Official and traditional holidays and weekends in China

The most important part of China's cultural heritage are holidays. At the date of their celebration, the population receives a day off, for major and important celebrations - from 3 to 7 days. All this time in the country there is a stir, because the Chinese try to spend the holidays outside the walls of their homes.

General information

The working week in China lasts 5 days. The official rest days are Saturday and Sunday. But the holidays are divided into 2 categories:

• Borrowed (the Gregorian calendar) - are celebrated on fixed days;
• According to the lunar calendar - the dates of the celebrations are determined by the phase of the moon.

That's why in China on national holidays days off change from year to year. To find out, for example, what year New Year in China, you need to clarify the lunar cycle.

Official celebrations

Authorized weekends and holidays in China fall on the following holidays:

• New Year (according to generally accepted rules) on January 1, the Chinese do not perceive as a holiday. But they are loyal to him, because they do not go to work that day.
• The Day of Education of the People's Republic of China is celebrated on October 1. It was on this day in 1949 that the main news for the country was announced on Peking Square. The population honors this date and celebrates the holiday for a week.
• Labor Day May 1 marked one weekend. On this day, people prefer to walk in the park, dance and sing songs.

Traditional Holidays

Legislatively approved and the main national holidays. Weekends in China for some dates are longer than for official events.

The day of commemoration of the dead (Qingming) usually falls on the first April decade. People on the holiday decorate the graves of people close to flowers and burning candles. Collective measures are carried out to lay wreaths at the monuments of great people. Also, Chinese people go out of town for a walk. Therefore, the second name of the holiday is translated as "Day walk on the first grass."

Duan-y or the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the 5th day of the fifth lunar month. Therefore, it is also called the "holiday of two fives." The celebration is held in honor of the ancient poet and politician, whose body people searched for in boats and threw rice into the water to cajole spirits. On this day, the Chinese arrange boat rides and treat each other with pies with sweet, spicy or salty rice. The output is given in the amount of one day.

The holiday of the middle of autumn is celebrated in September-October, and it symbolizes half of last year and the end of harvesting. This day is always full moon, so the celebration is associated with the honors of the moon goddess. Treats are gingerbread with filling and the image of hieroglyphics with wishes. The holiday is considered correct to spend with the family.

Chinese New Year

And yet, what is the New Year in China? The answer to this question lies in the lunar phases. Chun Jie is celebrated in the period from January 21 to February 21 and translates as "Spring Festival".

The Chinese celebrate the New Year with an abundance of fireworks and crackers - the noise scares off evil spirits. Mandatory are considered on the table Jiaozi - a kind of dumplings that bring good luck. On the second day there should be noodles, so that life would be as long as she, and a year - smooth. All New Year's clothes are absolutely new, so that in the coming year happiness comes.

A traditional gift is an envelope with money of red color - hunbao. You can give fruit, sweets, eggs. At this time, various costume festivals are held on the streets of the country.

On New Year's weekend in China is 7 days. But people celebrate for at least 2 weeks. This is due to the fact that the completion of the main holiday also marks a separate celebration - a festival of lanterns, which in the evening are launched into the sky by the hundreds. The flight is a symbol of the care of the souls of relatives celebrating the New Year. In addition to lanterns, the main attribute is the balls with a filling of rice flour - Tang Yuen.

Interesting celebrations

In the country there are many holidays that are not marked by days off, but are celebrated with no less scope and fun. These include:

• The holiday of the winter solstice (December 21-23) symbolizes the awakening of nature and the onset of cold weather.
• Day of double nine (October). The double digit "9" is considered a positive number, which is why the Chinese believe that this day brings happiness.
• The bachelor's day is November 11, celebrated by people who are not married. It is considered symbolic on this day to start relationships and new acquaintances.
• Day of planting trees - March 12. The holiday was formed in connection with the 1981 decree, which obliged every inhabitant of the country to plant at least three trees a year. People on this day go to subbotniks.

Officially, the weekend in China for these celebrations are absent.

Holidays are a historical heritage of the Celestial Empire. They are unique in their traditions and ways of holding and are distinguished by a bright national color. Weekends in China, associated with important dates for the country, give people the opportunity not only to relax, but also to spend their free time for the benefit of moral development. As a result of this, there is a spiritual union and working capacity increases.