURCES Websites  Travelchinaguide.com  Discoverhongkong.com  Groiler.com  Kidrex.com