Chinese Festivals and Holidays

The Chinese observe a wide variety of traditional and modern holidays, based both on the lunar and solar calendars. The traditional Chinese calendar was based on a lunar cycle-- that is, dates following the regular appearance of the full moon. Even so, the equinox and solstice were essential for determining seasons in China's agrarian society. With the international use of the Gregorian Calendar, some modern holidays, such as the birthdays of national leaders, are based on that.

Major holidays celebrated in China, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities are marked in bold, with this year's corresponding Gregorian dates in parenthesis.

Lunar Holidays and Birthdays

1st Moon
DAY 1
DAY 9
DAY 15

2nd Moon
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 15
DAY 19

3rd Moon
DAY 3
DAY 23

4th Moon
DAY 8
DAY 14
DAY 18

5th Moon
Day 5

6th Moon
DAY 24

7th Moon
DAY 7
DAY 15
DAY 30

8th Moon
DAY 15
DAY 16
DAY 27

9th Moon
DAY 9

10th Moon
DAY 1
DAY 5

12th Moon
DAY 8
DAY 23


Chinese New Year   
Birthday of the Jade Emperor
The Lantern Festival  


Birthday of Tudigong, Lord of the Earth
Birthday of Wenchang, God of Literature
Birthday of Lao Zi, Founder of Taoism
Birthday of Guanyin, Goddess of Mercy


Birthday of Xuantian Shangdi, God of Rain
Birthday of Mazu, Goddess of the Sea


Birthday of Siddhartha, Founder of Buddhism
Birthday of Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals
Birthday of Huato, Patron Saint of Medicine

 

Dragon Boat Festival


Birthday of Guan Gong, God of Warriors

(Ghost Month)
Lover's Day
Hungry Ghost Festival
Birthday of Dizang Wang, King of the Underworld


Mid-Autumn Festival    
Birthday of Sun Wugong, the Monkey King
Birthday of Confucius


Double Ninth Day


Sending off the Winter Clothes
Birthday of Damo, founder of Chan Buddhism


Celebration of Siddhartha achieving enlightenment
Kitchen God reports to the Jade Emperor

Solar Holidays and Birthdays
April 4, 5, or 6
September 28
October 1
October 10
Tomb Sweeping Day
Teacher's Day (Taiwan -- Confucius' Birthday)
National Day (People's Republic of China)
National Day (Taiwan -- "Double Tenth")

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