subject: The Story Behind Chinas Top Festivals! [print this page] The Lantern Festival: This festival has its origins in the Eastern Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). During this period Buddhism began to increase in popularity in China. The lighting of lanterns while visiting sarira (Buddhist relics) was a long-held Buddhist tradition practiced on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month. The emperors of the Han Dynasty who were supporters of Buddhism ordered their people to bring lanterns to the local temples and the imperial palace as a mark of respect to Buddha. The tradition of lighting lanterns on this day quickly spread to the rest of China with other traditions developing as time went by. A new tradition that developed during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) included people writing riddles on a note tied to their lanterns, with a prize for whoever found the lantern and solved the riddle. This tradition continues to be practiced to this day; another tradition that has been added over time is the eating of special rice dumplings (Yuanxiao). The incorporation of these new traditions meant that Lantern Day soon became another one of Chinas festival holidays.
The Dragon Boat Festival: There are many stories pertaining to the origin of this festival; however, the most widely accepted is the story of the poet Qu Yuan (340-278 BC). Qu Yuan was a minister of the state of Chu and an acclaimed poet. He was opposed to the political beliefs of the Qin state and made plans to instigate war against them. Word got out and King Huai ordered for him to be exiled from China due to pressure from powerful aristocrats. He wrote several poems of lament for his country during his time in exile. Upon hearing the news that the Qin state had won a battle against the state of Chu he leapt into the Miluo River and drowned himself. Fishermen searched the river for his body while locals examined the banks of the river. People threw rice dumplings into the water in an attempt to divert the fish from devouring Qu Yuans body. To this day, the Chinese commemorate the legend by carrying out boat races and eating rice dumplings.
Chinese New Year Festival: Also called the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in China and marks the first day of the first lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The origins of the Chinese calendar date back to at least 14th century B.C. during the reign of the Shang Dynasty. The calendar was frequently re-structured according to how the emperor wanted it however the general layout was based on a complicated combination of lunar movements and solar equinoxes and solstices. The Chinese zodiac and the governance of ying and yang also have bearing on the calendar. The western Gregorian calendar was brought to China by Jesuit missionaries in 1582, however the new year is still celebrated according to the traditional Chinese calendar. For people on Chinese immersion programs or tourists staying in China for long enough to make friends, this is a great time to see Chinese culture at its most authentic. If you are lucky enough to wangle an invite to someones house over this holiday you will be in for a real treat. Not only is the food glorious, the people are at their happiest and Chinas long and rich history and traditions are vividly brought to life.
