An organisation in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs asked me about Chinese Traditional Festivals, as they wanted to celebrate them.

Here are the main festivals celebrated in China.

1. Chinese New Year 春节 is on 3rd Feb, 2011. It is the first day of the lunar calendar 2011.

2. Lantern Festival 元宵节is a traditional Chinese festival, which is celebrated by the Chinese in many countries. On the Chinese lunar calendar, it is on the fifteenth day of the first month, making it the first major festival after the Chinese New Year. It is on 17th Feb, 2011.

3. Pure Brightness Festival 清明节 (Qingming Festival) is a traditional Chinese festival on the 106th day after the winter solstice (Northern hemisphere), occurring on April 4th (leap years) or April 5th (other years) of the Gregorian calendar. It marks the middle of spring and above all, a sacred day of the dead.

4. The Dragon Boat Festival 端午节 (Duan Wu Jie) is on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. It is on 6 June, 2011.

5. Chinese Valentines Day 七夕节 (Qi Xu Jie)is on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. It is on 6th August 2011.

6. The moon Festival or Mid Autumn Festival 中秋节(zhong qiu jie) is on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. It is a day of family reunion, and is
is on the 12th of September 2011.

7. The Double Ninth Festival 重阳节(Chong Yang Jie) is on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. It is a day to climb mountains and to honour ancestors. It is on the Oct 5th 2011.