Chinese Festivals & Occasions

China has a long and vibrant history, and its festivals offer a fascinating insight into the traditions, customs, and beliefs of the Chinese people. These celebrations often involve family reunions, feasting, and the giving of gifts. Whether you’re visiting China, have Chinese friends or family, or simply want to learn more about the Chinese culture, understanding these significant festivals will help you appreciate the spirit and values of this ancient civilization.

The birth of traditional festivals is, in fact, the process of the historical and cultural accumulation of the Chinese nation. The “Chronology of the Spring and Autumn Period” states: “At the beginning of heaven and earth, everything was vast and unknown; Yin and Yang relied on each other… The sun, moon, and five constellations rose together with the Cowherd; 45,000 years later, the sun, moon, and five constellations completed one cycle… Establishing celestial phenomena, setting up earthly instruments, creating the sexagenary cycle to determine the time of the sun and moon.” The establishment of the ancient sexagenary cycle provided a prerequisite for the birth of festivals. In the process of historical development, with the changes of dynasties and the drastic changes in ancient calendars, a total of 102 calendars have emerged, and the dates of some “traditional festivals” are not exactly the same between ancient and modern times.

In the long history of the Chinese nation, numerous festivals have emerged; some have been preserved, while others have gradually disappeared over the lengthy years.

• Festivals that share the same lunar calendar month & date include: Spring Festival (the first day of the first lunar month), Dragon Raising its Head (the second day of the second lunar month), Shangsi Festival (the third day of the third lunar month), Dragon Boat Festival (the fifth day of the fifth lunar month), Qixi Festival (the seventh day of the seventh lunar month), and Double Ninth Festival (the ninth day of the ninth lunar month).
• Festivals that occur in the middle of the lunar month include: Lantern Festival (the fifteenth day of the first lunar month), Zhongyuan Festival (the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month), Mid-Autumn Festival (the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month), and Xia Yuan Festival (the fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month).
• Festivals that take place at the beginning and end of the lunar month include: Spring Festival (the first day of the first lunar month), Sending Away Poverty Festival (the twenty-ninth or thirtieth day of the first lunar month), Cold Clothes Festival (the first day of the tenth lunar month), and New Year’s Eve (the twenty-ninth or thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month).

Below, we’ve provided a table outlining the key Chinese festivals and cultural occasions, their corresponding lunar and Australian dates, as well as whether they are public holidays and suitable for gift-giving.

You may also click on each festival/occasion name to learn more about it!