Traditional festivals in Taiwan
Chinese New Year 過年/春節
Undoubtedly the most important traditional festival in the Sinicized world, the Chinese New Year, also known as the “Spring Festival,” begins on the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar and lasts for approximately two weeks. The 15th day marks the full moon and also the day of the Lantern Festival.
Taiwanese people prepare for the festivities several weeks in advance. Markets dedicated to the sale of decorations (all in red) then spring up en masse in cities across the island. On New Year’s Eve, family members gather and stay up until at least midnight, when it’s more than likely to be heard fireworks and other firecrackers flooding the night with their lights and sounds. The rest of the night, most people are busy playing cards or Mah-Jong, but also preparing for the next day’s feast.
Chinese New Year is a relatively quiet time in the city, as most of the population has returned to the countryside where their grandparents live for the first two days. The following two days are then reserved for relaxation, going out to have fun, and visiting old friends. The fifth day marks the return to work for most businesses on the island.
The Spring Festival is also an opportunity for young people to receive a red envelope 紅包 from their elders containing money, a sum often containing 6 or 8, lucky numbers.
It is also believed that the New Year marks a new beginning: getting rid of debts, unfinished business or simply buying a new car are all solutions that help people look forward to the coming year with optimism.
The Lantern Festival 元宵節
The origins of the festival date back to ancient times, when people believed in the presence of spirits in the heavens at the time of the first full moon in the calendar. Lanterns released into the sky are a way to seek out these spirits.
The festival takes place on the 15th day of the lunar calendar, a time when everyone has resumed their normal activities (study, work). While activities such as a parade, performances, and food sales punctuate the festival, the main attraction remains the release of lanterns into the night sky. The spectacle draws large crowds, and there is a competition to see who can decorate the most beautiful lantern.
Qingming Festival (Ancestor Worship) 清明節
At the beginning of April, members of the same family visit the graves and/or urns of their deceased elders. This is an opportunity for them to clear them of weeds and other nuisances, but also to burn incense and leave offerings (food, flowers, tea, etc.).
Qingming was originally established by a Chinese emperor over 2,500 years ago to curb the excessive number of festivals honoring the ancestors of the wealthy. Thus, Qingming is said to mark the only date on which festivities honoring the deceased could be held.
Dragon Boat Festival 端午節
It takes place on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar. It is a public holiday, during which towns and villages are filled with markets and activities where it is possible to buy zongzi, small sweet sticky rice cakes, and to watch dragon boat races on the rivers and streams. Each boat has about twenty oarsmen (although on some models, there can be up to 80), and their movements are coordinated by a drum located in the center of the boat. The race generally lasts 500 meters.
The origins of the festival are somewhat unclear, and many theories offer their own versions of the events. The most popular one is the story of Qu Yuan, a poet and politician who, after a disagreement with the emperor, felt humiliated and threw himself into a river. The villagers rushed to his aid, but it was too late: they decided to beat drums to ward off evil spirits and threw rice into the water to keep fish away from the poet’s body and also pay homage to him.
The Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋節
Celebrating the harvest moon, this festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Mooncakes are the symbol of this festival, whether sweet or savory: meat, red beans, ice cream… They are sold everywhere today and are even given to employees by their employers.
In Taiwan, the festival takes the form of a four-day weekend and often involves a barbecue with family or friends in front of their homes or workplaces. Firecrackers and fireworks can also be heard and seen.
Incident 228 二二八
Recognized as a national holiday only in 1995, it originated from an incident that took place on February 27, 1947, following an anti-government uprising against global corruption and economic inflation. The Kuomintang, then in power, decided to send troops to suppress the movement, which ended in a bloodbath and left between 10,000 and 30,000 dead and thousands missing.
Taboo for decades, it was only after the arrival of democracy in Taiwan that it became common to address the issue and recognize February 28 as a national holiday, in memory of those who lost their lives on that date. While the event remains a source of anger among many Taiwanese, it is also a topic open to discussion.
National Day of the Republic of China 國慶日
In commemoration of the Wuchang Uprising that led to the fall of the Qing Dynasty on October 10, 1911, and the establishment of the Republic of China on January 1, 1912, resulting in the Kuomintang fleeing to Taiwan. A military parade is held in Taipei.
January 1st marks Taiwan’s independence and is synonymous with celebration, as it is in the rest of the world. An impressive fireworks display at the Taipei 101 tower takes place for the occasion.
The Ghost Festival 中元節
This takes place on the 15th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar and is recognized in several Asian countries. During this month, the spirits of the deceased return to Earth, which is an opportunity for the living to pay homage to them and make offerings: prayers, burning incense sticks, etc. to ensure that the spirits have a pleasant time on Earth.
This festival is also an opportunity to attend traditional operas, watch old films and other puppet shows that might entertain the spirits.
Taiwanese people are very superstitious, so it is absolutely not an option for them to get married or buy a new house during this period, or even to travel or go swimming, as the spirits are still among them.